Support Rooftop Solar In Virginia’s Energy Plan
I’m employed by Sigora Solar, the largest provider of residential solar in Virginia. (Additionally, we provide energy efficiency services to each household we serve.) As a solar worker, I’m able to earn a good living wage and support my family. My work builds clean local energy in our communities and helps customers save money on their energy bills.
My job and the growth of our industry depends on fair market access and a level-playing field for customer-owned ‘rooftop’ solar. Virginia's Energy plan should expand job-creating incentives like net metering while eliminating arbitrary barriers that stifle job creation and hurt Virginia solar contractors, as well as other related businesses.
Sigora Solar employees directly and indirectly almost 150 Virginians. That is 150 Virginians paying taxes, spending money in our communities and participating in an industry that gets larger EVERY YEAR.
Policies like net metering are crucial to the growth of my company AND solar in Virginia. Arbitrary limits to net metering, the existence of standby charges for residential systems and residential system size limitations inhibit my company's economic success and viability and precludes our potential customers the opportunity to participate in the solar revolution in a meaningful capacity.
Please expand AND enhance "rooftop" solar programs and energy efficiency programs for everyday Virginians. We will all benefit from a cleaner and healthier electric infrastructure system.
I respectfully urge you to expand rooftop solar in Virginia to create well-paying jobs, build clean local energy in our communities and give consumers energy choice and freedom. We need more jobs and these are the kind of jobs Virginia should support!
Thank you,
Rasheen Cooke