Yesterday nearly 300 Coloradans converged in Denver to oppose a proposal from Xcel Energy to roll back one of the state’s most successful solar programs, net metering. The energetic crowd braved wintery temperatures to deliver nearly 30,000 signed messages from Coloradans urging Xcel to withdraw its unfair proposal currently before the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and keep Colorado solar shining.
Check out all the great pictures from the rally here.
The crowd was made up of solar customers, solar workers, and concerned citizens from both ends of the political spectrum who support rooftop solar rights. We started with a good dose of solar powered coffee and inspiring speeches to get us fired up. Then, with our cheers, chants and signs, we all paraded the two blocks to Xcel Energy’s headquarters to deliver our message in person. We handed over nearly 30,000 petition signatures and emails from Xcel’s own customers calling for the utility to withdraw its unfair, anti-solar proposal.
Issued as part of the utility’s 2014 Renewable Energy Standard compliance plan, Xcel Energy’s contested proposal seeks to undermine net metering, a program that encourages consumer investment in solar power. Like rollover minutes on a cell phone bill, net metering gives solar customers full, fair retail credit on their utility bills for the excess clean power they contribute to the grid. But Xcel’s proposal uses a flawed internal study to make the case that net metering should be categorized as a ‘subsidy.’ Xcel wants to count offering net metering as part of the capped funds they are authorized to spend year each to meet their Renewable Energy Standard goals. If approved, their proposal essentially caps net metering in the state and paves the way for a significant rollback of the policy.
The utility is trying to make net metering look like a bad deal for Colorado. But the truth is that private investment in local clean energy delivers economic, environmental and public health benefits to Xcel’s solar and non-solar customers alike. Local solar energy systems reduce the need for expensive centralized power plants and transmission infrastructure, which benefits Colorado’s non-solar customers. These grid benefits alone total up to $13.6 million annually for Xcel’s ratepayers.
Plus, as we heard over and over again yesterday, Coloradans know that solar just makes sense. Xcel’s anti-solar proposal is way out of step with its own customers. Recent polling shows that four in five voters support Colorado’s current net metering credit arrangement and oppose Xcel’s efforts to weaken it. That includes conservative, liberal and independent voters. Coloradans are not going to let Xcel get away with a dramatic rollback of the state’s most important solar policy.
The rally and petition drive was a truly awesome display of that solar support! Big thanks to our friends and partners at TASC, COSEIA, Environment Colorado, the Sierra Club and everyone else who spoke up or showed up to be part of yesterday’s event. It was a big first step on the long road ahead to protecting net metering. The PUC won’t make a final decision on the proposal until the middle of next year. Until then, we’ll continue working to urge Xcel, the Governor, and the PUC to represent the best interests of the Coloradans they serve by standing up for solar rights. And we hope you’ll join us along the way!
