Gary K. Smith: Solar benefits

Thanks for the June 2 Point of View “How solar could make N.C. the next Silicon.” Hugh McColl Jr. spoke well from a business perspective of the North Carolina renewable energy 35 percent tax credit. The credit is also important to enable nonprofits to install solar.

This spring, my small church raised $37,000 to put solar panels on our roof. This was only possible thanks to the tax credit that donors can take. Other houses of worship are planning to do this, too, but they will stop if the credit ends this year. Extension is critical.

McColl did not mention the third party sales bill now also in consideration. This bill allows North Carolina property owners who cannot afford to install solar themselves to buy electricity from a renewable energy company, and it provides them the freedom to generate electricity on their private property.

This bill is supported by Republicans, Democrats, big businesses and clean air groups. It would not raise electricity rates; in fact, the decreased power demand on utilities would mean that they would not need to raise rates to build additional expensive power plants.

More solar power in North Carolina means more local jobs and a stronger economy.

This story was originally published June 6, 2015 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Gary K. Smith: Solar benefits."