To Incentivize Clean Energy, California Commits $800 Million

Following a recently-signed legislative commitment to rely entirely on clean energy by 2045, outgoing California governor Jerry Brown has signed an additional measure directing $800 million to incentivize related technologies like home storage. The goal, Ivan Penn and Inyoung Kang write, "is to capture electricity generated by solar panels during daylight hours to help keep the lights on after the sun goes down."

They go on, "The funds increase the state incentives set aside for energy storage to more than $1 billion. The rebate money can be used for residential and commercial systems, including for schools, farms and businesses."

The money comes from a fee of about 50 cents a month added to utility customers' bills, and around a third of the total has been designated for low-income people to claim first. For a deeper dive on Senate Bill 100, which set the overall 2045 goal, see our August coverage.