Solar energy supports businesses by saving Tucsonans money on energy bills

TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — In Tucson, U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D) visited a local renewable energy rate company.

“This is an exciting time in the industry,” said Tim Graunke, vice president of Solar Gain.

Solar Gain is a local solar energy company that has grown from about 25 employees in 2015 to over 100 today.

This increase is due in part to state and federal tax incentives for people and businesses that switch to renewable energy.

Incentives include a 30% tax credit on the total cost of installing renewable energy in homes or businesses. The credit was scheduled to expire, but was extended when Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act.

At a news conference after his trip, Senator Kelly said he supported this bill because of business successes like Solar Gain.

“Arizona is not only on the front lines of the climate change challenge. We are on the front lines of solutions,” Kelly said.

Many Tucsonans have already installed solar energy in their own homes, like Craig Storlie, who says it has led to huge savings on his energy bills.

“They went from $150 a month on average for the whole year to about $20 to $30 a month, which is incredible,” Storlie said.

There is an upfront cost to installing the system, but Solar Gain says the average customer can expect the initial expense to turn into savings in about five years.