Solar Specialist Worries About Results of Major Infrastructure Legislation

PALMETTO, Fla. — Some solar businesses in Florida express concerns that the Trump administration’s proposed “big, beautiful bill” could severely impact their operations.

Industry leaders warn that if passed, combined with ongoing tariffs, solar installation prices could spike significantly.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty in this line of work,” stated Steven Rutherford, president and CEO of Tampa Bay Solar. “We’re focused on managing what we have while anticipating what might happen next month.”

Rutherford has been monitoring the budgetary implications of the bill, stating it would remove existing tax credits for solar installations.

“The current version eliminates the solar tax credit, which was supposed to remain effective until 2034,” he explained.

Instead of continuing, he warns that these credits might be terminated this year.

Adding to their challenges, Rutherford noted that ongoing tariffs are already causing price surges, and losing the tax credit alongside these tariffs could lead to a predicted 60% to 70% increase in costs.

“A lot of people can manage a 5% or 10% cost increase, but the drastic changes proposed would undoubtedly impact our industry significantly,” he said.

For organizations like the Manatee School for the Arts, existing tax credits enable their transition to solar energy.

“Without these credits, we wouldn’t be able to afford this investment,” commented Timothy McMurray, Vice President of Finance at the school.

McMurray expressed concerns about the current legislation and tariffs, as the school has plans for further expansion that includes additional solar implementation.

“We’re still growing,” he said. “We’re looking at another 80,000 square feet of growth. A phase two solar project is essential for managing costs going forward. If this legislation passes, we won’t be able to afford it.”

Rutherford and his team are not standing idly by; they are reaching out to lawmakers and he is planning a trip to Washington next week to join a demonstration organized by the Solar Energy Industry Association.

“If things remain unchanged, a substantial company restructuring will become necessary,” he warned.

“That may result in a significant loss of employment,” he lamented, hoping to avoid this fate.

During his campaign, President Trump promised to repeal clean energy tax credits introduced in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, labeling them as costly and detrimental to businesses.

Supporters of the bill claim that reducing these subsidies could create billions in funding for other programs.

The White House has also shared insights from the National Association of Manufacturers, asserting that not passing the bill could result in over a million lost manufacturing jobs.