Statement: New report highlights solar savings for ratepayers

Sustained local solar and storage growth could save California $120 billion by 2050

CALPIRG Education Fund

SAN FRANCISCO — Vibrant Clean Energy and Local Solar for All released a new report Thursday that found sustained growth of rooftop and community solar, combined with battery storage, could save California $120 billion by 2050. That is equivalent to $295 in savings per year for the average California ratepayer. The model confirms that efficiently building more local solar and batteries alongside utility-scale renewables would benefit ratepayers and the environment. 

Local solar produces electricity close to where it will be used. This would reduce the need for transmission and distribution infrastructure and the amount of large-scale power needed to serve California’s grid. 

This report comes as the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) considers drastic cuts to solar compensation that environmental and consumer advocates are concerned would stall the growth of rooftop solar. 

CALPIRG Education Fund State Director Jenn Engstrom issued the following statement: 

“Fully embracing distributed energy is a no-brainer for consumers. Local solar and energy storage benefit all consumers by reducing our overall need for grid investments today, while helping build the clean and resilient grid of the future.”

“As the CPUC considers compensation cuts for rooftop solar, it’s critical that they take into account the full value of distributed solar energy and the savings it provides to consumers.”