Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021 | 2 a.m.
View more of the Sun's opinion section
This year will be a little brighter thanks to our U.S. senator, Catherine Cortez Masto.
In addition to helping secure economic relief for Nevadans, Cortez Masto did more than anyone to keep solar energy growing in Nevada. For years she has been a champion of the most important federal policy for solar energy, the Investment Tax Credit (ITC). She introduced the bill to continue the ITC and keep solar energy growing strong.
The ITC is a tax credit that effectively reduces the cost of solar by 26%. The amount of the credit was going to fall at the end of 2020, but Cortez Masto successfully extended it by two years. This will keep solar energy cost-competitive and accessible to Nevadans. And since sunshine is one of the state’s most abundant natural resources, this policy is a major win here.
This legislative victory will help Nevadans save money on their utility bills at a time when they need it most. According to new research, as families are staying home more, they’re also spending more of their incomes on electricity than ever before. In fact, American families spent an extra $6 billion on electricity from April through July.
The ITC will continue to support the growth of solar energy jobs in Nevada. Smart policies like the ITC have created good-paying jobs across our state. In addition, they will help protect Nevada’s fragile environment and accomplish Gov. Steve Sisolak’s admirable goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The writer is Las Vegas branch manager for Sunrun, a rooftop solar and battery company.
