The law extending the prohibition against taxing the energygenerated from solar panels used by homeowners and establishment has beensigned into passing. California Governor, Gavin Newsom signed AB 1208 withauthor, assembly member Phil Ting.
According to an interview from solarpowerworldonline.com,Executive Director of the California Solar & Storage Association, andsponsor of AB 1208, Bernadette Del Chiaro, “We applaud Governor Newsom andAssemblymember Ting for protecting consumers’ right to generate their ownenergy from the sun without unfair taxes.”
“Reducing costs, eliminating red tape, and encouraging consumers to go solar are all critical components of meeting California’s ambitious clean energy goals,” Chiaro added.
Utility Users Tax or UUT allows cities and countries to taxutility services as a source of local revenues. However, since 2013, the use ofsolar panels and the energy generated from it has been exempted from thisability. The law sparing rooftop solar panels from this tax is set to expire byDecember 31, 2019. Now that AB 1208 has been signed, this law extends to 7years more.
According to Assemblymember, Ting, “I’m proud to champion abill that maintains California’s position as a leader in promoting renewableenergy, which helps the effort to clean our air and fight climate change. TheGovernor’s signature keeps customer-owned clean energy affordable and will keepencouraging the use of greener power to reduce our carbon emissions.”
With the law AB 1208, the local government appears to besupporting its goals for clean energy sources. It ensures that in the comingyears, consumers are protected with their investments in generating solarenergy.
According to the Executive Director of Solar RightsAlliance, Dave Rosenfeld, “I’m thrilled to see California take this decisivestep toward protecting a homeowner’s most basic clean energy right.”
Solar Rights Alliance is an association of solar users in California, acknowledged in their entire country.
“Just like growing your own carrots and avoiding salestaxes, if you put the sunlight that falls on your roof or property to your ownuse, you shouldn’t have to pay a tax either.”
The bill received a unanimous vote both from the StateAssembly and Senate, despite facing controversies when it’s introduced in May.
