Indianapolis, IN — On Friday, June 20, solar business leaders and customers joined SUN Action for a press conference urging the U.S. Senate to reject the deep cuts to clean energy tax credits made in the U.S. House budget reconciliation bill last month emphasizing that these tax credits have resulted in a clean energy boom in Indiana, creating thousands of jobs, driving billions in investments, and lowering electricity bills for families.

The urgency of this message was underscored this week as severe storms swept across Indiana, leaving thousands without power and demonstrating the critical need for energy resilience. Now is not the time to be taking energy off the grid—we should be adding more reliable, clean energy sources, not cutting the programs that support them.

Indiana is already seeing the economic benefits of energy tax credits: More than 80 new energy projects, more than 11,600 new jobs with an anticipated 24,900 additional jobs projected in Indiana alone. Indiana’s clean energy industry is booming, but the House bill threatens to pull the rug out from under it, just when the U.S. needs it most. With soaring energy demand from AI and data centers, America needs every watt of clean energy to stay competitive and maintain its leadership in energy and technology.

“At Jefferson Electric, our team ranges from 35-50 employees, depending on the season and work volume. Without these tax credits, solar installation volume in Indiana will almost entirely disappear, threatening the jobs of many employees now and in the future, at Jefferson Electric and across the state,” said Michael Erler, President of Jefferson Electric. “Without these tax credits, Indiana will lose an important element in the State’s toolkit of energy production, creating further dependencies on sources that continue to rise in cost. Solar energy, alongside traditional and other renewable means of energy production, gives Indiana a better shot at maintaining a diverse portfolio for producing affordable energy.”

“As currently drafted, this budget bill will raise energy costs for everyone, whether you choose energy freedom by installing solar panels or not. That’s on top of the energy affordability crisis Hoosiers around the state are already experiencing as bills have gone through the roof in recent years—with no end in sight,” said Zach Schalk, Indiana Program Director at Solar United Neighbors Action. “Indiana families, especially our most vulnerable neighbors, are already forced to make hard choices each month between paying the power bill and paying for food or medicine. This bill would make those impossible choices even harder.”

“At Englewood, our work as an affordable housing provider, gives us a first hand look at how rising energy costs coupled with the housing cost crisis place a crushing burden on working class households…The Oxford Place Senior Apartments, where we are today, is an example of how energy efficiency and renewable energy can be integrated to lower overall costs for lower income residents, and seniors on fixed incomes in particular,” said Joe Bowling, Executive Director of the Englewood Community Development Corporation. “We’ve seen first hand the positive impact of solar businesses for our Near Eastside community and have known numerous neighbors who were unemployed or underemployed who now have careers with these businesses. Clean energy has resulted in economic mobility for these neighbors.”

“Thanks to the residential solar credit we were able to get solar—and without that 30% credit back it would have been nearly impossible. Once solar was in place the savings have been amazing. Just last month I paid $14.66. Yep that was it…less than $15!  That was my entire electric bill. And most of that was simply the base rate to stay on the grid!…Over the past few years, with the economy turning, it helps to cover medical bills, groceries and our rising gas heating costs. Solar, simply put, helps us pay our bills,” said Anne Mills, a Greensburg Solar Homeowner. “We need to let Senators Young and Banks know that without this initiative the growth of Hoosier businesses and economy will be directly damaged. Not to mention without the initiative, it will put solar out of the reach of your typical Hoosier homeowner.”