Can we get the facts about the Rider E solar tax? The [letter to the editor] by Jeff Dennis, an elected city representative who is supposed to advocate for the best interests of his constituents, was an obvious attempt to convince readers that Rider E has not squashed rooftop solar in the city. BG residents are smart enough to know that the Rider E solar tax does just that. What was referred to as a cost-of-service study is not an adequate study using actual costs. The contribution of rooftop solar to local power demands cannot be matched by remote generators that lose energy in transmission.
BG city officials do not seem to value the clean energy that is generated with no upfront capital costs or debt-servicing costs that BG Utilities has to pay and is passed along in our rates. We cannot get a straight answer on how many rooftop solar installations have been made in Bowling Green after Rider E. These are simple questions:
- How many rooftop solar installations have been made since Rider E was implemented in July 2021?
- How many rooftop solar installations made before Rider E are still operating in the city?
- Did anyone who installed rooftop solar in the city know about Rider E if they installed rooftop solar after its implementation?
I appreciate the efforts of Joe Demare and others who advocate for the best interests of BG residents, although he is not a paid city councilperson and does his advocacy and research without costing taxpayers and ratepayers in the city, like our elected “representatives.”
DeMare’s research shows that only two installations were made after Rider E was implemented, whereas there was a growing number of installations and increasing interest before that, as there is in the rest of the country. Ironically, BG accused us of costing our “less affluent” neighbors with our solar panels, whereas rooftop solar programs could benefit them the most, if the city really cared about that.
No public notice or comment period or advanced notice of this policy change was made, so how would anyone trust that additional fees would not be implemented to degrade their investment in the future? With such a unilateral change in policy implemented without public knowledge or consent, who would be willing to invest in rooftop solar in the city, knowing that an even greater tax could be implemented in the future? It does not make sense to spend money to install rooftop solar in Bowling Green, despite the economic and environmental advantages of solar now being the cheapest form of energy in the United States.
We have been unable to obtain all answers to our questions, and we wonder how Mr. Dennis got his, and if he did the fact-checking to verify them. These are simple questions, and despite records requests, we still do not know how many rooftop solar installations are operating in the city and where, before and after Rider E.
It stands to reason that no one would invest in rooftop solar, and there would be no chance for community solar in BG that would actually help our less affluent neighbors, as long as Rider E is in place. It is just common sense that to make a personal investment in rooftop solar is risky, so how can Mr. Dennis assert that rooftop solar installations have doubled? Perhaps a retraction is in order?
Bowling Green asserts that it has not banned rooftop solar, but what is Rider E other than a de facto ban to discourage those who would like to invest in clean energy in the city? Rider E discourages anyone who might want to participate in providing clean energy, reducing their carbon footprint, and helping their less affluent neighbors gain access.
Bowling Green would do well to learn from Ann Arbor, who is implementing a robust policy to encourage renewable energy, including community solar. BG could do the same, but there does not seem to be the political will for that. With high winds, erratic weather, and now a Title V gas plant planned for Meta projected to emit 2.5 million tons per year of greenhouse gasses in Wood County, BG should be harnessing clean energy with batteries rather than discouraging it, learning from other cities who have successfully done so for the benefit of all residents.
Leatra Harper
Bowling Green
