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

2. 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.

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

4. 2016 Vote Solar Campaigns Primary State Campaigns Support Role
VS Staff

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

6. 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)

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

8. 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

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

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

11. 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

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. Low Income Solar Policy Guidebook

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

18. The energy system of the future
Source:
… 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

19. Jessica Scott, Regional Director