Valley farmworkers are counting on affordable community solar
Iam a proud member of an organization that has been serving the Central Valley community for 57 years. At Proteus, we work with thousands of customers a year to sign households up for energy-efficiency programs that lower their utility bills and reduce environmental emissions.
Our agriculturally rich area has some of the worst air quality in the state and some of the steepest utility bills in the state. These energy-efficiency programs have been pivotal to farming communities, and their success is indicative of what further investment in renewable generation programs such as community solar with storage would mean for California, its grid readiness and its progress in the energy transition.
During my time at Proteus, I have worked firsthand with farmworkers in Visalia and around the Central Valley to help folks reap the benefits from community solar and storage projects. Community solar, which provides residents access to solar generation regardless of home ownership or socioeconomic status, would help to improve public health outcomes while providing consistent clean energy resilience to the state.
Successful pilot projects have shown a huge financial relief to families I work with daily in the Central Valley looking to make ends meet when it comes to utility bills. I have seen customers in community solar programs receive bill discounts of up to $60, and an average of $40 per month. This is enough to make big dents in hard-working families’ financial burdens.
Now that we’ve toyed with the concepts, it is time to grow what we know works. Despite being a leader in the solar market, California still lacks a true, statewide community solar plus storage program. The passage of AB 2316 in 2022 gave California the green light to open the most equitable community solar and storage program in the nation that serves all Californians.
Their ability to benefit hinges on whether the California Public Utilities Commission issues a decision to implement the bill that will open the door to the community solar program. State officials are expected to make a decision any day. Finalizing and implementing a community solar program could help to position California as a true solar leader, expanding solar access to all and, when combined with battery storage, will also help to keep our lights on and our air clean as can be.
In my perspective, it is critical that California supports this program that not only serves the state’s clean energy plans, but also brings good new jobs to help the community and helps our local economies. Families statewide are primed to participate and benefit from the equitable program. Acting on AB 2316 could finally push California from a state with virtually no community solar with storage power, to a leader in this country.
We are trusted partners of the community, and that means looking out for our neighbors. I look forward to seeing the state move ahead with the AB2316 program, enabling solar for all to become accessible to all. I hope to see California make the right decision and prioritize enabling a community solar program, a choice I know firsthand will benefit our consumers and improve clean air and affordable energy access outcomes in our state.