SEIA Statement on Governor Newsom’s Actions on Clean Energy Bills

California Governor Newsom signed a batch of clean energy bills this week, with mixed news for homeowners interested in solar and storage. SB 913 updates grid rules to let groups of small solar and battery systems work together to help stabilize the power grid and lower electricity costs during peak demand hours. SB 898 legalizes balcony solar, opening the door for renters and condo owners to plug in small solar setups without the land or roof access a full rooftop system requires.

Newsom also vetoed AB 1813, a bill that would have set up a statewide community solar program. Community solar lets people buy into a shared solar project and get credit on their electric bill, which is useful for renters or anyone whose roof can't support panels. Without this program, California still lacks a large-scale version of that option, and advocates say they'll keep pushing for one with the next governor.

A few other bills Newsom signed could matter down the road: one creates a system for recycling old solar panels, another makes it easier to build solar on farmland that's no longer good for growing crops, and another aims to speed up new transmission lines to carry more power to the grid. None of these change what's available to homeowners immediately, but they shape the rules and infrastructure around solar and storage in California going forward. If you're in California and weighing solar or battery storage, it's worth watching how these changes play out in your area.