Solar Rising and Declining in Appalachia

In the heart of Raleigh County, West Virginia, another solar system is installed at our member group, Coal River Mountain Watch!

Solar Holler has helped to completely eliminate electricity Coal River Mountain Watch is buying from the utility company with new solar panels installed this month. Solar Holler helps individuals, businesses, and non-profits alike finance and install energy saving solar to their roofs.

Across the U.S. the states with the strongest solar industries have public policies that encourage private investment and local ownership, expand consumer energy choices, and create an open and fair market for renewable energy businesses. One of the most powerful policies for encouraging rooftop solar is a provision called net metering, which gives customers a one-for-one credit on their utility bills for excess energy their renewable energy system delivers to the grid. – see KFTC

Meanwhile, in Kentucky, renewable energy policies are among the most restrictive in the nation:

• Caps the size of net-metered systems at 30 kW. (The limit in West Virginia, Indiana and Virginia are 2,000, 1,000, and 500 kW respectively.)
• Caps the total capacity of net-metered systems at 1% of a utility’s peak load, a fraction of what other states are already achieving.
• Provides no state tax incentives for customers who install their own renewable energy systems.
• Prohibits third-party ownership of renewable energy systems, virtual net metering and independently owned community solar.

For More information on how to support solar growth in KY visit Kentuckians for the Commonwealth.