Smith speaks out on energy cuts
May 13—LIMA — Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith touted the city's floating solar panels as examples of the value of Direct Pay tax credits in a press call with Power a Clean Future Ohio and two other Ohio mayors Tuesday.
Smith, Athens Mayor Steve Patterson and Solon Mayor Ed Kraus spoke about projects the Inflation Reduction Act provision has made possible in their cities and expressed worry with an expected tax package markup set to go through the House Ways and Means Committee.
"The IRA has allowed Lima to pursue floating solar panels on two of our reservoirs," Smith said. "This project would not be feasible without the clean energy tax credits. Powering our water treatment plant through electricity saves us $1 million per year."
The draft text from the House Committee on Energy and Commerce calls for cuts to spending on several Inflation Reduction Act programs, including rollbacks to tax credits through the Direct Pay program.
In Smith's December 2024 year-end report (bit.ly/3FgSUES), the city said the array of 3,444 panels would have a power output of two megawatts and would generate enough clean energy to power 400 to 500 homes, saving the city nearly $10 million in electricity costs over its lifetime.
Smith announced an Ohio BUILDS Grant and a Department of Energy grant to go toward the solar array in June (bit.ly/3WrZwVt).
Executive director of Power a Clean Future Ohio Joe Flarida said the issue makes projects like the solar array affordable for local governments everywhere.
"When we reached out to mayors across Ohio, we were not short on options," he said. "This is a cost-cutting issue that affects local government. They are critical tools in our tax code that help build the economy of the future and there may be no better state across the country that stands to benefit than Ohio."
"This project is leveraging $890,000 in Direct Pay tax credits," Smith added. "We would not be able to do this without this program. (Cuts) threaten us being able to be innovative and it's not just about the current project, it's about the feasibility of future projects."
Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399.
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