Indiana is hardly a leader in the clean energy revolution. In fact, the state is one among just a few that saw solar industry employment drop in 2014. That, combined with recent attacks in the legislature on the state’s net-metering program, could mean Indiana is moonwalking away from a bright solar future.
That said, there are still some solid incentives in Indiana that deliver it far from the bottom of the barrel in terms of solar policy. Unless House Bill 1320 passes and weakens it, Indiana has a strong net-metering program that credits consumers with distributed generation systems at the retail rate for the power they send back to the grid. The state’s utility regulators ordered mandatory net metering in 2004, which helped to spur solar industry growth in Indiana.
At the beginning of 2015, more than 1,400 Hoosiers worked in the solar industry, according to a report from the Solar Foundation. While 100 fewer than worked in solar the year before, it still suggests the state has a strong solar industry.
In addition to a strong net-metering policy, the state offers a property tax exemption for renewable energy technology. Under the renewable energy property tax exemption, program home owners and renters are eligible to receive 100 percent property tax exemption for installing renewable energy systems in their homes.
Despite some good incentives, Indiana still lacks a lot. It has no Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard.
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