Take Charge Of Your Policy Fate By Joining SEIA Now

Right now the solar industry is growing and many businesses within it are prospering. This progress is thanks in part to critical policies such as the 30 percent Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and Net Energy Metering.

Public policies like these are vital to the solar industry. They affect the size of the market, rules for participating in it and the unit economics of solar energy. Policy failure can quickly change that— just ask solar companies in Hawaii.

If we wake up on Jan. 1, 2017, and the tax credit has dropped from 30 percent to 10 percent (or down to zero for residential), then we will all wish we did more to get it extended at 30 percent.

There is a lot at stake right now. Every solar company needs to decide to either:

1. Be a free-rider, doing nothing to protect and/or advance solar policy interests, hoping others will successfully carry their weight. The problem with this option is it surrenders all control over your policy fate, which includes your economic future;
2. Co-invest in policy advocacy by supporting the industry association —SEIA— in a meaningful way (i.e. a Megawatt membership and a $5,000 SolarPAC donation). The benefits of this approach include, but are not limited to: you get to participate in controlling your policy fate; you get the best ROI on your policy dollars; and you gain credibility with elected officials and regulators who are more likely to support industry positions than those of an individual company; or
3. Invest in your own policy organization to advocate for your company’s specific policy interests. The benefit of this is that you have total control of the policy agenda. However, this approach is expensive, requires a significant ramp time, and, if you don’t also join the industry association, limits your credibility with elected officials and regulators.