Rooftop ‘distributed’ solar builds resilient and local energy into our communities. It creates jobs and give consumers energy choice and freedom. Virginia’s energy plan must recognize its unique value and set forth a vision and action steps in this context. I respectfully urge Governor Northam and the DMME to consider the following recommendations as part of the 2018 Energy Plan. 1) Provide incentives for solar coupled with battery storage as a resiliency strategy.  Data from areas recently hit by weather disasters (Puerto Rico and Florida) demonstrate that on-site solar energy coupled with battery storage is the best way to provide resilient power during natural disasters. 2) Expand incentives and reduce barriers to customer-owned solar to create well-paying local jobs.According to data from the Solar Foundation, 84% of Virginia’s solar jobs are in the ‘distributed’ rooftop solar sector.. Rooftop solar, and the jobs it creates, depend on fair market access and incentives like net metering and third party ownership. It is hindered by utility-imposed standby charges, arbitrary limits on net metering and system size limitations. To grow solar jobs, Virginia needs to expand net metering, third party ownership and eliminate unnecessary barriers to customer-owned solar. 3) Discussion and action around grid modernization must include consumer participation as a key element. Virginia’s truly modern grid will be a two-way energy system that directs benefits and control back to energy consumers. Advances in rooftop solar, battery storage and electric vehicles now enable energy consumers to actively participate in their energy system. As such, conversations around grid modernization must include adequate input from consumers and ratepayers and adquately value solar distributed generation. Thank you for your consideration. 

Aaron Sutch