Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed legislation on Friday that would have allowed schools and apartment buildings to use solar energy they generate on-site, instead of having to buy it back from utilities. SB 1374, authored by state Sen. Josh Becker, would have reinstated rights that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) took away from properties with multiple electric meters in 2023. Before then, Californian utility customers including schools could use the solar energy they generated on one electric meter, such as one for their parking lot, to power their separately-metered buildings, making full use of their own energy and avoiding higher utility bills.

California has significant potential to generate more clean electricity from rooftop solar panels; we’ve only taken advantage of about 10% of our state’s rooftop solar potential. SB 1374 would have incentivized solar installations on more rooftops and parking lots, thereby accelerating California’s transition to clean energy and letting schools and renters enjoy the many benefits of solar panels, including less pollution, lower electricity bills and a more resilient energy system.

In response, Steven King, Environment California’s clean energy advocate, released the following statement:

“This summer’s wildfires and extreme heat waves demonstrate the urgent need to cut our use of climate change-causing fossil fuels in favor of clean, renewable energy like solar power. Schools and apartment buildings should have the same opportunity to install and benefit from solar panels that single-family homes do. We’re disappointed in Gov. Newsom’s decision to pump the brakes on this popular, proven clean energy resource, especially as cuts to solar incentive programs in the last two years have made rooftop solar’s future so uncertain in California.”

News item from Environment California