|
The
bill, introduced by New Jersey Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill and
Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff, would expand the solar tax credit
for residential consumers and small businesses to include entire
roofing systems that integrate solar power technology.
The current 26% tax credit only covers the solar roof tiles, but
not other parts of the roof, something the industry sees as an
obstacle to attracting new customers.
The lawmakers see a good chance the measure will be folded into
the Democrats' budget reconciliation bill, which is expected to
carry out some of President Joe Biden's key climate change
measures affecting power and transport.
"It's these kinds of fixes to the tax code that can really spur
innovation," said Sherrill, whose district includes GAF's
headquarters. "I want GAF and others to be producing those solar
roof tiles across the nation and across the world."
She said she met with GAF on the topic in May.
Companies such as Tesla and GAF are selling solar roof tiles but
have been slow to attract customers.
The solar investment tax credit is scheduled to be phased out
for residential systems in 2024. Biden has pushed for a 10-year
extension of the credit.
GAF, a unit of private conglomerate Standard Industries, is
among the farthest along in developing the technology. The
company has installed its product on more than 2,000 U.S.
rooftops, it told Reuters in May.
Tesla has been installing its solar roof product for about three
years but has not disclosed how many it has put up. The company
did not respond to a request for comment.
"This is forward-looking legislation, anticipating how the
technology will progress," Ossoff said.
(Reporting by Valerie Volcovici and Nichola Groom; editing by
Richard Pullin)
[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
