Solar tax credits, NYS policy, Trump trips, rides to space

Two different views of solar tax credits

David Schieren espouses the supposed benefits of the tax credits for solar energy [“Please don’t abandon solar energy tax credits,” Opinion, April 14]. He claims, without citation, that studies show that repealing the solar tax credits will cause the cost of electricity to rise sharply. He also states that his clients enjoy lower electric bills and that you can’t get more homegrown than harnessing solar power.

Many of those clients are wealthy homeowners who can afford the high upfront cost of solar. They are the ones who benefit from the shorter payback periods that the tax credits provide. The average homeowner sees no such benefit.

Approximately 78% of solar panels are made in China, hardly homegrown. With these tax credits, the wealthy homeowner wins, China wins, and solar companies like Scheiren’s win. The poor taxpayer is left holding the bag. These credits should be repealed until the cost comes down to where it is economically feasible without the credits.

— Tom Saracco, Huntington

I hope the solar energy tax credits get extended, particularly for the benefit of residential consumers like myself.

Four years ago, with our monthly electric bill averaging $180, my wife and I purchased a rooftop solar system for our home. We took advantage of a 30% cost reduction through tax credits. Interest-free and low-cost energy loans eased the expense. We were immediately cash-flow positive with savings exceeding loan payments.

Since then, our monthly electric bill is about $17 for the fixed portion of our connection to the grid. Rate increases are not a concern. With a 30-year life expectancy, our installation has a 6.5-year payback period. The savings for the remaining years are all “gravy.”

Buying our system was advantageous for us, but financial circumstances and power needs can present different situations for others. They may find leasing or contracting for their energy needs more suitable. Let’s hope the tax credits survive.

— John F. DeMarle, East Patchogue

State has the right to stand up for itself

During an administration running roughshod over human, civil and states’ rights, states do have the power to protect their residents [“NY won’t alter renewable energy policy,” News, April 15]. President Donald Trump doesn’t have a legal leg to stand on in his effort to roll back New York’s Climate Superfund Act.

Long Island needs increasing efforts to stave off the effects of climate change caused by oil and gas burning. It is an extremely costly effort. Long Island taxpayers could be on the hook for $75 billion to $100 billion just to shore up roads and infrastructure.

The oil industry was less than truthful for decades about the effects of climate change. We should not bear the costly brunt of those lies just because Trump wants to do the industry favors in exchange for donations. The Climate Superfund Act would at least partly pay for needed resiliency, bringing in $3 billion a year without raising consumer prices. Without it, the cost is on us.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, like Harvard University, the states of Maine and California, and several notable law firms, can and should stand up to the president’s dictatorial moves.

— Alexa Marinos, North Babylon

DOGE should check Trump trip expenses

Why isn’t Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency team investigating the executive branch for cost-cutting and “government efficiency”?

President Donald Trump has been in office less than three months and has spent millions of taxpayer dollars on travel for golf trips, the Super Bowl and the Daytona 500.

I’d prefer my tax money feed hungry children than feed a billionaire’s ego [“USAID funding ends for World Food Program in Syria, Yemen,” Nation & World, April 8].

— Cathy Merritt, Selden

Make better use of space joyride money

I find just the thought of this 10-minute joyride — although privately funded — abhorrent and repugnant [“Blue Origin sends female crew to space,” News, April 15]. Can we please leave anything related to spaceflight to the professionals — scientists, astronauts, physicists, etc.?

News stories today include government workers losing their jobs, food pantries losing federal government funding, and the National Institutes of Health being shortchanged.

Can we feed people in this country and on this planet? Can we continue to put money into cancer and Alzheimer’s research? Can government workers, who actually perform essential functions for you and me, remain on the payroll?

Instead, we have to read about a joyride into space for the privileged and rich.

Is this money and time well spent?

— Larry Lamendola, Wantagh