The California Public Utilities Commission will decide this week on a controversial proposal involving net energy metering. The commission has already delayed the vote twice.
The Western Agricultural Processors Association fears the proposal would eliminate the aggregation program for agriculture. Farmers use this option to consolidate their energy usage under one facility for each of the meters installed for irrigation pumps.
It’s easy to be “in the know” about what’s happening in Washington, D.C. Sign up for a FREE month of Agri-Pulse news! Simply click here.
WAPA has engaged on the issue through the Agricultural Energy Consumers Association, which has aggressively advocated for revisions. AECA has successfully ensured the true up for energy use is annual to account for varying seasonal loads. Investor-owned utilities pushed for a monthly option.
AECA has also rallied 19 lawmakers in a letter to CPUC and Governor Gavin Newsom calling for an alternative plan for ag. They pointed out that the aggregation option has allowed farms to rapidly invest in solar projects and said the proposal is shortsighted, since more fallowed farmland will be available for solar under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
