Commentary: Sorry, rooftop solar supporters, California incentives really do punish the poor
When the California Public Utilities Commission proposed scaling back subsidies for rooftop solar in December, it cracked open a hornet’s nest of residential solar sellers, owners and advocates. Installation companies argued it would tank their profits and harm their workers. Solar homeowners and those who want to go solar said it would rob them of their only defense against soaring electric bills. Some clean energy partisans stewed about cutting back on any source of renewables.
The backlash sent the CPUC back to the drawing board. A revamped proposal will be out soon, but while we wait, it’s important to understand why changes were needed in the first
