SEIA Responds to Governor Newsom’s Actions on California Clean Energy Bills

Association (SEIA) issued a statement, attributable to Stephanie Doyle, SEIA's California state affairs director, on Governor Gavin Newsom's recent actions on several clean energy bills. The statement lists laws the governor signed that SEIA supports and notes a notable veto.

SEIA says it is pleased that the governor signed "numerous bills" aimed at supporting reliable electricity generation and transmission and expanding access to solar and storage. The statement identifies specific bills SEIA supported and advocated for:

• AB 864: Establishes a pathway to advance solar panel recycling in California. This legislation is intended to tackle end-of-life management for panels as deployments grow.
• AB 1156: Makes it easier for farmers to develop solar projects on land where farming is no longer viable, creating an alternative revenue source for landowners facing difficult economic conditions.
• AB 2493: Aims to improve transmission buildout, which SEIA sees as necessary for moving power where it's needed and integrating more clean resources.
• SB 898: Legalizes balcony solar, removing barriers that had prevented small, plug-in PV systems for apartments, condos, and single-family homes.

SB 913 and aggregated distributed energy resources

SEIA highlights SB 913 as a modernization of rules that will allow aggregated distributed energy resources (DERs) to participate in grid operations. According to the statement, SB 913 will enable DER aggregation to help stabilize the grid and reduce electricity prices at times of peak demand. SEIA frames this as a tool to use rooftop solar, storage, and other distributed assets as system-level resources.

The vetoed bill: AB 1813 and community solar

SEIA expresses clear disappointment with Governor Newsom's veto of AB 1813. The association describes the veto as a setback to establishing a viable, scalable community solar program in California. SEIA says it will continue working with legislators and the next governor to create a community solar program that meets Californian demand.

Why these moves matter (according to SEIA)

SEIA's statement ties the signed bills to practical outcomes:

• More pathways for recycling panels address future waste and circularity as deployment increases.
• Allowing solar on marginal farmland offers farmers another income option where crop production is no longer feasible.
• Transmission improvements help deliver clean energy across regions.
• Legalizing balcony solar and permitting DER aggregation expand options for customers to access clean, lower-cost power and to contribute to grid reliability.

Beyond praising the bills that were signed, SEIA commits to continuing advocacy where it sees gaps—most visibly pushing for a community solar program after AB 1813's veto. The organization frames that work as ongoing engagement with state lawmakers and incoming leadership.

SEIA frames the governor's signed bills as concrete steps to broaden access to solar and storage, modernize rules for distributed resources, and address lifecycle issues for solar panels. At the same time, SEIA notes the veto of AB 1813 as a missed opportunity for community solar and signals it will press the issue with future state leadership.