SolarCity announced plans Wednesday to cease operations in Nevada after regulators drastically cut benefits for retail solar owners.
The rooftop solar giant, based in San Mateo, Calif., said in a statement that after bringing 2,000 jobs to Nevada since 2013, the state has all but killed the retail solar industry in favor of the utility industry.
"This is a very difficult decision, but Gov. Sandoval and his PUC leave us no choice," Lyndon Rive, SolarCity's chief executive, said in a statement. "The people of Nevada have consistently chosen solar, but yesterday their state government decided to end customer choice, damage the state's economy and jeopardize thousands of jobs.
In an unanimous vote Tuesday, the Nevada Public Utilities Commission increased the fixed charge for residential and small commercial solar owners while lowering compensation for electricity they generate and send to the power grid. The commission in a press release said the move was designed to address "inequities."
Utility companies argue that retail solar owners do not pay their fair share for power lines, substations and other costs related to maintaining the grid.
More
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Only a matter of time the politicians get electric utility special interest money to stop solar.
ReplyDeleteThey must be liberals in NV to take your choice away from you??
ReplyDeleteIt is only a matter of time when you remove the heavy special interest subsidies for solar and wind that they will collapse.
ReplyDeleteSolar and wind are very expensive, unreliable and environmentally disastrous.
Whatever happened to Wicomico County's agreement with SolarCity?
ReplyDeleteA "fixed" charge...yet they're going to increase it. All those contracts, based on the agreements with the electric companies...who gets screwed? The citizens.
ReplyDeleteAs usual.