Solar Energy/Energy Efficiency
What’s up with solar Energy and energy efficiency? Click on the quick links below:
Rooftop Solar at SFUU!
Through our connection with Placer Earth Care Action (PECA) and CA Interfaith Power and Light (CA IPL), Mission Earth member Barb Munn learned about, and attended, a Webinar (Solar for CA House of Worship) presented by representatives from Re-volv, CA IPL, and Green the Church. The webinar discussed California’s new law, Net Energy Metering (NEM) 3.0 (effective on April 13, 2023) which reduces the value of solar energy sold back to the grid by 75%. However, solar projects submitted by to utility companies by April 13th would be grandfathered into current pricing and savings for 20 years. After this date, the savings from going solar will reduce dramatically. Thus, the webinar emphasized that it was still possible for houses of worship to demonstrate their commitment to the environment and save money to go solar.
That same afternoon Barb attended a joint meeting between the PECA Board members and spiritual leaders from their respective faith communities. During that meeting she learned about how several of the participating PECA member faith communities (Loomis Basin UCC, Shepherd of the Sierras Presbyterian, and Auburn UCC) have installed rooftop solar, and the savings that they are experiencing. Now excited about the possibility of solar at SFUU, Barb chatted with our minister about it and they said there was no reason why we couldn’t go for it. Barb immediately sat down on a curb outside of SFUU after the meeting and called Tom Piette (fellow Mission Earthling) who then started the ball rolling in a quest for a solar company to install solar on our church building. John Bohland was soon recruited to the the process, and he used his connections to get us the solar system at SFUU. The board approved the process and the financing (left over from the money we raised to install new heating). All in all, it was dizzying to see how quickly folks at SFUU mobilized to put solar on our rooftop - a process that began in February (2023) and ended with the installation by the end of July (2023)!
Heating and Cooling with Mini-Splits at SFUU
When it came time for SFUU to replace its heating and cooling system, Mission Earth member, Tom Piette, researched designs within our budget keeping efficiency and reduced carbon emissions in mind. Consulting with the Buildings & Grounds committee, the Board of Trustees, and Rev Alex, they settled on installing ductless Mini-Splits with a very high efficiency of SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) 18. In March 2023, two Fujitsu units were installed in the Sanctuary and one in the Social Hall.
Mini-splits are heat pumps, therefore they are entirely powered by electricity. Coupling them with our new solar photovoltaic system provides much of our heating and cooling with greatly reduced usage of fossil fuels (reducing our carbon footprint)! Moreover, the removal of the two large ground mounted natural gas heating and cooling units, which these Mini-Splits replaced, provided more usable space in the side yard.
California Rooftop Solar News
Editorial: Solar installations are plummeting in California and regulators are to blame (28 Dec 2023 - LA Times)
We Put Solar Panels on 1 Million Roofs in California. That Win Is Now Under Threat (17 Jan 2022 - NY Times Editorial by Arnold Schwarzenegger)
Energy Saving Tips from CA Interfaith Power & Light
New Monthly Utility Fees are Coming!
Background
Last year (2022), the CA legislature passed an energy bill (AB 205) that includes a “trailer” (section 739.9) that allows creating a monthly fixed income-based utility fee meant to pay for expenses to maintain the electric grid. This is a flat fee that everyone must pay regardless of how much (or how little) electricity they use.
Currently, the monthly fee we pay is capped at $10/month and our electric bills fluctuate based on the volume of electricity we use. The new income-based rate structure will force most people to pay high fixed fees (ranging from $30 to $70 for most customers) that don’t take into account how much energy they use.
AB-205 reduces how much is charged for electricity use, but Section 739.9 proposes increasing the flat fee paid each month, except for those qualifying for CARE or FERA.
CARE (CA Alternative Rates for Energy) or FERA (Family Electric Rate Assistance) customers would pay discounted flat fees.
The adoption of an income-based utility fee was added to this bill at the last minute and was never debated on the floor of the assembly.
Setting these income-based fees is now before the CPUC (CA Public Utilities Commission), which will make a decision by next summer. Utilities, consumer advocates, and environmental groups have submitted proposals; the deadline for the CPUC to authorize a fixed charge is July 1, 2024. The commission has denied requests to hold public hearings on the proposal.
Negative outcomes of Section 739.9:
Efficiency and frugality will be penalized:
Californians who live in apartments, condos, and small homes would see their utility bills increase (because smaller units tend not to use much electricity, but their fixed monthly fees will increase – so the overall bill increases).
The same goes for people who have made their homes more energy-efficient or who have invested in rooftop solar – they must pay the new monthly fee regardless of how much energy they are conserving.
Inefficiency and waste will be rewarded:
On the other hand, high use customers will see their utility bills go down (because the rates for electricity use will go down, they will not pay as much for they high volume of electricity they use)
Follow these links to learn more:
Fixed charges on utility bills based on your income: An update on what the fees could look like (San Diego Union - December 2023)
Letter to the CPUC from CA Legislators (October 27,2023)
Why your utility bills could be about to skyrocket in California (San Francisco Chronicle - Oct 17, 2023)
Solar Rights Alliance Summary (October 6, 2023)
California's future with income-based flat-fee utility bills is getting closer (KPBS - September 13, 2023)
New proposed income-based fixed charges in California would devalue energy conservation (Environment California - August 14, 2023)
Analysis by energy economists (July 14, 2022)
Open Letter to Legislators
In late October 2023, SFUU’s Social Justice Committee signed an open letter to legislators protesting the lack of transparency in setting these fees, the potential adverse effects on working and middle class people, and the negative penalties that people who work to make their homes energy-efficient will experience.
Everyone Under the Sun Rally & Festival
Climate activists, consumer watchdog groups, rooftop solar owners, and solar industry workers joined for a rally and festival at the California State Capitol on October 11th (2022), sponsored by the Solar Rights Alliance. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has been working to create new policy around rooftop solar in California (Net Energy Metering, or NEM, 3.0). So far, their proposed policies have included policies lobbied for by the public utilities such as adding monthly fees for folks who have already installed rooftop solar and removing incentives for those who might consider adding rooftop solar to their homes. The rally and festival was conceived as a way to continue informing Californians about the threat to our Solar Industry and to keep us on guard so we are ready to absorb and potentially react to new proposed policy changes likely to be announced in the near future.
FOLLOW UP ARTICLES
The Threat to Solar - Solar Rights Alliance Fact Sheet
CPUC Expected to Wait Until After the Election to Issue NEM 3.0 Decision - Oct 4, 2022 article in Solar Power World
What Does Attending the Everyone Under the Sun Rally & Festival Mean for NEM 3.0? - posted by solar distibutor AEESolar
Net Energy Metering - information from the CPUC (California Public Utilities Commission)
What is NEM. 3.0 and How Will It Impact California Solar Users in 2024? - and October 5, 2022 article from Solar.com’s Solar Learning Center.
We Put Solar Panels on 1 Million Roofs in California. That Win Is Now Under Threat - Arnold Schwarzenegger (NY Times Op Ed published Jan 17, 2022)