Witness Testimony Backs Benefits of Legislative Framework While Identifying Need for Enforceable Timelines
Sacramento, CA — Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee Chair Cottie Petrie-Norris and Assemblymember Chris Ward today convened a landmark oversight hearing today to examine the implementation of Assembly Bill 2316 (Ward), a law designed to expand access to community solar and lower electricity bills for Californians. The hearing is part of Speaker Rivas’ newly launched Outcomes Review project, a first-of-its-kind legislative oversight effort focused on improving accountability and ensuring enacted laws deliver intended benefits.
Enacted in 2022, AB 2316 directed the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to evaluate and, if beneficial to ratepayers, establish a statewide community renewable energy program. The program would have allowed Californians—including renters, low-income households, and others unable to install rooftop solar—to subscribe to shared solar and storage projects and save up to $300 a year on their utility bills.
Despite clear legislative direction from AB 2316 and growing energy affordability challenges in the state, the CPUC has not implemented the statewide community solar program required under the law.
“Community solar and storage can help lower electricity bills and expand access to clean energy for millions of Californians,” said Assemblymember Chris Ward, author of AB 2316. “This Outcomes Review is an opportunity to ensure we are delivering on the promise of this law.”
“This is a proven program that delivers real savings to ratepayers, creates good-paying jobs, reduces the need for costly transmission infrastructure, lowers emissions, and strengthens grid reliability,” said Derek Chernow, Executive Director of Californians for Local, Affordable Solar and Storage (CLASS). “We’ve seen community solar succeed in states across the country, yet California continues to fall behind, failing renters and all ratepayers in the state. We appreciate Assemblymember Ward’s leadership to address these barriers and ensure Californians canbenefit from a strong, effective community solar program.”
“Despite the clear directives in AB 2316, the CPUC embraced a non-viable, noncompliant, and incomplete community renewable energy program that was designed to fail and perhaps never even meant to launch,” said Matt Freedman, Staff Attorney, Utility Reform Network (TURN) “Additionally, the CPUC squandered a critical opportunity to leverage unprecedented federal support for California’s clean energy goals. The Legislature should now act to remove any ambiguity and ensure regulators follow the law and deliver the affordable, reliable cleanenergy program Californians were promised.”
Community solar and storage programs are designed to expand access to affordable clean energy while strengthening grid reliability and reducing costs for all customers. Analysis from Aurora Energy Research found that widespread deployment of community solar and storage in California could save ratepayers $6.5 billion in energy costs by reducing reliance on expensive gas-fired generation and easing grid congestion. The analysis projected $910 million in avoided transmission and distribution infrastructure costs and $4.6 billion in resource adequacy savings due to battery storage discharging during peak demand periods.
The hearing featured testimony from state energy agencies, consumer advocates, and industry experts, including:
• Kerry Fleisher, CPUC Director of Distributed Energy Resources, Natural Gas & Retail Rates
• James McGarry, Regional Director (West), Coalition for Community Solar Access
• Matt Freedman, Staff Attorney, The Utility Reform Network
• Shelly Lyser, Energy Program Manager, Public Advocates Office
Bipartisan community solar programs are already delivering savings and expanding access to clean energy in more than 20 states nationwide, particularly benefiting renters and households unable to install rooftop solar.
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Californians for Local, Affordable Solar and Storage (CLASS) is a coalition of community solar developers working to expand access to local, affordable clean energy, lower electricity bills for families and small businesses, and create new revenue opportunities for farmers and landowners across California.