Ely: Knee-jerk reaction to solar incentives

The “Big, Beautiful Bill” currently being floated in Congress affects virtually every American and reaches deep into so many areas of need. One such area is a subset of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), namely, the discontinuation of the residential solar electric and energy storage Investment Tax Credit (ITC) slated to end on Dec. 31, 2025. The ITC was initiated by the George W. Bush administration in 2005 and has proven tremendously successful in the proliferation of roof top solar (and more recently, energy storage) not only in our valley, but throughout the US. It has created thousands of jobs … and not just in the solar industry. The ripple-effect includes roofers, electricians, accountants, administrative personnel as well as supply houses, government jobs and certainly, the local economy. Section 25D, as it is called, also bolsters national security, stimulates economic growth, reduces our dependence on foreign energy resources, lowers household electric bills and provides reliability and stability to the grid by reducing peak demand and building resilience…important in the age of Climate Change. With only modest budget savings, it seems counter-productive to eliminate such a well-rounded and successful incentive.

As a solar energy and energy storage business serving the Roaring Fork and Eagle Valleys for the past 35 years, Sunsense Solar (and myself, personally) respectfully ask all in favor of these residential incentives to contact Rep. Jeff Hurd and state your objection to this knee-jerk reaction to a highly successful job creator that supports the livelihood of hundreds of your friends and neighbors. We need your support! Thank you.

Scott Ely

Carbondale