California
More batteries, less solar: California's solar turmoil in charts
California slashed the value of rooftop solar for customers of its three biggest utilities last year — and installations of residential solar systems in the state have fallen to near-three-year lows since then.
But drawing firm conclusions about how the controversial shift in net-metering policy will shape California’s rooftop solar market over the long term — and affect the state’s grid-decarbonization and energy-equity goals — is a lot more complicated than it looks.
Just ask Galen Barbose, staff scientist at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Last week, he released a report compiling the latest data on California’s residential rooftop solar market, including the data point showing a marked drop in installations in the first three months of 2024.
Barbose also scrutinized battery-storage attachment rates, the distribution of solar adopters by geography and income, third-party ownership, system sizing, pricing, and installer market share. The goal was to reveal “initial empirical insights into how the market has evolved over the past year, confirming some expectations while also revealing several striking surprises,” he wrote in the report.
But “we have to be careful about not overreaching from the data over this past year,” Barbose stressed in an interview with Canary Media — because “this was a strange last year.”
A year of twists and turns for California rooftop solar
There was a huge rush to apply for and secure interconnections of rooftop solar systems to the grid in the runup to April 2023, when the legacy net-metering (NEM) tariff was officially replaced by the “net-billing tariff” (NBT) that the California Public Utilities Commission imposed on customers of Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric.
That caused installations to spike to record levels throughout the spring and summer of 2023, as all of the projects approved under the old tariff got underway. Installations under the legacy tariff continued even through the first quarter of 2024, according to LBNL data.
Backers of the CPUC’s decision to reduce compensation for rooftop solar argue that California’s solar market remains robust — just not as overheated as during the historical jump in installations last year.
“[T]he much more generous compensation for systems installed before April 15 drove a gold rush during the first three and a half months of 2023,” Severin Borenstein, head of the Energy Institute at the University of California, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and a foe of the state’s previous net-metering regime, wrote in a blog post last month. “Many of those early-2023 buyers would most likely have been later-2023 buyers were it not for the rush to install before April 15 and lock in NEM 2.0 rules.”
But there’s also evidence that the far less lucrative economics of the net-billing tariff have severely crimped ongoing prospects for California rooftop solar installers. The rate of installations under the new net-billing tariff have lagged historical rooftop solar installation rates, averaging about 8,000 per month over the first quarter of 2024. That’s a lower rate of rooftop solar installation than in any month under net metering going back to May 2020, according to LBNL’s data.
In November, the California Solar and Storage Association (CALSSA) reported that monthly solar sales — a more forward-looking data point than installations — fell by 77 to 85 percent between May and September of last year compared to the same months in 2022.
The trade group also warned that solar installers expected to have to lay off nearly 17,000 workers, or about 22 percent of the state’s rooftop solar workforce — a level of job losses “reminiscent of the Great Depression,” according to Bernadette Del Chiaro, CALSSA’s executive director.
LBNL’s report includes forward-looking data that backs up CALSSA’s dire forecasts. One such metric is “quote activity” — requests for price quotes from customers interested in installing solar.
Quote requests from online solar marketplace EnergySage spiked before April 2023, then fell to about 60 percent of historical levels from 2019 to 2021. “While the EnergySage marketplace may not perfectly represent the California market overall, the fact that quote activity has not meaningfully picked back up is perhaps the clearest signal yet of a substantial and sustained market contraction,” Barbose wrote in his report.
LBNL also highlighted data that appears to support a key concern of CALSSA — that the new net-billing regime is harming smaller solar installers. According to the report, only half of the roughly 2,500 companies that installed at least one solar system in the past 12 months have completed a system under the new tariff structure.
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IRVINE, Cali. (KTLA) — A child died at a water park in Orange County on Saturday, authorities confirmed.
In a post to X, Irvine Police said officers and the Orange County Fire Authority responded to an incident at Wild Rivers Water Park in Irvine earlier Saturday.
Park officials said in a statement that a 12-year-old boy “experienced a non-water, but medical related incident” outside of a pool.
The boy was taken to an area hospital, where he later died.
“Our hearts go out to the boy’s family and loved ones during this difficult time,” Wild Rivers’ statement read. “We ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers.”
No additional details were made available by Irvine Police or officials at Wild Rivers.
Wild Rivers Water Park was originally open from 1986 to 2011. The current iteration and location, at 10000 Great Park Boulevard, opened in the summer of 2022.
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — People across the Valley are doing what they can to stay safe during this heat wave.
“Today was about to be 100 degrees,” said Angelo Gonzales of Fresno. “So we were looking at public splash areas and this is one of our closest ones that we went to.”
On Saturday afternoon, families were out at Fig Garden Loop Park in Northwest Fresno, trying to stay cool in the shade.
Gonzales set up his family’s beach tent in front of the splash pad, so that they can try and beat the heat. They also brought with them other supplies.
“We do have sunblock and we do have a towel,” said Gonzales. “Just to make sure she stays nice dry and after we take off. But definitel sunblock is a must.”
It’s a refreshing spot that Gonzales and his wife like to take their daughter Talia to, when the weather gets hot. Gonzales said last summer they would come to the splash pad a few times a week.
For Talia it is a refreshing retreat.
“I like the thing where you have to wait and the water drops on your head,” said Talia.
With triple digit temperatures expected over the next few days, the Fresno Fire Department is expecting to get more calls for heat related illness.
That’s why the agency has this reminder.
“As folks are coming into the weekend, wanting to have a good time, find ways to cool off, we want to remind everybody the importance of staying hydrated,” said Josh Sellers with the Fresno Fire Department. “Drink plenty of water. Also limiting the amount of time that your outdoors.”
First responders said it’s also important to check in on each other during these dangerously hot days, especially for those in sensitive groups.
“Our youngsters and our elderly that maybe more susceptible to the hear related injuries,” said Sellers.
The City of Fresno also set up cooling centers for people to get some relief. If people need to get to those cooling centers, FAX is offering free rides to the sites.
But after a refreshing retreat at the splash pad, Gonzales said he’s looking to take his family out for milkshakes.
For news updates, follow Ana Torrea on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Copyright © 2024 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.
California
California Blue overpowers field to win women’s Greco-Roman title at AFSW Junior National Duals
Air Force Special Warfare Junior National Duals | June 19-22, Tulsa, Okla.
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Women’s Greco-Roman Gold/Silver Results
1st Place – California Blue
2nd Place – Missouri
3rd Place – Texas Blue
4th Place – Oklahoma Blue
5th Place – Colorado
6th Place – Ohio Red
7th Place – Kansas
8th Place – Michigan
1st Place Match – California Blue defeated Missouri, 47-19
120 – Sydney Stifter (Missouri) fall Mikayla Garcia (California Blue), 1:29
125 – Angelina Vargas (Missouri) fall Devin Silva (California Blue), 3:55
130 – Samantha Sachs (California Blue) tech. fall EmmaLyn Burnett (Missouri), 10-1
135 – Janie Houser (California Blue) dec. Jasmine Wolfe (Missouri), 6-0
140 – Maci Stemmons (California Blue) forfeit
145 – Delarie Juarez (California Blue) dec. Payton Weese (Missouri), 5-0
155 – Eduarda Rodrigues (California Blue) fall Jayci Shelton (Missouri), 2:42
170 – Alana Thelin (Missouri) tech. fall Chrystina Ballejos (California Blue), 10-0
190 – Katianna Martinez (California Blue) fall Isabella Renfro (Missouri), 2:53
235 – Lorelei Hartman (California Blue) fall Alexis Stinson (Missouri), 0:41
95 – Mya Hairston (Missouri) tech. fall Eliana Caro (California Blue), 9-0
100 – Mia Navarro (California Blue) fall Kinley Harker (Missouri), 0:45
105 – Kailey Salazar (California Blue) tech. fall Baillee Cash (Missouri), 8-0
110 – Abbi Cooper (California Blue) tech. fall Jayden Keller (Missouri), 11-0
115 – Eden Hernandez (California Blue) tech. fall Jessa Joiner (Missouri), 10-0
3rd Place Match – Texas Blue defeated Oklahoma Blue, 38-36
120 – Kristen De La Rosa (Oklahoma Blue) fall Mariah Dillard (Texas Blue), 1:33
125 – Emily Beckley (Oklahoma Blue) fall Madison Pena (Texas Blue), 1:45
130 – Anna Vogt (Texas Blue) fall Trinity Rakestraw (Oklahoma Blue), 0:59
135 – Lynn Horn (Oklahoma Blue) fall Gwen Musser (Texas Blue), 4:08
140 – Alicen Dillard (Texas Blue) fall Jayla Ford (Oklahoma Blue), 1:03
145 – Brijatte Garcia (Texas Blue) forfeit
155 – Jacey Kuntz (Texas Blue) fall Makenna Howell (Oklahoma Blue), 0:28
170 – Kali Hayden (Oklahoma Blue) fall Samaria Barnett (Texas Blue), 0:36
190 – Tracy linklater (Texas Blue) forfeit
235 – Ariana Chavez (Texas Blue) dec. Kinslee Collier (Oklahoma Blue), 7-2
95 – Rilee Harrison (Texas Blue) forfeit
100 – Alexa Rodriguez Lopez (Texas Blue) tech. fall Destiny Jones (Oklahoma Blue), 11-2
105 – Addie Morse (Oklahoma Blue) fall Cate Norden (Texas Blue), 3:31
110 – Hannah Lopez (Oklahoma Blue) tech. fall Grace Romans (Texas Blue), 12-1
115 – Coty Sessions (Oklahoma Blue) fall Arianna Beltran (Texas Blue), 2:02
5th Place Match – Colorado defeated Ohio Red, 45-24
120 – Jaydin Cuevas (Colorado) fall Emma Rinehart (Ohio Red), 0:42
125 – Lexie Lopez (Colorado) fall Gabrielle Gartin (Ohio Red), 2:02
130 – Abigail Mozden (Ohio Red) fall Faith Vondy (Colorado), 0:20
135 – Timberly Martinez (Colorado) tech. fall Emma Hanrahan (Ohio Red), 8-0
140 – Rejan Alhashash (Ohio Red) fall Vivienne Gitke (Colorado), 5:26
145 – Mollie Dare (Colorado) dec. Addison Lyon (Ohio Red), 10-6
155 – Desza Munson (Colorado) tech. fall Lauren Carver (Ohio Red), 8-0
170 – Alexandria Alli (Ohio Red) tech. fall Alison Evans (Colorado), 8-0
190 – Laney Oliver (Ohio Red) fall Claris McCoy (Colorado), 0:12
235 – Ciara Monger (Colorado) fall Gabriella Oregon (Ohio Red), 0:52
95 – Justice Gutierrez (Colorado) dec. Vita Rose Savage (Ohio Red), 9-3
100 – Katey Valdez (Colorado) fall Mia Skinner (Ohio Red), 0:38
105 – Brianne Graves (Ohio Red) dec. Eyvori Jacquez (Colorado), 8-7
110 – Rylee Balcazar (Colorado) fall Caroline Kearns (Ohio Red), 2:16
115 – Lindsey Lopez (Colorado) fall Leah Willen (Ohio Red), 2:28
7th Place Match – Kansas defeated Michigan, 46-26
120 – Cheyenne Frank (Michigan) fall Kylee Hodges (Kansas), 0:41
125 – Jill High (Kansas) fall Jamie Cook (Michigan), 1:49
130 – Tyler Swanigan (Michigan) inj. def. Amanda Jaeger (Kansas), 4:04
135 – Margaret Buurma (Michigan) tech. fall Alexis Means (Kansas), 8-0
140 – Sydney Thompson (Michigan) fall Kaylan Hitchcock (Kansas), 4:05
145 – Avari Johnson (Kansas) fall Emily Medford (Michigan), 1:54
155 – Olivia Randle (Kansas) tech. fall Emma Pendell (Michigan), 8-0
170 – Kiley Dillow (Kansas) forfeit
190 – Gabriella Allen (Michigan) dec. Hayleen Martinez (Kansas), 9-2
235 – Hailey Conley (Kansas) fall Payton Burmeister (Michigan), 1:25
95 – Phoenix West (Kansas) forfeit
100 – Jaidyn Alvarado (Kansas) forfeit
105 – Anna Buurma (Michigan) tech. fall Molly Spader (Kansas), 11-3
110 – Avery Hinojos (Kansas) fall Kennedy Perez (Michigan), 2:40
115 – Leiannah Landreth (Kansas) fall Gigi Bragg (Michigan), 1:43
Women’s Greco-Roman Bronze/Copper Results
1st Place – Utah
2nd Place – California Red
3rd Place – Idaho
4th Place – Florida
5th Place – Virginia
6th Place – Pennsylvania
7th Place – Indiana
8th Place – Texas Red
1st Place Match – Utah defeated California Red, 41-27
3rd Place Match – Idaho defeated Florida, 38-24
5th Place Match – Virginia defeated Pennsylvania, 39-33
7th Place Match – Indiana defeated Texas Red, 39-34
Women’s Greco-Roman Red Results
1st Place – Georgia
2nd Place – Minnesota
3rd Place – South Carolina
4th Place – North Carolina
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