BATON ROUGE, La., March 5, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This
week, Acadian Consulting Group issued a biased study attacking
rooftop solar in Louisiana. The author, David Dismukes, is a well-known advocate for the
fossil fuel industry and an outspoken critic of renewable
energy. The Alliance for Solar Choice (TASC) and several
state-based groups are calling on the Public Service Commission to
denounce the draft study because of Dismukes' and Acadian's
demonstrated bias.
Acadian and Dismukes' clients include utilities such as Entergy
and Cleco, and oil and gas companies. Dismukes has taken
money from oil industry front groups to fund numerous
anti-renewable studies, served as an expert witness for more than a
dozen oil and gas companies, and commented publicly on his support
for fossil fuel subsidies.
"The PSC owes Louisianans more than policymaking based off the
work of a fossil fuel front man," said TASC Co-Chairman
Bryan Miller. "Louisiana voters deserve energy choice in the
form of rooftop solar, and they continue to demand it."
Last July, TASC and several advocacy groups filed a complaint
with the Public Service Commission because Dismukes' exclusive
representation of fossil fuel groups and regulated utilities create
alarming conflicts of interest. The complaint also addressed
ethical concerns surrounding Dismukes' and Acadian's past work
products. Public Service Commissioner and then-Chairman
Eric Skrmetta, known for taking a
high percentage of contributions from the entities he regulates,
ignored those concerns last year and is now using the study as an
anti-solar lobbying tool.
Utility monopolies are using the biased Dismukes study to attack
a fundamental rooftop solar policy called net metering. Net
metering exists in 44 states and gives solar customers fair credit
for the excess energy they provide to the grid. Utilities
want to roll back net metering to eliminate rooftop solar
competition and protect their monopolies.
In September, the Mississippi Public Service Commission produced
a study from a reputable, objective consulting firm that shows net
metering provides a financial benefit to all ratepayers and helps
keep electricity rates low. All of the recent independent
studies by state regulators show that net metering is a financial
benefit to all ratepayers.
About The Alliance for Solar Choice
The Alliance for
Solar Choice (TASC) leads the rooftop solar advocacy across the
country. Founded by the largest rooftop companies in the nation,
TASC represents the vast majority of the market. Its members
include: Demeter Power; Silevo; SolarCity; Solar Universe; Sunrun;
Verengo; and ZEP Solar.
CONTACT: Susan Glick, (415)
580-6874, press@allianceforsolarchoice.com
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SOURCE The Alliance for Solar Choice