Solar Rights Alliance

“Prior to submitting the 990, we distribute a draft 990 to the board via email and ask for an email confirmation from each board member of receipt and review.”

“We annually require board members and officers to complete and submit a new conflict of interest form, and store these in the organizational files.”

“No documents available to the public”

“Stop the big utility tax led statewide effort to pass ab 1999, which would have stopped an uncapped fixed charge on all ratepayers from going into effect. Utilities and their allies are pushing for this charge, aka the "utility tax" to be 50/month or more. Organized a statewide coalition with hundreds of organizations, mobilized thousands of constituent calls into lawmaker offices, lobbied state legislators, and generated media attention. Ab 1999 was defeated under pressure from gov. Newsom, legislative leadership, and utility lobbyists to keep the utility tax. The cpuc ultimately set the tax at 24/mo for most ratepayers, with plans to increase. We intend to keep fighting this tax, with the goal of killing it entirely or rolling it back to the national average of 12/mo.”

“Refuting utility lies about rooftop solar working with energy economists and solar industry experts, launched a public education campaign to demonstrate that rooftop solar actually is a net savings to all ratepayers, and debunk the false claim that rooftop solar is responsible for the state's high electricity rates. Using hard data, we built out a website - www.solarrights.org/cost-shift - that outlined how utility spending increases on poles and wires are the real cause of high rates, and how rooftop solar reduces that spending. We also conducted and published research on the origins of the "cost shift" lie with utility public relations executives. Organized webinars, presentations to nonprofit groups and lawmakers, and briefings with reporters. Also helped solar users respond to media stories that repeated the false claim.”

“Exposing utility influence in politics published new and expanded data showing the breadth and depth of utility influence over california politics, showing campaign contributions, lobbying, and payments to nonprofits, academics, and trade groups. The data demonstrated how the utilities have spent more than 1 billion to buy loyalty, goodwill, or silence at every level of california politics and culture. Distributed this research via our website, other organizations, and the media.”

“Consumer education & protection - the solar help desk maintained and updated our online consumer guide, available for free on our website. Informed our list of 150,000 solar consumers about the consumer guide. Each week, the solar help desk fields 50-100 calls and emails from current and prospective solar consumers and helps troubleshoot issues and answer questions.”