Indiana governor signs bill aimed at dimming solar incentive

INDIANAPOLIS —
According to a bill backed by Indiana\'s powerful utilities, the benefits that people who install solar panels currently have access to will be drastically cut in the coming years, which the governor signed into law.
Eric Holcombe TuesdayINDIANAPOLIS —
According to a bill backed by Indiana\'s powerful utilities, the benefits that people who install solar panels currently have access to will be drastically cut in the coming years, which the governor signed into law.
Eric Holcombe Tuesday
Driven by the collapse in sun costs --
Power generation, investors
Utility companies owned across the United StatesS.
Hope to have a place in this market.
But critics say the new Indiana law is part of a nationwide push for small companies.
\"Utilities definitely understand the benefits of installing solar energy on the grid, and they just want to control it,\" said Ryan zariki, president of Evensville.
Solar panel installation company, all solar design.
\"This is not a direct fatal blow to our business, but it will be harder next year.
\"Solar energy only provides about the country\'s energy --
Even less in Indiana.
However, according to the Solar Energy Foundation\'s statistics for 2016, the solar industry is growing rapidly, employing 260,077 workers nationwide.
The signing of the bill has troubled Holcombe, who has made economic growth driven by technology and innovation the core theme of this government.
He waited until the deadline set by the state constitution to sign the new law.
\"I support solar energy as an important part of the Indiana integrated energy portfolio.
The Republican governor said in a statement: \"I understand the concerns expressed by some, but this legislation ensures that those who are currently interested in small solar operations will not be affected for decades.
Investors in Indiana
State-owned utilities, which have actively lobbied for the measure, said the compensation currently received by solar panel owners who delivered excess power to the grid was too generous.
This compensation is usually a credit on the electricity bill, and for those who buy solar panels in the coming years, this compensation will be significantly reduced.
About 1,000 people who currently have alternative power supplies such as solar panels or wind turbines will become grandfathers in the next 30 years, like anyone shopping before the end of the year.
But those who buy solar panels next year or later will get the benefit in a limited amount of time --or not at all.
This may make it difficult for expensive solar panel investments to recover, although improved technology may offset this impact and improved battery technology may make it easier for owners to store the remaining energy.
\"We are pleased that this bill has been signed into law,\" said Mark Marcel, president of the Indiana Energy Association, which represents utilities.
\"No, this does not allow utilities to exercise any form of control over the solar market.
No, it won\'t shut down solar companies.
\"In fact, utilities across the United StatesS.
An alternative to home solar panels called \"community solar\" is being promoted, including the customer\'s agreement to purchase or lease panels from utilities at large panel farms.
Duke Energy
The largest power company in the United States, which plans to launch a \"community solar\" project in South Carolina this year, and seeks regulatory clearance in North Carolina, Florida, Kentucky and Ohio, according to company officials, and Indiana.
But there are questions about whether new laws are needed in Indiana.
State laws have limited the number of eligible people, requiring utility companies to provide benefits only to new customers until the utility\'s approximate energy source comes from alternative energy sources, such as solar energy.
Most utilities have so far fallen far short of this threshold.
\"In terms of clean energy, Indiana is not a state that welcomes startup and innovation,\" said Jesse Kabanda, executive director of the Hoosier Environmental Council.