CITY OF PACIFICA
540 Crespi Drive • Pacifica, California 94044-3422
www.cityofpacifica.org
MAYOR
Mary Bier
MAYOR PRO TEM
Tygarjas Bigstyck
COUNCIL
Mike O’Neill
Sue Vaterlaus
Sue Beckmeyer
Scenic Pacifica
Incorporated Nov. 22, 1957
December 13, 2022
The Honorable Gavin Newsom
Governor, State of California
State Capitol, First Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Opposition to CPUC Net Energy Metering Proposal
Dear Governor Newsom:
On behalf of the City Council of the City of Pacifica, a city that is phasing out gas in new construction in favor of clean energy, I am writing to oppose the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) proposed changes that would reduce the payment for selling excess solar energy back to the grid for future installations of rooftop solar.
This proposal would lessen the value of solar energy that is sold to the grid and potentially discourage new installations due to the longer payback period. In states that have enacted similar cuts, solar adoptions dropped. California should be working to increase local solar installations and batteries for business and households, not decrease it.
The adverse impacts of the CPUC’s proposal do not align with Pacifica’s climate objectives, which include phasing-out the use of gas in residential and commercial buildings to reduce greenhouse emissions. We urge you to protect the public interest and keep the current rooftop solar net energy metering structure to encourage, not discourage, more rooftop solar.
Sincerely,
Mary Bier
Mayor