Stop-gap solar measure signed into law

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed AB135 into law on September 29, 2004, preserving solar rebates and keeping California's solar industry growing. The bill made an additional $60 million in funding available to the Emerging Renewable Resources Account through 2008.

Read the Governor's AB135 signing message »

Assembly Bill 135 (Reyes) authorizes the California Energy Commission to spend an additional $60 million on smaller solar system rebates. Without this legislation, the CEC would not have had access to additional funds until 2007, leaving a two year gap in rebates that would have effectively shut down the solar retrofit market in California.

California needs comprehensive solar legislation

As the Governor acknowledged in his AB135 signing message, Ab135 is only the first step of a much longer journey toward energy security, reliability and independence for California. CCEnergy, along with other solar industry and energy consumer groups, is continuing to press for solar energy legislation that will comprehensively address funding for all segments of the solar energy market.

California has the opportunity to lead the global solar industry market. A comprehensive solar plan in will help reduce peak demand and lower electricity rates, improve air quality, and create thousands of high-value jobs throughout the state. California's solar industry contributes four thousand jobs, over five hundred companies, and is the source of increasing investments in manufacturing by multi-national solar corporations to the state. For this investment growth to continue in this new industry sector, we want to make sure the state establishes crucial policies that will help create stability in the market.

The Governor's Million Solar Homes Initiative (MSHI), introduced in August 2004, is a step in the right direction. Although the MSHI has not been implemented yet, the Governor makes it clear in his AB135 signing message that he intends to promote this plan with state lawmakers. The California Solar Energy Industry Association (CalSEIA) has defined for the Schwarzenegger administration what elements the solar industry believes a comprehensive state solar program must entail:

• CEC retrofit program (1kW to 30 kW);
• PUC commercial program (Self-Generation Incentive Program or SGIP);
• New construction must include efficiency and thermal technologies;
• Solar thermal incentives;
• Affordable housing;
• State office building;
• Lift net metering cap and Renewable Energy Credit ("green tag") ownership.

More about CCEnergy's advocacy work »