An Assembly committee backed away on Wednesday night from a controversial provision in a proposed bill to end solar credits for 2 million owners of rooftop solar systems, saying it would apply only to those who sold their homes.
Assembly Bill 942, introduced by Lisa Calderon (D-Whittier), targeted long-standing programs that provide energy credits to Californians who installed solar panels before April 15, 2025.
As originally drafted, the bill would have limited the current program’s benefits to 10 years — half of the 20-year period the state had told rooftop owners they would receive. The committee nixed that provision, leaving another that would cancel the program for those selling their homes.
With the amendment, the bill passed 10 to 5, sending it on to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Scores of rooftop solar owners attended the hearing, asking the committee members to vote no. Some said that even with the amendment they believed the measure would reduce the value of their home.
Several committee members said Wednesday night that they had heard from solar owners of all income levels.
“I have to push back on the narrative that these are all high-income people,” Schiavo said.
Some also questioned whether those without solar panels would actually see a reduction in their electric bills if the measure passed.
“How much of this will go back to the consumer?” asked Laurie Davies (R-Laguna Niguel), who voted no. Her question wasn’t answered.
Read the Full Article: https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-04-30/bill-to-slash-rooftop-solar-incentives-faces-hearing