City Of Bakersfield Urges Congress To Extend Solar Tax Credit
Originally published on Solar Love
The city of Bakersfield, CA has passed a resolution urging Congress to extend the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for solar energy. Apparently, Bakersfield is the first and only city in America to officially pass such a resolution supporting the solar tax credit.
“The federal solar investment tax credit is critical for supporting local jobs and reducing energy bills for Bakersfield homeowners and businesses. I am pleased that the Bakersfield City Council passed by 5 to 1 this resolution urging Congress to extend this credit to keep our local solar economy growing,” said Council member Willie Rivera, a sponsor of the city’s resolution.
Key reasons given in passing such a momentous resolution for supporting solar power by the city are the facts that it contributes billions to the California economy and has employed about 54,000 people there. Bakersfield alone has about 10,000 residences and businesses using solar power.
The 30% tax credit for solar systems on residential properties will end in December of 2016, if Congress does not extend it. For commercial properties it will by reduced from 30% to 10%.
“Without the ITC, research shows the jobs of more than 100,000 Americans – nearly 34,000 in California alone – are at risk. More cities should follow Bakersfield’s lead, sending a message to Congress that the American public deserves energy independence and the well-paying jobs that solar produces,” explained SEIA President and CEO Rhone Resch.
Eliminating this important tax credit, or reducing it by 20%, is unfair, because oil and gas do receive subsidies, and solar power is an emerging industry that is doing very well. Removing support for it makes no rational sense – it is an idea that is entirely political.
The solar tax credit should be renewed – it’s a “slam dunk,” “no-brainer” kind of decision. Solar power is growing around the world, and the US is actually far behind global leaders like Germany. The US is also gradually emerging from the worst recession since the Depression, and making federal policy changes that reduce the number of good jobs would damage an economy that is still struggling.
Image Credit: Nick Chapman, Wiki Commons
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Yes the solution is simple, reduce the tax credit for solar and wind etc, at the same time when FF tax credits/incentives are removed! 😉
The solution is simple.
Start building tall chimney turbines there that suck up the hot toxic fumes naturally and force this air through daily washable air filters made of felt.
I analyzed Mongolia’s horrific air pollution problem and that’s what I came up with.
For those not familiar with California geography, Bakersfield is in the middle of CA where it gets very, very hot during a very, very long Summer. Air conditioning is pretty much required so electric bills are high since higher usage pays a higher rate/kWh. The payback for solar installations where I live on the moderate coast is 7-14 years. I think in Bakersfield it must be half that.
Maybe it is time for California to come up with its own STC, or we can add some incentives to NEM 2.0 that is being discussed about lately.
Bakersfield is the place where all the toxic emissions from the cities around the Bay Area through all the cities of the San Joaquin Valley collect. Even if all the Bakersfield residents are not driving their cars, nor using their fireplaces, nor burning anything in their power plants, they would still have the worst air pollution in the entire California. I always dread going through the Kern County especially the Bakersfield area and avoid eating at the restaurants at the Grapevine for fear of inhaling the invisible but deadly fumes.
Bakersfield and generally the Kern County should need all the help that they can get.
If the ITC isn’t renewed, couldn’t California make up the difference? Gas is at historically low prices and a few pennies a gallon would hardly be noticed but could mean clean solar for everyone.
Isn’t the ITC moving money from the cloudy north to the sunny southwest? Of course Bakersfield wants others people’s money to reduce their cost of electricity and maintain jobs.
A solar tax credit is good for everyone, thus it should be continued.