Promote the Future: Move to Independent Energy Capture

Tax Incentives & Reduced Connection Costs

Energy Costs Continue to Increase

Our community is rightly angry about PG&E's ongoing rate increase to cover the cost of their past mismanagement. Instead of just angrily protesting, let's do something about it. Let's move to the future with individual households less dependent on all of their energy from PG&E power grid. Technology for solar capture continues to improve. We should maximize this solution and increase market competition to reduce the cost of both the initial investment and recurring monthly connection fees. This will allow us to move away from traditional energy sources that are taking more and more of our paychecks.

Anecdotal Evidence: Our Response to High Gas Prices

Have you noticed that gas prices are relatively reasonable at the moment. I believe this is due to our collective response to the irrational spikes in Bay Area gas prices - the middle of the country paying $2.00, $3.00, or $4.00 less per gallon. Other states, other areas of California would historically pay a lower price per gallon while we paid a premium (despite the refineries essentially in our backyard). To counter this lack of control over a recurring expense, we collectively began buying electric cars. And, car makers began making more options and we bought more, etc. etc. etc. I believe that if we do the same with solar panels and solar batteries, we will gain control of our individual energy production and use.

Image Description: solar panels on roof.

The high cost of internet and cable has encouraged many to look for alternatives such as satellite connections, bypassing the old industries of network television and traditional communication companies. We need to look forward to new ideas. I would like to see that solar soltuions are the wave of the future. Other countries, especially China, are working toward climate friendly energy production. We need to restore the measures provided in the Inflation Reduction Act, and embrace the future. Climate change is happening. We need to work toward an infrastucture built on sustainable systems that allow families to flourish.

Ways to Get This Done

Congress should assist in this move to independent energy production through the following levers:

• increase rebate on a solar battery system from the current $7,500 to $10,000

• eliminate the income cap allowing all participants to benefit from the rebate

• loan programs for qualifying families to buy solar panels

• regulations that cap the cost and annual increase in connecting to the power grid

• if connected to the grid, increase PG&E's solar buy-back rates from a range of $.02 to $.09* to a competitive retail rate

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* Green Energy Connection