FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2026
Contact: Suzi Emmerling, [email protected]
Unprecedented Coalition Backs Community Solar Legislation as Five New Organizations, Including Two Community Choice Aggregators, Join CLASS
Growing Coalition Sends Senate a Signal: Community Solar Has Unprecedented Support
Sacramento, CA — In the wake of the CPUC doubling down on a failed community solar program yesterday, Californians for Local, Affordable Solar and Storage (CLASS) today announced that five organizations have joined its coalition in support of AB 1813, the Community Solar Legislation sponsored by Assemblymember Ward, as the bill advances to the California Senate. The new members represent an expanding cross-section of ratepayer advocates, regional civic leaders, and clean energy champions united behind the legislation.
The addition of Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs) San Diego Community Power and Peninsula Clean Energy adds an especially powerful endorsement to the program, as Community Choice Aggregators are nonprofit, locally controlled power agencies that have a direct mandate to protect their customers from rising electricity costs. San Diego Community Power serves more than 965,000 customers across San Diego County and Peninsula Clean Energy serves approximately 800,000 customers across San Mateo County and the City of Los Banos. Their endorsement directly rebuts utility industry claims that community solar would drive bills even higher.
“When the nonprofit power suppliers serving nearly two million California customers endorse community solar and storage, it demolishes the argument that this program comes at ratepayers’ expense: It’s exactly the opposite,” said Derek Chernow, Executive Director of CLASS. “This coalition now spans community power agencies, environmental organizations, regional economic leaders, the building industry, ratepayer advocates, and clean energy leaders. We believe the momentum will continue because of the overwhelming support for this legislation as one of the fastest, easiest ways to lower utility bills, provide clean energy, and improve grid reliability.”
California is one of the few states without a functioning community solar program, despite legislation dating to 2022 directing the CPUC to build one. Meanwhile, a recent poll reveals that eight in ten voters support allowing local energy resources to sell power and compete with utilities.
Shawn Marshall, CEO, Peninsula Clean Energy
“PCE is particularly encouraged by the bill’s focus on serving low-income customers and disadvantaged communities. By requiring substantial program participation from low-income households and supporting projects that are paired with energy storage, AB 1813 can help ensure that the benefits of California’s clean energy investments are shared more broadly while supporting grid reliability and local resource development.”
Patrick Welch, Legislative Affairs, San Diego Community Power
“By aligning compensation with verified grid benefits, AB 1813 supports affordability while enabling cost-effective deployment of local clean energy resources”
Evan Schmidt, CEO, Valley Vision
“AB 1813 represents the kind of practical, community-centered solution our region needs. Renters, low-income households, and rural communities that cannot access rooftop solar are precisely the communities who deserve access to affordable, clean energy.”
Current Status of Community Solar in California
Community solar was included in Assembly Speaker Rivas’ “Outcome Review” process this year. AB 1813 passed the California State Assembly on May 22, 2026 on a bipartisan vote and is now before the Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications next week (June 16). The bill would direct the CPUC to establish a community renewable energy program that compensates projects based on their verified grid benefits, including peak demand reduction, transmission cost savings, and avoided reliance on expensive gas-fired generation. Analysis by Aurora Energy Research found a well-designed program could deliver $6.5 billion in ratepayer savings statewide.
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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.