California legislation aims to increase rooftop solar in cities
A new bill from a Bay Area lawmaker aims to increase rooftop solar production throughout the state.
Senate Bill 1399 from Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) would create a new system in which owners of existing buildings that have high energy use but little roof space could contract with owners of other local buildings that have lots of roof space, but little need for energy.
The idea, Wiener said in a statement, is to create more incentives for rooftop solar installations by matching those who could supply it with those who would use it.
“To meet our aggressive renewable energy goals, California needs to build dramatically more solar, including maximizing use of our empty rooftops and other developed spaces that are ripe for solar,” Wiener said.
Wiener’s legislation would require the California Public Utilities Commission, the state’s energy regulator, to develop such a system by 2021.