That means green energy paid for by California electricity customers is sent away, lowering bills for residents of other states. Once the state curtailed solar power only on sunny mild spring days when there was little need for air conditioning. He calculates that the retail value of the solar energy thrown away in a year would be more than $1 billion. Because other states may not need the power, California often has to pay them to take it, he said. The commercial solar industry contends that the expansion of storage capacity to bank solar power will eventually eliminate the glut.

Source: Los Angeles Times November 25, 2024 09:32 UTC