SB489 – Modification of Net Energy Metering (NEM)
This bill which would open up NEM tariffs to include renewables other than wind, solar, biogas, and fuel cell generation. NEM allows a customer-generator to receive a financial credit for power generated by their onsite system and fed back to the utility. The credit is used to offset the customer's electricity bill. Up until now biomass to electricity facilities were not eligible for the tariffs.
According to KQED News “It won significant bipartisan support as it moved through various committees in both the Senate and the Assembly. The next hurdle will be a full Assembly vote and another full Senate vote to reconcile some small changes. Senate sponsor Lois Wolk (D-Stockton) says Governor Jerry Brown has been supportive of the bill and that if it gets to his desk before the end of the legislative year on September 9th, he’s likely to sign it.”
If the bill becomes law this could be a great opportunity for small scale biomass (less than 1 MW) to electricity projects including those using gasification.
CPUC NEM page
Around The Capitol information on SB 489
Check back soon for the next post on proposed changes to Feed-in Tariffs in California.
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