Some good laws are now in effect on both rooftop solar and electric vehicles in California. I blogged about AB 2188 once it passed the California Legislature, which will require local governments to adopt streamlined ordinances for permitting rooftop solar. The governor signed it, which will be helpful for reducing the cost of installing solar, possibly up to 20 cents per watt.
In addition, as I discussed on KCRW radio on Monday, the governor signed AB 2013 (Murastsuchi) to increase the number of “green stickers” available for partial electric/hybrid vehicles to access carpool lanes, as well as SB 1275 (De Leon) to limit cash rebates for electric vehicles based on income. The latter bill directs the California Air Resources Board to come up with an overall, long-term financial plan for supporting electric vehicles, taking into account anticipated price declines on the vehicles. That plan will likely include a phase-out for the rebates and may explore other options, such as point-of-sale cash rather than having to apply for the rebate after purchase.
With these bills, California is continuing its leadership on renewables and electric vehicles, and hopefully making our public sector incentives more efficient and streamlined in the process. I’m glad the governor signed them, showing that we’re making incremental progress on these vital technologies.
With the stroke of a pen, Governor Brown could now save California building owners an average of a $1000 off the cost of installing rooftop solar. That’s the estimate from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab in analyzing the impact of streamlining local permitting regimes in California. AB 2188 (Muratsuchi) seeks to do just that — streamline local processes and end additional burdens from homeowner’s associations on rooftop solar. The bill is now headed to the governor’s desk. As I wrote about earlier this month, California can’t control the cost of solar PV, but it can get its collective local houses in order when it comes to permitting solar.
The solar industry is pushing a bill in Sacramento to require local governments to streamline solar rooftop permitting in California. Permitting hurdles represent a major cost for the industry, as each local government has their own rules for permitting. This bill, AB 2188, would require locals to consult with fire and utility officials to pass an ordinance with a streamlined process:
“Your typical home solar energy system is quite cookie-cutter,” says Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of the California Solar Energy Industries Association. “From Chico to Chula Vista, the exact same product, design and installation is being installed, yet many building departments require byzantine permits as if they are installing a nuclear power plant.”
California can’t control the price of solar panels (which has fallen dramatically in the last few years, based on cheap Chinese production and growing demand), and it can’t really control the marketing to persuade people to go solar. But it can control the public process related to permitting, so I’m glad to see this bill moving along as it heads to the Senate after passage in the Assembly.
