Solar Policy Landscape West Andy Newbold, Public Affairs Manager January 2018
Actual neighborhood of Sunrun customer homes 2
State Of Solar It took 40 years to get to 1 million solar systems around the U.S. It will take 2 years to get the next 1 million systems 3
Solar As An Economic Engine Nearly 260,000 Americans work in solar - more than double the number in 2012 - at more than 9,000 companies in every U.S. state. The cost to install solar has dropped by more than 70% since 2010, leading the industry to expand into new markets and deploy thousands of systems nationwide. 4
The Solar Fight Today, a variety of disruptive technologies are emerging that may compete with utility-provided services. Such technologies include solar photovoltaics (PV), battery storage, fuel cells, geothermal energy systems, wind, micro turbines, and electric vehicle (EV) enhanced storage. As the cost curve for these technologies improves, they could directly threaten the centralized utility model. - Edison Electric Institute: Disruptive Challenges 5
The Solar Fight (Cont.) 6
The Alliance For Solar Choice (TASC) 7
Outside Game Over the past four years, more than 100,000 advocates nationwide have taken action through TASC and Sunrun to support solar energy growth and consumer choice. 8
Types Of Solar Fights 1 2 Undermine Net Metering The original battle Fixed Charges / Demand Charges If we can t eliminate net metering, let s tax it Undercuts solar savings Consumer Protection 3 4 Stop bad apples but keep industry competitive Utility guaranteed profits for solar If they want it, we want to sell it to them. 9
California Landscape -Storage Incentives -Consumer Protection -Grid Services -NEM -MUNIs 10
California Landscape - Regulatory Current Priorities Work closely with regulators Strategy Create opportunities for grid services for customers Protecting Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) NEM 2.0 review (proceedings begin Spring 2018) Consumer protection implementing required disclosures Monitor muni solar policy changes & defend against bad rates With industry, engage Commission and utilities to create road map for grid services and review of NEM 2.0 Make argument that TOU is succeeding in making solar part of the solution: don t upset progress. File comments with Commission and participate at fact-finding En Bancs Partners Trade associations: CALSEIA, SEIA, TechNet Workforce Orgs: GRID Alternatives, Brightline Defense, Rising Sun, Solar Richmond EJ & Equity Advocates: Greenlining Solar advocates: Vote Solar 11
California Landscape - Legislative Current Priorities 2018 Legislative Session Strategy Revive storage market incentive bill (SB 700) SB 100 (100% RPS) Work with other industry and advocacy groups to engage legislators around SB 700 Focus on importance of energy storage for CA, particularly low-income communities Partners Build on solar goodwill in CA Work with EJ/equity-oriented groups to advance storage priorities Amplify employee and customer voices in advocacy efforts Trade associations: CALSEIA, SEIA, TechNet Workforce Orgs: GRID Alternatives, Brightline Defense, Rising Sun, Solar Richmond EJ & Equity Advocates: Greenlining Solar advocates: Vote Solar Other: CCAs, Bay Area Council Shift narrative in CA from solar as burden to solution. 12
Nevada Landscape -Pro-solar rates -Storage rights 13
Nevada Landscape Current Priorities Under AB 405 hearing at PUC, set to end on 3/15: Expand support for resi solar and protect TOU Strategy Work with industry groups to participate in PUC hearing Proactively tell the solar jobs rebirth story through social media, video, and events Clarify right to export from storage Partners Renew NV Tesla Vivint Vote Solar SEIA Nevada Conservation League Clean Energy Project Robust outside game around unique benefits of DG solar to grid LBNL message through earned, paid, owned, and social media 14
Arizona Landscape -Rate design -Storage 15
Arizona Landscape Current Priorities Fight for solar rates in TEP to keep the market viable TEP calling for high fixed-fees (3x APS), cutting export rate Maintain APS settlement and support the growth of storage in the state Strategy Participated in APS and TEP rate cases with broader solar industry reps Targeted OG at key commissioners on TEP Make clear to ACC how much more punitive TEP s proposal is than the settlement reached in APS (which has already caused the market to decline) Partners Tesla/EFCA Vote Solar Sierra Club Local installers Environment Arizona University green groups 16
Texas Landscape -Protect NEM -Stop anti-solar proposals -Grow market 17
Texas Landscape Current Priorities Strategy Protect NEM and stop anti-solar proposals in El Paso Electric (EPE) Increase awareness of benefits of rooftop solar with PUCT and legislators, including DG increasing resiliency of grid Defeat anticipated Oncor anti-solar proposals Meet with local and state elected officials to broaden support for solar Expand solar in ERCOT (AEP) Broader solar industry meeting with PUCT and state legislators (education, disaster response, disaster prep, etc.) Partners SEIA TSPA NTREG TXPIRG Sierra Club EDF Public Citizen Env. Texas 18
How Can You Help? Stay connected on social media Twitter TASC: @alliance4solar Sunrun: @Sunrun Facebook Follow, like, comment on policy-related Sunrun and TASC posts Become a solar advocate TASC Advocate Sign-Up: www.allianceforsolarchoice.com 19