A package of bills in the state house are aimed at clarifying laws around solar panel taxation.
According to bill sponsors, confusion in the law has created a patchwork of rules - some governments tax solar panels and some don’t.
Republican Representative Bronna Kahle is an author of the legislation.
“The intent of these bills is to eliminate the patchwork of property tax assessments for small scale solar panels.”
Kahle said similar bills passed unanimously out of the legislature last year but were shot down by the Governor. She said the Governor claimed there were technical issues in the original bills.
Kahle said they are currently reviewing the bills with the treasury to make sure those problems are fixed.
Robert Loudermilk is from Lenawee. He said he tells people solar panels just aren’t worth it.
“My tax increase went up, my whole assessment went up over $35,000 dollars in one year on my home. And they told me that solar was half of that.”
Dr. Edward Tritt is also a Lenawee County resident. He said he put solar panels on his house and clinic and there’s no question the taxes are cost prohibitive.
“We as a nation are trying to be green and self sustaining. If we’re taxed to this extent where is the incentive to stop using fossil fuels.”
The legislation would ensure that people could add solar panels to their homes or small businesses without increasing their taxable value.
The panels could then be added to the taxable value of a home at the point of sale.