H.R. 2 was introduced to the House of Representatives yesterday, a landmark $1.5 trillion proposal to rebuild America’s infrastructure. It should be voted on before July 4.
In addition to $300 billion to build and fix roads and bridges, the bill also invests in programs to reduce carbon pollution. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has commented that the “Moving Forward Act” applies the principles of the Green New Deal.
Many solar and storage provisions are included in the bill, including:
- 5-year extension of Sec. 48 and 25D of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) at 30% through 2025, followed by a two-year phase-down (2026 at 26% and 2027 at 22%)
- Direct pay proposal at 85% for section 48 qualifying projects for the same amount of time as the PTC/ITC credits exist
- Storage ITC
- Proposals to incentivize investment in clean energy for low income and underserved communities
- Tax credits for clean energy manufacturing
- Grid modernization provisions
- Funds for transmission planning with a requirement to account for renewable energy generation
- Grant program for solar installation in low-income and underserved communities
- Funds for renewable energy installation in community institutions, such as schools
- Improvements to public lands renewable energy development programs
The above information was provided by industry advocacy group Solar Energy Industries Association.
“We look forward to working with bipartisan leaders in the House and Senate on policies that help put American solar workers in a position to lead economic recovery from the COVID-19 economic crisis. We know that with the right policies in place, including many of those proposed in the Moving Forward Act, clean energy can add hundreds of billions of dollars in investment and perhaps a million or more jobs back into the economy,” said Abigal Ross Hopper, president and CEO of SEIA. “Close to 90% of Americans support policies to promote a clean energy future. We will continue to work with Congress to push for policies that help restore lost solar jobs and resume our industry’s progress in the Solar+ Decade.”
As the House moves to vote within the next two weeks, SEIA is requesting that solar companies add their names to a letter to Congress. Those interested can fill out a form here.
In an ideal society the subsidies that start an industry will always fade away. The society investments in their people (workers and their families) {education, health, environment} probably must be permanent, but need some feedback to watch for inefficiencies and work for continuing improvement.
Most importantly, as a former Republican, I urge all to vote to first get Biden elected, give major control of Congress back to Democrats. Then support true green energy for so many reasons. I have had solar panels on my house for 9 years with Enphase inverters. They stopped working, all 22 of them, over the past 6 months. Enphase told me they would sell me 22 more advanced inverters at cost, $2200 with an additional $1300 installation cost. Of significance, my panels continue to generate power and the inverters continue to actually work, it is the computer program that stopped working. A turnoff, to say the least since enph solution is to sell me new invertors. Of course, possible legal issues may plague enph as well. I am interested in knowing whether solaredge has similar problems?
Good grief. You solar communication device failed. If you replace that, your monitoring system will work again. You are likely producing power like normal, you just can’t track it…and it could just be a failed communication wire connection.
Sounds good, at first reaction. But what you always have to ask yourself – with any government program – is “how can this money be better spent?” The solar industry has thrived over the last decade, in partial thanks to large tax breaks and incentives. $1.5 trillion would go a long way to fix or help other important issues such as: education, homelessness, mental illness, health, hunger, crime, utility infrastructure, transportation, pandemics, and tax reductions. Or even other methods to help the environment or reduce greenhouse gases. I’ve worked in the solar industry for 8 years, and the solar industry is very mature and should stand on its own now. Not to mention the costs for the govt to administer such special programs are astronomical, rendering such programs much less effective than they seem at first glance.
Reduce carbon emissions and spike the economy!
It’s a no brainer and simply put the right thing to do!
This is the way to support the economy in a sustainable way, taking care of our communities and our environment.
Ana, there’s nothing “sustainable” about taking money out of taxpayers’ pockets and putting it in yours, and it absolutely does not “support the economy”. It’s just welfare for industry workers who can’t survive without government handouts.
Gary the oil industry gets billons per year in subsidies. Why shouldn’t solar and renewables?
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2018/jul/30/america-spends-over-20bn-per-year-on-fossil-fuel-subsidies-abolish-them
Gary, societies/governments need to subsidize activities that they believes have a long term payback, even though there is a significant upfront cost. As a nation we insist on children going to school. it represents a huge upfront cost, but society has decided that not paying for educating our children is a recipe for long term disaster.
Solar projects have a significant short and long term societal benefits. Clearly solar project construction work goes to American workers, who then cycle their income back into our own economy, and solar projects help us fight climate change — which is now fact not conjecture. I have 8 grandchildren. I want them to know that we have done out best to fight back against a warming planet.
Couldn’t agree more said every Fossil Fuel Exe with their hands out.
Love it!
Yes this would be absolutely fantastic so many people feed their families including myself thanks to working in the solar industry. As the investment tax credit has stepped down from 30% to 26% this year we have already seen a negative affect in being able to help families switch to solar. By extending the tax credit you will be helping my family keep food on the table and also helping other families take control of their electricity bills.