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California's New Solar Public Works Law (AB 2143): An Example of California’s Recent Leadership Failures on Solar and the Climate Posted on Jun 18, 2024
It appears that California’s prior solar policies were too successful. California's policymakers have been rushing to stop a solar industry that they helped create. The solar industry that California helped to create through policies supporting pr...
Can California Customers Directly Connect to the Grid Using a PURPA Application Instead of Going Through PG&E or the Local IOU for Net Metering or Net Billing? Posted on Jun 12, 2024
California's major Investor Owner Utilities (IOUs), including Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), have comprehensive interconnectivity rules approved by the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC). These rules are essential for develo...
How Does the Fixed Charge Bill Structure and Income Graduated Fixed Charge Adopted by the CPUC Impact Customers? Posted on Jun 11, 2024
In May 2024, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved a fixed charge bill structure that includes income-graduated fixed charges (IGFCs) for default residential electric rates. The CPUC vote was 4-0 vote with one recusal approvi...
Can a Contractor in California Charge a Homeowner for Materials Stored in Their Warehouse on Behalf of the Homeowner? Posted on Jun 11, 2024
Yes, a contractor in California can bill a homeowner for materials even if the contractor stores the materials in their warehouse on behalf of the homeowner. According to California regulations, if the contract explicitly provides for the transfer...
Powering the Future: Treasury and IRS New Guidance Could Supercharge American Clean Energy Manufacturing Posted on May 18, 2024
The U.S. Department of the Treasury, in conjunction with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), recently issued additional guidance aimed at bolstering American clean energy manufacturing. This move is a significant step towards achieving climate go...
New Rules, New Game: The Future of CA Solar Contractors Posted on May 01, 2024
On April 18th, 2024, the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) issued a controversial rule that could significantly disrupt the operations of California solar contractors working in the clean energy sector. This regulation, pending cod...
Grid-Connected Blinders Removed from California's Distributed Energy Racehorse Posted on Dec 29, 2023
Guest Blog Post By Angela Lipanovich, Attorney & Founder of Estriatus Law There can be no doubt – California is, and has been, the world’s leader among states and countries in distributed clean energy. This leadership role is thanks to grassro...
What Type of Agreements Should Solar Contractors Use for Service and Repair Work for Homeowners in California? Posted on Nov 07, 2023
In California, specific regulations apply to service and repair contracts on solar and energy storage systems for homeowners. A condensed format is permissible for contracts $750 or less, provided the contract adheres to a specific structure, incl...
10 Top Business Plan Strategies for Solar Contractors Posted on Oct 18, 2023
What strategies should solar contractors include in their business plans to protect against some of the top risk factors involved in running a solar contractor business? Strategy #1: A Plan for Monitoring & Staying Involved at the Political &a...
Solar + Storage + Energy Controller = Microgrid Posted on Oct 10, 2023
The U.S. military understands the importance of microgrids. That’s why the official Department of Defense policy’s stated goal is that all bases be "power resilient." The need to have resilience in the case of a disaster that impacts the power gr...
Independently Owned Microgrids are Critical in the Era of Climate Change Posted on Apr 28, 2023
Biden’s climate agenda cannot be met unless policy approaches to energy supplies start dramatically supporting independently owned clean energy supplies. Our country is built around outdated methods of energy supplies dependent upon over 160,000 m...
Mária Telkes Fellowship now accepting applicants Posted on Jul 19, 2022
Applications are open now for the Mária Telkes Fellowship, a two-year executive leadership program for mid-career cleantech professionals from underrepresented backgrounds. The Mária Telkes Fellowship is hosted by the Cleantech Leaders Roundtable...
Center on Solar Consumer Protection! Posted on May 11, 2022
Solar energy is still new to many households and businesses. Companies must guide customers through the solar sales process and beyond to provide a good solar consumer experience. A company’s success in doing so, not only protects consumers, but a...
Long-Duration Energy Storage - Don't Be Left in the Dark! Posted on Mar 31, 2022
Check Out the Virtual Fireside Chat with the MIT Club of Northern California Join experts as they discuss long duration energy storage including ancillary services and benefits to electrical power infrastructure. California SB100 sets a target ...
Our Net-Zero Future Posted on Mar 17, 2022
A growing number of people are transforming their properties and lifestyles to become net-zero carbon emission with their own solar and storage supplies capable of operating without the utility’s electric grid. The list of reasons why people are g...
Energy Retrofit Policy Spotlight: Interview with Barry Cinnamon Posted on Oct 12, 2021
Last month, we began a series exploring policies that would solve the problem of the excessively high costs and long timelines required to retrofit existing buildings to become “net zero emission” properties. In this article, you can read our fir...
"Net Zero Emission" Energy Retrofits: A Critical Policy Issue to Solve Posted on Sep 24, 2021
One thing most experts in the cleantech industry agree on is that it is cheaper to build “net zero emission” buildings from scratch than to retrofit existing buildings to become net zero emitters. Although perhaps not invariably true across the U....
South Bay contractors can learn to build all-electric in new course Posted on Sep 21, 2021
To meet growing marketplace demand, Sunnyvale-based Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) and the San Jose-Evergreen Community College District Workforce Institute have launched FutureFit Fundamentals, a new online course focused on all-electric bui...
Check out: MIT Club of N. CA's Virtual Fireside Chat on Negative Emissions Technologies Posted on Sep 17, 2021
This is another interesting event hosted by the MIT Club of North California. On Thursday, Oct 7th, they will be discussing negative emissions technologies. We predict this could be a rapidly developing industry, and thus opportunity, in the deca...
Energy Show Podcast - Insights on Battery System Safety Posted on Aug 10, 2021
As storage continues to take a leading position in the cleantech landscape, battery safety and knowledge is key. Listen to this recent podcast on the Energy Show to hear an industry expert's insights and experience on battery safety: Podcast: Ba...
DOE Announces New $60 Million Investment to Increase Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing Posted on Jul 26, 2021
32 Universities Across 28 States Will Conduct Industrial Assessments to Help Local Manufacturers Reduce Carbon Footprint, Lower Costs, and Train Energy Workforce of Tomorrow WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $...
Webinar: Local clean energy generation or remote — who wins the battle? Posted on Jun 24, 2021
Check out this excellent webinar hosted by the Clean Coalition on the true components underlying electricity costs from Distributed Generation and remotely located power plants: Webinar: Local clean energy generation or remote — who wins the battl...
Federal Guidance on Essential Services Identifies Renewable Energy Workers as Essential, And They Are Posted on Mar 30, 2020
Over the weekend, the federal Cypersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued an updated “Coronavirus Guidance for America” memo to further clarify essential critical infrastructure workers during COVID-19. The guidance specifically ident...
New UL Listing Standard Solves Storage Problem Posted on Oct 29, 2019
An exciting new UL Listing standard solves the problem of long queues to get new meters for storage devices. Many utilities require storage devices have a new meter installed to ensure that solar plus storage customers are not falsely exporting po...
What Energy Upgrades Should Homeowners Do First? Posted on Jun 03, 2019
Do homeowners get more cost benefit from purchasing energy efficiency retrofits or solar energy generation systems? According to a white paper titled “Reducing Home Energy Costs by Combining Solar and Energy Efficiency”1 after “low hanging fruit”...
Consumer Protection v. Solar Industry Protection: Do We Have To Choose? Posted on Feb 07, 2017
Consumer protection is a hot issue in the solar industry right now. Given the nature of the solar industry, some of the reasons consumer protection is a big issue are valid, and some are not. Many companies in the solar industry are small compani...
Featured Weekly Document: Dealer Agreements Posted on Jan 28, 2017
Many companies in the cleantech industry have created products that they want another company to sell for them. In order to set up this relationship, it is advisable to have a Dealer Agreement that defines obligations, expectations, risk and liabi...
Cost Of Solar At An All-Time Low As Soft Costs Decline Amid Escalating Competition Posted on Dec 12, 2016
The cost of solar is at an all-time low, driven primarily by a decline in “soft costs” over the last four years. According to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s recent study summarized in “Tracking the Sun IX”, while solar energy system ...AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE
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