Senator Thom Tillis
113 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Senator Ted Budd
354 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Re: Save Clean Energy for North Carolina families and businesses
Dear Senators Tillis and Budd,
We are Solarize The Triad, a historic, community-driven coalition that has created green jobs, lowered energy costs, and sparked millions of dollars of economic growth across our region. Composed of small businesses, faith communities, local financial institutions, solar energy companies, non-profit organizations, and city governments, we represent the interests and aspirations of thousands of North Carolinians who want affordable clean energy.
As we stand united for a more resilient and environmentally sustainable economy, we strongly urge you both to defend clean energy and efficiency tax credits for individuals and businesses.
Repealing these overwhelmingly popular policies will vanquish good-paying jobs, drastically raise energy prices, and harm public health. And more than $30 billion dollars of private sector investment will be at risk in North Carolina if Congress further dismantles these incentives. A vote to repeal is a vote to raise taxes for North Carolina families and businesses.
Over the past 18 months, Solarize The Triad partners have facilitated nearly $5 million dollars in new clean energy investment in the Piedmont Triad, including:
- More than 75 new rooftop solar and back-up battery systems for homes, service-based nonprofits, and places of worship;
- A first of its kind solar workforce training program in Winston-Salem; and
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The creation of Share The Sun, a fund that is helping low-and-moderate income families put solar on their homes.
Absent this legislation, our successes would not have been possible.
The facts and the stakes are clear: our state ranks fourth in the nation in solar energy capacity; and it is home to no fewer than 110,000 clean energy workers. Nationwide, 3.4 million American families have saved more than $8.4 billion thanks to energy upgrades. If you choose to save these laws, our families could save $38 billion more on electricity bills by 2030.
Our community deserves clean air, clean water, utility bills we can all afford, and a livable planet where current and future generations can thrive. Please stand with us and support affordable, clean energy so we can build a North Carolina we can all be proud of.
Sustainably,
Jamie Maier,
Piedmont Environmental Alliance
Carter Berry,
Chair, The City of Winston-Salem’s Community Sustainability Committee
Don Moreland and Emily Hurd,
Solar Crowdsource
Matt Mayers,
Citizens’ Climate Lobby – Winston-Salem
Mike Sherman,
Renu Energy Solutions, LLC
Meech Carter and Justine Oller,
North Carolina League of Conservation Voters
Michael Suggs,
Goler Community Development Foundation
David Zimmer,
Forsyth Audubon
Annette Hayes,
Grind Vine Consulting, LLC
Beth Bealle,
Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC
Ned Erickson,
Piedmont Federal Bank
Rep. Kanika Brown,
NC House of Representatives, District 71
Susan Lindsay,
Solarize The Triad Steering Committee
Dr. Stan Meiburg,
Solarize The Triad Steering Committee