Defining the Policy Landscape and Opportunities for Democratized Energy Systems

Statewide Call with Zoe Bennett ▶︎ Video Available Recording Length: 12:03

In this April 2026 Statewide Call, Zoe Bennett, Senior Policy Analyst at Reimagine Power, walks through the 2026 California legislative landscape shaping community energy and distributed energy resources.

Zoe covers priority bills moving through the legislature this session — including measures on balcony solar, EV charging access, DER compensation, and microgrid development — alongside a look at what other states are doing to advance community energy policy. The presentation sets the stage for a rich member discussion on the Over-the-Fence Rule, open access to utility distribution wires, virtual power plants, and what California’s next governor needs to prioritize to move the needle on energy democracy.

Key Topics Covered

  • 2026 key energy policy objectives: affordability, reliability, resilience, and clean energy targets
  • SB 868 – Plug-and-Play Solar Act: expanding balcony solar access for renters
  • SB 1215 – tripling EV charger availability at multifamily properties
  • SB 913 – Clean Local Power Act: qualifying DERs and batteries for resource adequacy
  • SB 875 – municipal utility and eminent domain pathways
  • AB 2175 – microgrid and sub-metering legislation
  • National spotlight: Oregon, Ohio, and the rise of balcony solar across the U.S.

Featured Speaker

Zoe Bennett

Senior Policy Analyst, Reimagine Power

Zoe Bennett is a Senior Policy Analyst at Reimagine Power, a San Francisco-based consulting firm specializing in microgrid policy and project development. She leads legislative and regulatory tracking for a diverse coalition of clients and provides detailed analysis of distributed energy policy developments across California and the broader western United States.

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You can access all past recordings on our YouTube channel.

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