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Indiana House Passes Solar Bill

By Nick Janzen, IPB News | Published on in Business, Environment, Government
Indiana Public Media photo

The Indiana House passed a bill changing the state’s net metering policy. The bill passed 56-43. Currently, more than one thousand Hoosiers participate in net metering. They generate their own energy using solar panels or wind turbines, and they can get a credit on their utility bill if they generate more energy than they use. This bill lowers the amount of credit.

Many lawmakers spoke against it Tuesday evening, citing extraordinary negative public input and saying the matter should be studied further. GOP Representative Mike Speedy says his opposition was purely economic.

This is a huge step backwards in ignoring competitive principles to advance our state of Indiana, and this makes no sense for us to turn our backs on competition, choice, freedom and stuff it to small business.”

 But Republican Representative Dave Ober, who co-sponsored the bill, says the General Assembly can roll it back next session if Hoosiers feel those negative impacts.

“If this bill is enacted and it creates a problem, I guarantee you that we’ll be back addressing this as we probably will with distributed generation for the next ten years.”

The Senate now needs to approve the House changes to the bill. If the Senate doesn’t agree to the changes, the bill will go to a conference committee.