What Governor DeSantis’ veto of the anti-net metering bill says about solar in Florida, and across the country

When news broke that Governor DeSantis vetoed the anti-net metering bill in Florida on Wednesday night, our reaction at EnergySage was similar to many of yours: a mix of pleasant surprise, and a healthy dose of holy sh*t. We’ll admit, we didn’t see this coming.?

But in many ways, the Florida Governor’s veto confirmed something that we at EnergySage know well: solar transcends party lines. This is certainly the case in Florida, where voters expressed broad support for the existing net metering law, but it’s true nationwide as well.?

Solar shoppers are bipartisan

When we’ve asked the homeowners shopping for solar on EnergySage which political party they’re affiliated with, our solar shoppers are split relatively evenly between Democrats (40%), Republicans (30%) and Independents (30%). Being able to save money by producing your own power is not a political issue, nor is providing support for local companies, and that fact is reflected in the demographics of solar shoppers on EnergySage and beyond.?Of course, solar isn't just about saving money.?People across the country are recognizing the dangers created by climate change. They not only want to do their part, but also have more control over their energy, and with greater resiliency.

Local jobs are bipartisan

The solar industry supports nearly a quarter million jobs nationwide, including those at EnergySage, but the majority of the solar workforce are local jobs: crews of solar installers, electricians and support staff who live and work nearby. While solar manufacturing and software jobs may be located in certain hubs, installation jobs require technicians to be on site at your property, meaning by its very nature, solar supports high-quality local jobs.?

Clean energy policies pass with bipartisan support

At both the state and federal level, clean energy policies pass with broad support from members of both parties. For instance, the bill that extended clean energy tax credits for solar and wind in 2020 passed the Senate by a vote of 92 to 6. This is true at the state level, too: in our home state of Massachusetts, the Democrat-majority legislature passed next-generation climate legislation, with the support – and approval – of our Republican Governor, Charlie Baker. That said, we’re going to need a lot more of this in order to meet the Biden administration's 2035 clean energy targets.

This decision by Governor DeSantis has put the occupants of other Governors’ mansions on notice, especially Governor Newsom in California. Policy makers at all levels should remember that support for solar transcends party lines –?because at the end of the day, solar’s just a really smart energy solution, both for the environment and the economy.