Some homeowners and landlords were really smart, really ahead of the times when
they solarized houses 20 years ago–or even 40–years ago. Very early in the 21st
century, a couple originally from Montgomery County solarized a house outside of San
Francisco. “People wondered what I was doing, but it’s been low cost power all the
way.”
About a dozen years ago at the start of more mainstream solarizing, “net metering”
was introduced all across the nation and here in Indiana to help our nation shift more
swiftly to renewable energies. This process was beneficial to utility customers: as a
mechanism, net metering was meant to help incentivize homeowners to install solar by
making the investment more economical. In essence, it credits homeowners for excess
energy they generate and send back onto grid. This reduces individual’s energy bills,
lessening the burden of cost installation over the long term. Many appreciate the
environmental benefits as well. Large utility companies didn’t find this so beneficial.
In 2017, the Indiana legislature and Governor Holcomb began to phase out net
metering for large investor-owned utilities (IOUs) only (such as Duke Energy). The law
did not affect REMCs (like Tipmont) nor municipal utilities (like Crawfordsville Electric
Light and Power). Those two types of utilities can make their own rules regarding
credit for excess electricity. Tipmont still currently has net metering. So does CEL&P
though they have a cap on the amount of customer-owned solar they can have in their
service territory and are nearing that capacity.
This reality, though, has not quashed the solar industry in our state (though it is
currently stalled in our county). While Governor Holcomb was widely critiqued by
environmental groups and by alternative energy producers in 2017 for signing the bill
which, in effect, ended net metering, five years later our governor has become a kind
of international poster child for championing industrial solar projects in our state.
In November of 2022, he was in Pulaski County to introduce the second phase of
Mammoth Solar Project. That 1.5 billion dollar renewable energy project is meant to
bring 1.3 gigawatts of clean energy to span across 275 thousand households when
complete. That same month Governor Holcomb went to Egypt for a UN conference to
tout Indiana’s solar capacity among other things. In February, 2023, Governor Holcomb
told a Bloomberg News podcast that “You’re seeing a state like Indiana really punch
way above its weight class” in development of solar farms. And it’s no wonder. Current
estimates put renewable energy costs at about ⅓ of natural gas or coal-fired plant costs
to run an industry. This is a huge reversal that has take place in the last quarter century.
Despite the roller coaster of energy change and our state’s “yes” to big business and
“not so much” to individuals, small business, or non profits, Indiana Citizens and
non-profits are solarizing apace. Lots is happening in our city and county.
SUN (Solar United Neighbors) Co-op makes this big energy transition easier for the
average citizen to understand. The change can be economically advantageous for
individuals, small businesses, and non-profits, including churches. Anyone in
Montgomery County can join the SUN Solar and EV Charger Co-op of Tippecanoe and
Montgomery Counties to learn more with no pressure or obligation. A co-op gives
individuals access to unbiased expert help and adds on the value of a community
network: since a co-op is not a sales company, it has the good of the co-op members in
mind. A co-op is able to get a sizable economic advantage because of bargaining as a
whole.
For most Hoosiers, this is a new energy world and we need some education. On
June 16, SUN’s regional director Dan Robinson gave a Solar 101 presentation at
LWVMC’s Lunch with the League. Readers of this column can take advantage of three
upcoming Solar 101 presentations:
July 19 6 pm Wea Prairie Branch Library (4200 S. 18th Street, Lafayette)
July 26 6:30 pm Zoom Webinar: Register at bit.ly/7-26-Solar 101
August 17 6:30 Zoom Webinar: Register at bit.ly/8-17-Solar 101
At Solar 101 presentations you learn about solar energy and its benefits for your
home or small business. The presentation clearly explains technology, economic
issues, financial and more. Attendees learn how the co-op was launched.
SUN Co-op membership is free and members are not obligated to buy solar panels.
The deadline to sign up to be a member of SUN (Solar United Neighbors Coop) is
August 31. Visit SUN on its website: solarunitedneighbors.org/tmcounties. Our energy
future is brightening. Those who decide to solarize now not only have the buying power
of the Co-op to benefit from, but thanks to the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA),
homeowners, businesses, and non profits, can tap into the 30% investment tax credit.