Dive Brief:
- West Virginia lawmakers have approved a bill which could impose new costs on rooftop solar generation, and the broad wording of the measure has renewable advocates worried it could stifle the state's burgeoning solar industry.
- The bill does not include grandfathering clauses for existing systems, and solar advocates are concerned new fees could penalize customers who have already installed panels, Greentech Media repots.
- The bill has been sent to West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin to sign.
Dive Insight:
A bill sitting on Gov. Tomblin's desk could bring West Virginia's solar industry to a crashing halt, say green energy supporters. HB 2201 is aimed at stopping cross-subsidization of electric service, but solar advocates say it is too broad and does not provide exemptions for existing systems.
The bill defines cross-subsidization as: "The practice of charging costs directly incurred by the electric utility in accommodating a net metering system to electric retail customers to electric retails customers who are not customer generators." Advocates worry the language is aimed at protecting utilities rather than customer choice.
Bryan Miller, co-chair of The Alliance for Solar Choice, told Green Tech Media the measure is “a totally over-the-top bill.”
Earlier this year lawmakers voted to repeal the state's renewable portfolio standard. Tomblin signed the bill this month, rolling back a 2009 law requiring utilities to source 25% of their power from alternative sources.
