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LAFCO hears update on pole-mounted solar pilot; local hiring and metering issues raised
Summary
LAFCO received an update on a proposed pole-mounted solar pilot with PetroSolar, discussed technical and permitting constraints (PG&E interconnection, non-revenue meters, CEQA), and public commenters urged local-hire requirements for installations.
Caroline Tang, LAFCO staff, briefed commissioners on follow-up work since the Sept. 17 meeting about a pole-mounted solar project modeled on a New Jersey deployment. Tang said LAFCO staff and SFPUC representatives have met twice with PetroSolar and summarized outstanding issues including the need to secure PG&E agreement for interconnection (because generated energy would feed PG&E’s distribution system), the communications and monitoring mechanism for the units, and metering: the units would have meters but not "revenue quality" meters, which raises questions about how output would be measured for billing or RPS qualification.
Tang and PetroSolar representatives also discussed potential conflict with the SFPUC’s LED streetlight communications plan and the need for a CEQA review before a broad rollout. PetroSolar regulatory affairs manager Walker Wright told the commission the company was preparing a draft pilot proposal and hoped to provide a draft next week. LAFCO and SFPUC staff said a pilot could proceed without CEQA or formal PG&E approval (to test the technology) but a larger-scale installation would require interconnection agreements and environmental review.
Public commenters urged LAFCO and PetroSolar to include strong local-hiring commitments. Joshua Arce recommended carving out 50% local-hire guarantees for installation and assembly work; Walker Wright said PetroSolar already emphasizes local assembly in its New Jersey project and welcomed proposals that include hiring targets.
Why it matters: the project would deploy distributed solar on streetlight poles, which could add local generation and jobs but raises technical and permitting issues (metering accuracy, utility interconnection, and CEQA compliance) that must be resolved before scaling up.
What’s next: PetroSolar plans to submit a draft pilot proposal; staff will review the draft and advise whether a pilot can be added to the joint SFPUC–LAFCO meeting agenda in December. Any rollout beyond a pilot will require agreements with PG&E and CEQA review.
