On Wednesday, Michigan EIBC, The Alliance for Solar Choice, TUSK and the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association co-hosted the Rally to Save Solar Choice. Joined by dozens of solar companies and solar purchasers in Michigan’s net metering program, many spoke out against SB 438, which would eliminate the renewable portfolio standard, the energy optimization standard for electric utilities and the net metering program. Under the bill, purchasers of rooftop solar on the grid would not be allowed to use any of the electricity they produced. Instead, all electricity would be sold to the grid at wholesale price, and then the household would have to purchase all energy at the increased retail price.
The rally was followed by testimony in front of the Senate Energy and Technology Committee. Both SolarCity and Sun Run came to testify on behalf of The Alliance for Solar Choice. Others spoke out in favor of true net metering, including John Sarver of the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Alliance, Allan O’Shea from CBS Solar and Jeremy Zinn of Oak Electric. All made their points clear: that net metering is needed to make rooftop solar a viable option, that they are paying to use the grid and that net metering helps every ratepayer.
Michigan EIBC will continue to push for energy policies that support the growth of advanced energy in Michigan. But we need your help. Here are three things you can do to support advanced energy in Michigan:
Testify at next week’s Senate Energy and Technology Committee hearing. While backers of the bills like to write-off are nothing more than “out of state special interests,” we know that Michigan’s current energy policies have led to $3 billion in investment, saved ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars, and are growing at double digit annual rates. Join Michigan EIBC at next week’s committee hearing and make your voice heard. (And better yet, contact Greg Moore in Senator Nofs’s office and ask to be put on the agenda.)
Send your Senators a letter sharing your views on the proposed legislation. This legislation would eliminate the state’s energy efficiency programs, eliminate the renewable energy standard, and eliminate net metering for solar customers. They need to hear from you! You can find your Senator here (and make sure to contact the Senator who represents both your home and your business!).
Join Michigan EIBC for a legislative lobby day on Wednesday, September 23. We’ll be taking our positive message of investment and job creation directly to key lawmakers – and letting them know the devastating impact of these proposed changes on our industry. We need you in the room! Contact Michigan EIBC to let us know if you can participate.
Source: MIEIBC
