Solar Advocates Demand Change From State Legislators, You Can Too!

Every year, Hoosiers from around the state gather at the Statehouse on Indiana Renewable Energy Day to speak in front of legislators and push for a more sustainable future in Indiana. This year’s Renewable Energy Day fell on January 26. You can find a full recap of the event here.

During the rally, solar advocates attempted to address the bias in favor of utilities and the strong influence they seem to have on politics in Indiana. Utilities support policies that make solar panels less affordable, which makes the community, solar businesses and the environment suffer. A good example is net metering. People with solar panels end up providing the utilities with extra production which makes the grid more stable overall.  Receiving credits for delivering extra energy back to the grid should not be such a point of contention. Utilities, however, do not like having to issue credits and so they lobbied and got those credits reduced.

Utilities care about making money for themselves and maintaining power. Solar companies like Green Alternatives, on the other hand, care about the environment, sustainability and saving our customers money. If more people understand the importance of renewable energy and speak up, our politicians will have to listen! We put you first, and yourstate should be doing the same.

Importance of Renewable Energy in Indiana

There are many benefits to using renewable energy and creating more access to solar panels. For starters, solar energy is good for the environment. Solar power doesn’t pollute the air or produce greenhouse gases. It replaces other forms of non-renewable energy like coal, gas, and oil. 

Whether it’s a residential, commercial or agricultural project, solar panels save Hoosiers money. “In 2019, the district installed solar panels at three schools. Bob Rice, energy manager at Hamilton Southeastern Schools in Fishers, estimated the district saved $310,000 in energy costs at those schools,” according to this article. Meanwhile, utility rates continue to rise.  

Additionally, solar creates new jobs and helps businesses meet their climate goals. When the state favors utility-only solar, it prevents Indiana solar businesses from growing.

How to Help 

As a community, we must express to politicians the importance of renewable energy and urge them to act in our best interest.. The best way to help is to speak up and support solar initiatives. We also encourage you to vote and elect representatives who favor solar energy and climate change. To join the conversation on climate change and solutions, text “Indiana” to 73224. 

At Green Alternatives, we work around obstacles and develop personalized solar solutions to save people money and help the environment. Together, we can go solar for a brighter, more sustainable future. For questions about solar energy and our services, call us at 765-480-2423, or email gai@solargai.com.