How deploying more local solar and storage will save Californians billions

The traditional thinking is that economies of scale make remote energy generation more cost-effective. But a recent study from the Local Solar for All Coalition, based on results from the powerful new WIS-dom-P model from Vibrant Clean Energy, turns this thinking on its head.

Using a much more sophisticated model than other studies employ, the Local Solar for All team found that deploying far more clean local energy, in close coordination with remote renewables, will save Californians billions — while helping the state achieve our clean energy goals and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs.

This study follows on one commissioned by Local Solar for All in late 2020, which showed that the US could save $473 billion by scaling up local solar+storage in addition to and in coordination with utility-scale renewables. According to the new study, California alone could save $120 billion.

Studies like these show the importance of including distributed energy resources as a key part of a robust clean-energy buildout.

This August, the Clean Coalition hosted a webinar on the California report, with Karl Rábago of Local Solar for All and Bernadette Del Chiaro of the California Solar and Storage Association presenting:

Mr. Rábago will be presenting at another webinar on 17 November 2021, this one on the critical role of local solar in achieving 80% clean electricity by 2030. Register here.