Like you, I am disappointed in the incoming president's uninformed dismissal of solar's potential. This consciously denigrates the significant solar investments worldwide and the solar industry's 200,000+ American workers, more than all fossil fuel extraction combined.
Clearly, an enormous challenge awaits our industry over the next four years as we work to hold onto our recent gains and find new opportunities for growth. The new president will have a Republican majority in both houses of Congress. This gives him almost unlimited opportunity to enact the policies that reflect his views and repeal those that don't. Among other things, the recent extension of the ITC may be affected.
But all is not lost.
Florida's deceptively worded Amendment #1, which would have allowed that state's utilities to impose punitive charges on solar customers, was defeated. That vote underscores the ongoing popular support solar enjoys across political lines. Here in Georgia, we are lucky to have our solar-friendly Public Service Commission, especially Republican Commissioner Bubba McDonald. The PSC's work and support has created a robust solar market in Georgia without mandates or incentives at the state level.
This point is very important, because the authority to determine energy policy lies primarily with state government. Our Republican majority legislators have demonstrated that they are open to commonsense solar-friendly policies. They understand a robust solar market helps create good jobs and long-term investment with no upward pressure on utility rates.
In the current political environment, however, educating elected officials and the public about the economic and environmental benefits of solar has never been more critical. And that is what GA Solar does best, in cooperation with a wide range of stakeholders. We communicate most effectively when we speak together.
Market fundamentals are strong for solar. Here are the facts that will continue to keep our solar market thriving:
- The cost of solar is now at grid parity with other fuel sources at utility scale. Costs are projected to come down further over the next five years.
- Storage technology has arrived and is rapidly improving making solar plus storage a 24/7 generation technology and a clean alternative to traditional energy resources.
- Consumers have a financially viable choice of how they generate and consume energy and consumer choice is a bedrock principle of Georgia's historic property right tradition.
- The electrification of the transportation sector will require more capacity to be added to the grid.
- Because solar is Georgia's #1 source of domestic energy production and at grid parity, solar should play a significant role in additional capacity moving forward.
- Policymakers recognize that solar creates jobs, promotes economic development, and increases Georgia's energy security and independence.
This is the biggest opportunity for innovation in generations. Georgia can become a leader in the emerging solar market, creating thousands of jobs and lucrative economic investments that will benefit communities statewide for decades.
Your continued support for GA Solar is essential to this mission. We are feeling especially grateful at this moment for the support we have had in these years of enormous progress. We hope you will continue your contribution to enable us to meet the challenges ahead.
Let's join hands with all our solar allies and stakeholders, including consumers, environmentalists and trade organizations, to focus our efforts on tangible goals such as getting a fair value for solar (known as the Renewable Cost Benefit framework (RCB) currently before the PSC) and eliminating barriers to intended use of HB 57 contained in the Co-Gen Act. And, let us hear from you on what you think we can do to keep solar strong in Georgia.
With Georgia’s solar market ranked 4th in the U.S. and job growth up 23% in 2016, solar is on the move in Georgia. Now a new solar bill (HB 431) aims to remove barriers to rooftop solar, protect consumers, and unlock the free-market potential of solar promising continued growth for years to come.
