Justin Sykes on How Solar Energy Policies Hurt America's Poor
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In seeking to encourage solar usage, 44 states have enacted net-metering policies, which allow customers with solar panels to sell the power they generate back to their electric utility providers. The hope is that net-metering will encourage more customers to use solar panels to reduce their overall utility costs. It sounds simple—but there is more to these mandates than meets the eye, argues Justin Sykes, a policy analyst with Americans for Prosperity. Those most likely to benefit from net-metering are high-income homeowners who can afford expensive solar panels. Meanwhile, low-income Americans are absorbing extra costs.
