A new requirement for California solar projects coming in January 2024

A law is changing worker pay requirements for some commercial solar projects in the state.

 

If your California business or nonprofit is thinking about going solar, there’s no better time to act than now! The present is always a great time to start benefiting from lower power bills and the many other benefits of solar. But now, there’s another reason not to delay going solar.

Starting on January 1, 2024, commercial solar projects in California will be subject to new rules set forth by AB 2143, which was signed into law in September 2022. Under AB 2143, any commercial-scale, non-residential net energy metered (NEM) solar project is considered a public works project and is therefore subject to prevailing wages. That requirement includes any energy storage associated with a project. The law applies to all construction workers and apprentices who work on these projects.

What does this mean for your solar project? That depends.

 

Learn more about prevailing wage in our featured article in Solar Power World here!

Author

  • Rosana Francescato is Lead Writer and Analyst at CollectiveSun. A seasoned communications professional with over a decade of experience in clean energy, Rosana led communications at two startups and a nonprofit before joining CollectiveSun. She has written extensively for publications like CleanTechnica, PV Magazine, Solar Power World, PV Solar Report, and Energy Central. Rosana’s passion for accelerating our transition to clean energy in a way that includes everyone led her to serve on the boards of several clean energy nonprofits and to volunteer installing solar with GRID Alternatives — where she was the top individual fundraiser at the Bay Area Solarthon for ten years in a row. She has a BA in English from Earlham College.

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