Letter: Net metering is key to solar

In reference to the article “Surrounded by solar” [May 21] about a proposed 1,600-acre solar farm threatening to surround some Zionsville-area homes, my wife and I built a new house a little more than a year ago and put solar panels on the roof.

In the last year, we have eliminated more than 23,900 pounds of carbon emissions, which is the same as planting 180 trees. Not only does the solar help to save us money, but we are also making a positive impact on our community and planet. We need both utility scale and rooftop solar for these reasons.

Not only do we get a benefit through cost reduction, but we also benefit all other consumers by supplying excess energy back to the grid. In addition to the cost reductions, think about the impact on carbon reductions if there is more solar energy from large utility scale solar installations and individual homes. Solar producers are making our world a healthier place.

However, to keep rooftop solar going in Indiana, we need to make sure that we keep net metering. This provides a benefit to everyone—the solar owner and the utility companies. Think about a hot sunny day in August when we are giving back energy to the grid so that the utility company does not have to stress their systems or build new power plants.

If net metering goes away, many solar owners would buy battery storage and hoard energy for their own use and not share back to the grid.

Solar is a win for everyone

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Doug Prince