The Fight for a Clean Energy Future Presentation to Physicians for Social Responsibility September 15, 2016 Jessica Scott Regional Director, Interior West

About Vote Solar Vote Solar, founded in 2002, is a national nonprofit working to bring solar energy into the mainstream. Vote Solar has 16 staff working in 22 states around the country to make solar more affordable and more accessible to all.

What We Do Regulatory Participation and Intervention Direct Policymaker Education Diverse Advocacy Partnerships Public Communication and Grassroots Engagement

2016 Vote Solar Campaigns Primary State Campaigns Support Role VS Staff

Policy Priorities Net metering and electric rate design Community Solar Grid Integration Solar Market Drivers Financing

NEM & Rate Design Goal: Protect DG customers’ right to self-generate and receive fair value for energy they export. Advocate for rates that encourage/enable solar and storage. States: National Coverage (identified states include AZ, CA, CO, ID, GA, LA, MA, NV, NM, NY, VT)

Community Solar Goal: Expanding access to solar for more Americans. States: DC, GA, MD, NY, National

Grid Integration Goal: Enable a clean distributed grid. Focus on updating distribution planning and regional level planning practices. States: CA, Western U.S. Cleaner More Efficient Lower Cost Active Energy Users

Solar Market Drivers + Incentives Goal: Increasing procurement of solar (2016 focus on tax policy) States: FL, GA

Financing Goal: Expanding access to innovative financing options States: CT,FL, NC

Policy Issue Focus by State Program Area States Net Metering & Rate Design National Coverage (identified states include AZ, CA, CO, ID, GA, LA, MA, NV, NM, NY, VT) Grid Integration CA, Western US Community Solar National, DC, GA, MD, NY Solar Market Drivers (RPS legislation, RE Procurement, IRP work) FL, GA Financing FL, NC

Net Metering: A National Fight Utility interests are: Well-resourced Well-coordinated Working on their home turf

How Fossil Fuel Interests Attack Clean Energy State Energy Policy Flawed Reports Public Comment/testimony Media/Communications Influence Regulators Influence Legislators Influence Customers Campaign Contributions Model Legislation TV Ads & Direct Mail

A Sampling of Front Groups 60 Plus Association ALEC American Commitment American Energy Alliance Americans for Prosperity Americans for Tax Reform American Tradition Institute Beacon Hill Institute The Center for the American Experiment Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow Competitive Enterprise Institute Continental Economics Edison Electric Institute Energy and Environment Legal Institute Heartland Institute Institute for Policy Innovation Freedom Action Independent Women’s Forum John Locke Foundation State Policy Network National Center for Policy Analysis National Taxpayers Union Washington Policy Center The Yankee Institute

The Utility Messaging Playbook The ‘Cost Shift’ Bogeyman: Claim 1: Solar customers aren’t paying their fair share Claim 2 (or 1.1): Rooftop solar comes at the expense of disadvantaged consumers or communities of color

Low Income Solar Policy Guidebook www.lowincomesolar.org

How do we win? People Power for Solar Power Poll after poll clearly show that Americans want more emphasis on solar

The energy system of the future Source: www.powergenasia.com … to solar & storage Multi-directional power flow Efficient Less water- and carbon-intensive Resilient and highly reliable High penetration of renewables Demand follows supply Smarter Opportunities for new market entrants From centralized supply … One-way power flow Inefficient (65-70% losses) Water- and carbon-intensive Old, vulnerable and fragile Low penetration of renewables Supply follows demand Not so smart Strong barriers to entry

Jessica Scott, Regional Director jessica@votesolar.org 303-910-9720 www.votesolar.org