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Policy & Legal Issues
Solar rights, net metering, interconnection, permitting and the laws that affect owners.
Do you need a license to generate solar leads in California?
We get this question a lot, so here's the short version.
In California, the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) treats selling or negotiating home improvement contracts, including residential solar, as work that requires a contractor's license or registration as a home improvement salesperson working for a licensed contractor. A lead generator who only passes along contact information, and...
Developers and consultants: where do you draw the line on contractor licensing?
Clean energy developers and consultants often do work that sits close to contracting: choosing equipment, managing installers and overseeing construction. Cross the line without a license and your fees may become unrecoverable.
Our new post explains how to stay on the right side of California licensing law: Developer, Consultant or Contractor? Staying on the Right Side of Licensing Law When...
RME or RMO: how is your company's contractor license qualified?
If your solar company operates under someone else's contractor license, that person is your qualifier, either as a Responsible Managing Employee (RME) or a Responsible Managing Officer (RMO). The arrangement you choose affects who carries responsibility for your projects and what happens if your qualifier leaves.
We wrote up the key differences here: RME vs. RMO: Which License Qualifier...
Has your HOA pushed back on your solar install? Let's compare notes
Hi everyone,
We keep hearing from Texas homeowners and installers whose HOA rejected a solar application. Others got an “approval” that only allows panels on the back roof, where the system makes far less power. So we’ve put together two new resources:
📄 Template: Texas HOA Solar Appeal Letter
📝 Blog post: Texas HOA Said No to Your Solar Panels? Here’s How to Appeal
The short version of...
CA PUC Rulemaking (R.)19-09-009
This resolution was just issued today in this rule making. It finalizes the approval of SCE’s microgrid program agreements for general participants and mandates the creation of more accessible agreements for local and tribal government microgrid projects, acknowledging their unique challenges and limitations.
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) Energy StorageShares program
There's a webinar on 7/18 about how the program works:
Storage: SMUD’s Energy StorageShares Program
CA PUC Rulemaking (R.) 20-08-020
The Energy Division is soliciting informal comments for minor changes to the Contractors State License Board Solar Energy System Disclosure Document, per Resolution E-5364. Implementation of the Solar Energy System Disclosure Document, with the anticipated changes below, will begin on November 1, 2025, consistent with Resolution E-5364.
Potential changes are as follows:
Adding a box...
Unpacking the Solar Cost Shift Fallacy: How Pro-Utility Groups in CA Mislead the Public
utility profits are another reason the high utility costs for non-solar customers.
PG&E Asks to Raise Rates Again and Pay Shareholders Higher Profits
California’s largest investor-owned utility asked state regulators to approve increased compensation for shareholders, saying it’s needed to attract investors. Aka- people making money off of nonsolar owners…
CA action alert- call legislators
Governor Newsom's CPUC has proposed to break your solar contract, slash your solar credit, and slap you with a solar tax. These changes would apply to ALL solar customers who signed up for solar before April 2023 (NEM1 and NEM2). Our best chance of stopping this proposal is to make it Dead On Arrival in the State Legislature.
This is a red alert. Please stop what you are doing and send your...
Bipartisan Energy Policy
Yes, it is exists. I’m going to go out on a limb and bet that clean energy becomes a well accepted bipartisan issue in the coming years. Eg, just as we are seeing big tech migrate to the GOP, I think we’ll see the same with cleantech.
Contractor licensing - CA Class B question
If the ground mounted or carport mounted solar PV system is providing power generated by the system to a building, it is in connection to that building and is appropriate.
How to Get Involved in Your Community for CA Residents
Have you ever wondered how to make a meaningful impact in your community? Did you know that you can get appointed to a state or local board or commission to help shape policy and contribute to the future of California?
For people, in California, here's a way to get started:
How to Apply for a Governor-Appointed Position
Explore Available Positions: Visit the Governor's Appointments Index to...
The Clean Energy Revolution is Here – But Big Utilities Are Trying to Stop It. We Need to Fight Back.
I'd put countering the false cost shift narrative as top of the list on this topic. I just shared on a different thread, but I'm sharing on this one too cuz the topic is so important. Check out the Solar Rights Alliance whitepaper for helpful talking points:
New study shows how CA rooftop solar consumers save all ratepayers $2.3 billion
Solar & Renewable Data Set Resources
Here's my recommended list:
U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
Offers comprehensive data on energy production, consumption, and trends in renewable energy.
Website: EIA.gov
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Provides datasets related to solar energy, wind energy, and other renewables, including maps and modeling tools.
Website: NREL.gov
International Renewable Energy...
The IRA and the Future of Energy: Balancing Climate Goals with the Demands of AI
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has significantly reshaped the U.S. approach to renewable energy, investing heavily in initiatives designed to promote clean technologies. While this has led to impressive growth in the renewable sector, new challenges are emerging—most notably, the escalating energy demands of AI-driven data centers.
As these facilities require more power than ever, often...
Solar labor force data - wanted
IREC solar jobs census: solar-jobs-census
Urgent Call to Action for California Solar Industry: Ensuring Accuracy in Solar Bill Savings Estimates
following and will contribute. good thread!