Tesla’s Musk, Hollywood stars join fight to oppose subsidy cut for California’s rooftop solar systems

Hollywood celebrities, billionaire Elon Musk and even basketball legend Bill Walton are all lending their star power to oppose a California proposal that would cut subsidies for rooftop solar systems.

Actors Edward Norton and Mark Ruffalo, as well as Musk, who runs electric car maker and solar provider Tesla, all took to Twitter this week to slam a plan by the state’s regulators that would impose new fees and reduce payments to residents who install rooftop solar.

“We need to get loud on this,” Norton – who starred in “Fight Club”– said in a Twitter post. “This is truly a moment of truth & choice between an American renewal, characterised by the technological innovation & entrepreneurial dynamism that made this country a powerhouse or remaining shackled to broken & dirty system.”

The proposal would reduce the compensation that rooftop solar customers receive for the power they send to the grid by as much as 80 per cent during certain times, doing away with the system where residents now get the retail power rate for their supply. The revised rules would also require new solar users to pay monthly fees that could average around US$40 a month or higher.

The lobbying effort is heating up as the California Public Utilities Commission is set to vote on the proposed changes later this month. Regulators said reforms to the popular incentive program are needed to make sure solar users pay for their fair share of costs of the electric grid, a move supported by the state’s three big investor-owned utilities – PG&E, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric – and consumer advocates.

The utilities and consumer groups say those who cannot afford to use rooftop solar end up paying higher bills to cover the subsidies.

Earlier this week, California Governor Gavin Newsom weighed in, saying he thinks changes need to be made to the proposal.