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Dear Members of Congress,
As some of the nation’s leading solar energy companies, we write to convey the importance of extending the Section 48 and Section 25D investment tax credits (ITC) for solar and other clean energy resources.
The ITC has a tremendous track record of spurring clean energy deployment across the country, creating nearly a quarter million well-paying jobs and driving down electricity costs for consumers, businesses and municipalities. It also has generated significant economic activity, accounting for $140 billion in private investment since its inception.
As you consider clean energy tax legislation, we urge you to include a multiple-year extension of the Section 48 and Section 25D tax credits before they begin to phase down at the end of this year. The residential and commercial investment tax credits will step down from 30 percent at the end of this year. The credit falls to 26 percent in 2020, 22 percent in 2021, and, in 2022, the residential renewable energy credit is eliminated, and the commercial investment tax credit drops to 10 percent.
As a result of these credits and greater competition in the electricity sector, more Americans have access to clean energy than ever before. The greatest solar job growth today is happening in the Midwest and Southeast, in emerging markets such as Kansas, North Dakota, Illinois, Alabama and Florida. More than 240,000 Americans work in solar energy today, a figure that has more than doubled since 2010. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “solar installer” could become the fastest-growing occupation in America.
While this recent success has driven 50 percent annual solar growth over the past decade, solar energy can do more for the economy, especially since it accounted for only 2.3 percent of total U.S. electricity generation in 2018 and less than 1 percent of generation in 29 states. Harmful public policy changes could quickly compromise future growth. For instance, the solar industry has experienced $8 billion of cancelled or deferred investments and the loss of 9,000 jobs in the wake of federal policy changes singling out solar. That's why we're asking you to extend the Section 48 and Section 25D investment tax credits for clean energy resources and support the continued growth of solar nationwide.
Thank you for your continued work and leadership developing American-made clean energy. We appreciate your consideration of our views and look forward to bringing solar to more of your constituents.
Andrew Breiter-Wu
President
Breiter Planet Properties
p:(617) 334-5785
m: (401) 954-6450
The 50% by 2030 mandate would include a provision that utilities source at least 14.5% of their power from solar, the highest portion of any policy to date. But to do that it has to get through both the Maryland House and Governor Hogan.
Image: Thisisbossi via Wikipedia. Licensed under Creative Commons.
At Solar Power Northeast representatives from Cypress Creek, Stem and Kearsage Energy discussed the possibilities and limitations of bringing big solar to New York and New England.
Forefront Power
“500 MW might actually cover all of Rhode Island,” joked Paul Raducha, senior developer for Kearsage energy, but there’s real sentiment behind his quip. While states like California, Nevada and Arizona have seen utility-scale development at mind boggling scales, there are few massive solar plants yet on the East Coast north of Virginia.
Now let’s be honest, nobody is asking for or realistically expecting a multitude of 100 or more MW plants in New England and New York. So what is there to expect?
Contrary to President Trump, more and more U.S. states are setting their sights on an ambitious expansion of solar and other renewables. Five new state governors elected in the midterms are committed to achieving 100% renewable electricity. Several others are also pro-clean energy and pro-solar.
