Presenter: Sue Kateley, CALSEIA

1. COPYRIGHT CALSEIA 2009 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
California Solar Policies
2009 Legislative Recap
Sue Kateley, Executive Director
California Solar Energy Industries Association
info@calseia.org

2. What is CALSEIA?
• CALifornia Solar Energy Industries Association
• Founded in 1977
• Mission: to expand the use of all solar technologies
in California and establish a sustainable industry for a
clean energy future
• Membership comprised of solar companies:
manufacturers, distributors, contractors, engineers,
designers, utilities
COPYRIGHT CALSEIA 2009 ALL RIGHTS
RESERVED

3. Development of Solar Markets Tied to
State Laws and Regulations
• Customer side of the meter (Retail utility customers)
– California Solar Initiative (electricity customers)
– Solar Water Heating Efficiency Act (natural gas customers)
– Net metering
– Solar Rights Act, Shading Control Act, Property Tax Reassessment
Exemption, Utility/Private Sector competition
– Municipal financing
• Wholesale side of the meter (Sales to Utilities)
– Renewable Portfolio Standard: 20% by 2010
• Renewable Energy Certificates, Bilateral Agreements, Utility procurement,
Feed in Tariffs
• Greenhouse Gas Regulations: reduce carbon emissions to
1990 levels
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4. 2009 Legislation
• RPS: SB 14, AB 64, Governor Exec. Order
– Moves current target of 20% by 2010 to 2013, and establishes new targets of 25% by 2016 and 33%
by 2020
– Expands flexible compliance rules for IOUs when difficulty procuring renewables due to project
delays and lack of transmission lines
– Changes definition of delivery for counting out- of-state renewable resources
– For the use of RECs from otherwise ineligible out-of-state renewable resources, establishes a cap of
25-30% of 33% RPS target
– Requires the CPUC to approve a transmission CPCN within 18-months of receipt of a complete
application unless the CPUC finds that the line threatens the environment and requires a longer
process
• AB 1x: AB 413 and SB 695
– Allows the CPUC to increase non-CARE residential Tier 1 & 2 rates over a period of years and as
prescribed by the bill
– Allows the CPUC to employ default time-variant pricing after January 1, 2014, and only after certain
consumer education
– SB 695 is on the Governor’s desk
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5. 2009 Legislation
• Net Metering, Reimbursement: AB 920 & SB 7
– SB 7 allows NEM customers who produce more electricity than they consume in a given
year to carry the credits for the excess production forward for an additional two years
– AB 920 allows NEM customers to sell any excess electricity they produce over the course
of a year to their electric utility at a rate to be determined by the CPUC
– SB 7 was held on the inactive file on the Assembly Floor
– AB 920 is on the Governor’s desk
• Energy Efficiency: AB 578
– Requires the CEC to develop a comprehensive energy audit program for residential and
nonresidential building stock
– Requires the CPUC to investigate the viability of various utility-run financing options for
the purposes of implementing the energy efficiency program
– Requires the CPUC to report its findings as part of its triennial energy efficiency report to
the Legislature
– AB 758 is on the Governor’s desk
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6. 2009 Legislation
• Self Generation Incentives: SB 412
– Allows CPUC to authorize incentives for technologies that meet GHG goals
– SB 412 is on the Governor’s desk
• Net Metering Cap: AB 560
– Would increase the existing NEM cap from 2.5 percent of a utility's peak demand to 5
percent
– Would prohibit solar installations of greater than 250 kilowatts from being done by a C-
46 licensee
– AB 560 was held in the Senate Business and Professions Committee
• Feed in Tariff: SB 32
– Increases the FIT program from 1.5 MW to 3MW and requires the CPUC to adjust the
price based upon the MPR plus other attributes
– Increases the statewide total capacity cap from 500 MW to 750 MW
– SB 32 is on the Governor’s desk
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7. PV Installed around the World
Source: EPIA Global Market Outlook until 2013
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8. 2009 Regulations
• CSI – Thermal (Solar Water Heating)
• CPUC
– FIT Proceeding
– Utility PV Procurement Programs
• CSLB – non-substantive revisions to the scope
of work for C-46 license classification
• CEC – Title 24 Energy Efficiency and Appliance
Regulations
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9. Federal Policies also affect California
• 30% Tax Credit for solar projects
• Refundable Tax Credits (Commercial only)
• 5-year accelerated depreciation (bonus depreciation in
effect)
• Business Loan Guarantees
• Government Efficiency and Renewable Financing
Bonds(CREBs and QECBs): local government energy
efficiency and renewable energy financing programs
• Federal Procurement Projects: Federally owned
buildings and military bases activity underway
• Training and Education: Green Jobs
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10. Fun Pictures
Guess which
one is the
solar thermal
project
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RESERVED

11. Thank you!
www.calseia.org
info@calseia.org
COPYRIGHT CALSEIA 2009 ALL RIGHTS
RESERVED