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Solar bill good for environment, economy: Guest commentary

Monday, Jun 09 2014

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Did you know there are more than 500 local jurisdictions (cities and counties) in California, each with different rules about how to install solar?

California can lose its place as a leader in clean energy if efforts to address its complicated regulations and costs are not supported. The California Legislature enacted the Solar Rights Act in 1978 and declared that the implementation of consistent statewide standards to achieve the timely and cost-effective installation of solar energy systems is a matter of statewide concern. However, since that time, there has been no effective implementation of this decades-old mandate and solar permitting remains a patchwork of complex regulations that vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Assembly Bill 2188, authored by Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi, is meaningful progress on the goals first adopted in 1978 and will create a streamlined permitting process that will help continue to drive down the cost of going solar and increase access to more Californians.