Chairman’s Corner-December 2015
My last Chairman’s Corner article and I want to say, “CONGRATULATIONS” to all of us. The 30% solar tax credit has been extended and this will benefit homeowners, business owners, electric cooperatives, solar installers, the Texas grid…let me just say – EVERYBODY. It’s really great news.
The tax credit is good for individual Texans and allows you to make the choice on how you get your electricity. It’s good for Texas because it generates much-needed electricity in our booming state and it keeps our tax dollars right here at home where we can invest and spend locally.
So let me plant the first idea for 2016. If Texas policy makers can provide any incentive, whether monetary or policy, it can help “repatriate” Texas tax dollars right here at home instead of going to the IRS and Washington DC. Imagine solar across tens of thousands (hundreds of thousands???) of Texas homes, businesses, and ranches. That’s a lot of tax dollars that you get to keep, and Texas will see long-term benefits both in terms of energy production and money being spent right in Texas. I’d love to hear any and all ideas for how we “Solarize Texas!”
Any “Solarize Texas” campaign must include the electric cooperatives, which are so rich and important a part in our Texas energy grid. Last year, TXSES recognized that the Texas electric cooperatives were the next “frontier” for solar. Today, solar is taking off as cooperatives explore distributed generation for their members. Whether on-bill financing with ultra-low interest rates via a USDA program (kudos Pedernales!) or community solar projects that the IRS approved for sharing of the tax credit benefits, or fair net-metering policies, Texas electric cooperatives will soon lead the way for Texas solar.
This is happening because you, the cooperative members, are saying it is important to you. And when it is important to you, it becomes important to the boards that initiate and approve new policy. So keep pushing them to explore the collective benefits of solar.
Texas has four great natural resources for energy – solar, wind, oil, and natural gas. We can export the last two but the first two need to be used right here at home. If we get this right, Texas earns ample severance taxes that are so important for the Texas general fund (gas and oil) while keeping your tax dollars in your pocket (solar!) for you to spend in our state how you choose.
Thank you for letting me be your board chair for the last two years. And thank you for supporting the Society and its mission to spread solar across our homes, businesses, and ranches across the state.
2016 will be a great year for Texas solar.
Scot Arey/TXSES Chairman