Many different institutions keep an eye on how American states fare as they develop renewable energy for residential and commercial users. The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) recently released a 2022 scorecard that shows which states give communities the ability to benefit from clean energy and which still have barriers in place. Each state, as well as the District of Columbia, are graded on the criteria. California came out on top!
What was Measured
According to the Community Power Scorecard, states are awarded an A, B, C, D, or F grade, like the classic grading table for most schools. The scoring data was collected from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, PACENation, SolarReviews, Vote Solar, and other data sources. The ILSR scored each state based on a total of 44 points, including the presence of state policies like:
- Customer-friendly net metering
- Interconnection rules that encourage distributed renewable energy
- Allowance for community choice in energy sources
- Energy efficiency codes built with community input
- Allowing cities to negotiate utility franchise contracts and fees
- Adhering to a standard contract for distributed renewable resources
According to the 2022 scorecard there were only 4 states that received an excellent rating, 9 received above average scores, 9 were average, 15 were mediocre, and 13 received failing grades.
Of the 4 that excelled, California tied Massachusetts for the highest score with 40 out of 44 points. Unlike Massachusetts, however, California also allows cities to start PACE financing programs and set more stringent building codes.
Be a Trailblazer
California is truly blazing the trail for other states to accept, produce, distribute, and promote renewable energy sources like photovoltaic energy. No doubt more states will improve their rating as they see the benefits flourish for the residents of California. You can participate in those benefits, too – solar power is available for homes and businesses all across the Golden State, and Solaron helps you get the most out of it. To find out how, give our office a call or schedule a free solar analysis for your home here on our website. We’ll help you get an A grade on your utility usage!