Contact: Matt Cruz 574-235-5849
press@southbendin.gov
BUTTIGIEG ON TODAY’S STATEHOUSE VOTE: STATE SHOULD PROTECT CUSTOMER CHOICE AND SOLAR JOBS
Today Mayor Pete Buttigieg offered the following statement regarding today’s scheduled vote on Senate Bill 309 by the Utilities Committee in the State House of Representatives: “Solar installations are a growing part of our economy, and this legislation would make our city worse off. Taking away fair returns from families and businesses who invest in solar and other distributed energy technologies is a step backward for our economy. This policy will make future solar installations less attractive just as our local solar industry is growing, with 236 Hoosiers currently employed in this field in St. Joseph County and 2,700 statewide. It also leaves households spending more on electricity and less on local shops, restaurants, and other sectors. I hope the State House will choose to support the workers who depend on these jobs and to promote fair competition in the electricity marketplace.” Senate Bill 309, if enacted, would reverse “net metering” policies that empower users who install solar and other distributed energy technologies to receive credit for energy that they contribute to the electric grid. 43 states have similar net metering policies. Indiana adopted limited net metering in 2005.
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