The Oklahoma Bar Journal May 2024

by the International Energy Agency (IEA). 27 Three Million and Counting was IEA’s title of the same report just five years ago. 28 That number is sure to grow, as every major auto manufacturer is offering or will soon offer electric or hybrid models. Utilities have created EV divisions and are examining and forecast ing how EVs will influence their delivery of power in the future. Moreover, EV technology contin ues improving – batteries hold a charge longer and recharge quicker than ever. Therefore, depending on consumer motivation – be it to save the environment, to save money on gas or simply to own the latest in automobile technology – more EVs in the market will equate to a higher demand for electricity, which will become an opportunity for the electric power sector. In the U.S., especially compared to other countries, our reliable power allows us to recharge EVs at home, adding one more benefit – convenience. It is becoming more commonplace for people to use the electricity harnessed during the day via rooftop solar panels to charge their electric vehicles. Oklahoma – which is widely known for its oil, natural gas and wind industries – should max imize all its natural resources, including solar. More Oklahomans could benefit from the clarification and modernization of the laws surrounding solar. Among the many reasons to increase the mix of clean power, which includes solar, are its reduced impact on the environment, the safety provided by power generation at or near the source and consumer demand. As consumers better understand their electric consumption, available CONCLUSION

technologies and the associated costs and fees, and as they seek more control over both the sources of their energy and rising utility rates, they should not be held cap tive with their options restricted. Oklahoma should increase its mix of solar energy as it is a good long-term financial investment, it provides security benefits that other sources of power lack and, finally, consumer demand for solar and more sustainable elec tricity sources will eventually be too great to ignore. 29 Author’s Note: The author expresses appreciation to attorneys Jim Roth and Peter Wright and OCU School of Law student Chris Contreras for assistance in editing this article. legal, regulatory and policy issues. Ms. Pever represents clients from a variety of industries, including developers and landowners of renewable and traditional energy, hydrogen, electric transmission, pipelines, utilities, emerging technologies and telecommunications. ENDNOTES 1. James Newton, Uncommon Friends: Life with Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, Alexis Carrel & Charles Lindbergh. 1987. 2. Comparison of Solar Power Potential by State, Nebraska Energy Office (March 11, 2010), https://bit.ly/4aL9Jmd. 3. Zeeshan Hyder, “What is a Peak Sun Hour? What Are Peak Sun Hour Numbers for Your State?” SolarReviews, (Dec. 7, 2023), https://bit.ly/3PXxz5E. 4. David Biello, “Where Did the Carter White House’s Solar Panels Go?” Scientific American ( Aug. 6, 2010), https://bit.ly/4atxgYE. 5. “Distributed Generation of Electricity and its Environmental Impacts,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (May 15, 2023), https://bit.ly/49xaf5Q. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lindsey Pever is an attorney at A New Energy, where she helps clients prevent and solve problems related to their

6. Id . 7. Id. 8. “Basics of Climate Change,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Nov. 1, 2023), https://bit.ly/3TT1Cwn. 9. “Documenting a Decade of Cost Declines for PV Systems,” National Renewable Energy Laboratory (Feb. 10, 2021), https://bit.ly/4ax6E8U. 10. “The 50 States of Solar: States Eye Grid Access Fees, Time-Varying Rates, and Storage in Net Metering Successor Tariff Design During 2021,” North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (Jan. 26, 2022), https://bit.ly/3Q0NRKZ. 11. Note that this is simply an average since every solar installation and underlying financing is different. 12. 17 O.S. §158.25. 13. 17 O.S. §158.22 (1). 14. Oklahoma Office of the Secretary of Energy & Environment. No. 2018-5. Op. Attorney Gen. 4 (2018). 15. Jason Plautz, “State Rooftop Solar Crackdowns Cloud the Industry’s Future,” E&E News by POLITICO ( Oct. 24, 2023), https://bit.ly/3UbmsbQ. 16. Bobby Magill, “Oklahoma Utilities Hit Homes Using Solar with Extra Fee,” Climate Central (April 22, 2014), https://bit.ly/3VTXzm6. 22. Katie Sanders, “Rachel Maddow Unleashes on Oklahoma’s ‘Sun Tax’ but Misses Context,” PolitiFact (April 24, 2014), https://bit.ly/3UbptJd. 23. Net Metering in Oklahoma, Oklahoma Corporation Commission (April 2, 2021), https://bit.ly/3Jgdgwz. 24. Joe Wertz, “Why Solar Energy is Growing Slowly in Oklahoma,” State Impact (July 20, 2015), https://bit.ly/4aRtqIA. 25. Allison Mills, “Installing Solar to Combat National Security Risks in the Power Sector,” Michigan Tech University ( May 8, 2017), https://bit.ly/4aNHu5O. 26. Michael Dwyer, “Electric Vehicles and Hybrids Make up 16% of U.S. Light-Duty Vehicle Sales,” U.S. Energy Information Administration (Sept. 7, 2023), https://bit.ly/4aRKGgE. 27. Global EV Outlook 2023 (April 2023) IEA, https://bit.ly/4awQBIh. 28. Global EV Outlook 2018 (May 2018) IEA, https://bit.ly/49OgTEZ. 29. Anthony Deutsch, “Solar Energy Shines in Global Survey with 68% Support,” Reuters (Sept. 15, 2023), https://bit.ly/3PYdpIB. 17. Id . 18. Id . 19. Id . 20. Id . 21. Id .

Statements or opinions expressed in the Oklahoma Bar Journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Oklahoma Bar Association, its officers, Board of Governors, Board of Editors or staff.

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