In Tucson, Arizona, U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D) recently paid a visit to Solar Gain, a local business that is leading the way in renewable energy. During his tour of the facility, Tim Graunke, the Vice President of Solar Gain, expressed excitement about the industry’s growth and the impact it has had on the community.
Over the past few years, Solar Gain has expanded its workforce from 25 employees in 2015 to over 100 today. This growth can be attributed to state and federal tax incentives that encourage businesses and homeowners to switch to renewable energy sources like solar power. One such incentive is a 30% tax credit on the total cost of installing renewable energy systems in homes or businesses.
The tax credit was set to expire but was extended when Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act earlier this year. Sen. Kelly emphasized the importance of business success stories like Solar Gain in supporting renewable energy efforts and promoting sustainable practices across the country.
Many Tucson residents have already installed solar energy systems in their homes, including Craig Storlie who shared that he has seen significant savings on his energy bills since installing solar panels on his house. According to Storlie, he used to pay $150 a month for electricity but now pays only $20-$30 a month thanks to his solar panels installation by Solar Gain team. While there is an initial cost involved in installing a solar system, Solar Gain estimates that customers can expect to see a return on their investment within about five years as they are able to save up on their electricity bills and even get paid back for excess production through net metering programs offered by utility companies in Arizona like Tucson Electric Power Company (TEP).
