In a big win for California electricity customers, businesses and clean energy economy, the California state appellate court upheld the state’s electricity research and development program today. Southern California Edison recently brought a legal challenge to the Public Utility Commission’s most recent approval of the program, which have been funded for decades in various iterations. NRDC, Votesolar and the Union of Concerned Scientists intervened to defend the program in court.
The programs invest 162 million a year in new technologies to ensure a clean, reliable and low cost energy future. These investments, administered by the California Energy Commission and investor owned utilities will help keep Californian’s energy bills low, protect against climate change, and promote greater adoption of renewable energy and efficiency. California's electricity sector faces unique challenges and opportunities in all of these areas and the court's ruling represents a big victory for California clean energy.