Across the country, Republican lawmakers are charting a new course on clean energy policy—and they’re doing it with community solar.

A recent Canary Media article highlights a surprising and important trend: in red states like Georgia, Missouri, Iowa and Ohio, GOP legislators are pushing for community solar programs that give residents, farmers and small businesses access to clean, affordable energy without relying on traditional utility monopolies. Their message is clear: energy freedom and competition aren’t partisan. They’re practical, pro-growth policies that can lower costs, strengthen the grid and attract new investment at the state level.

From the story:

Twenty-five states have already adopted policies to enable community solar, according to an April report from the NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Nationwide, shared solar had its biggest growth spurt ever in 2024, rising 35% from 2023 to reach a cumulative 8.6 gigawatts of installed capacity, according to Wood Mackenzie. Now, the idea is gaining momentum among conservatives.

Not only are GOP lawmakers introducing and signing on to more community solar bills, but other local Republican stakeholders such as chambers of commerce, landowners, and conservative policy groups are also voicing their support, according to the national trade association Coalition for Community Solar Access. The libertarian group Americans for Prosperity is backing Iowa’s HF 404 — alongside Walmart. Last year, in Alaska, several GOP legislators voted for a community solar bill, and the state’s Republican governor signed it into law.

This momentum in conservative-led states has big implications for Indiana, where lawmakers face a critical decision. Will they follow the lead of their Republican colleagues in other states or continue to let utilities call the shots?

Red States, Renewable Energy, and the Power of Choice

As Canary Media reports, lawmakers in several conservative-controlled legislatures are embracing community solar as a market-driven, job-creating solution to energy challenges.

This trend isn’t about ideology. It’s about economics, competition and fairness. Republican lawmakers are responding to their constituents’ frustrations with rising utility bills, outdated infrastructure and lack of consumer choice. 

From the story:

“Ultimately, for me, it was giving Iowan consumers a choice,” said Iowa state Rep. Hans Wilz, a Republican, in a March interview on why he introduced a community solar bill. Not everyone can afford to put solar panels on their roof, he explained: ​“This is a way for all Iowans to be able to participate in a solar program.”

Lawmakers are recognizing that enabling private investment in distributed energy—like community solar—aligns with core conservative values: limited government, local control and free-market solutions.

Indiana Is Falling Behind

While our neighbors are making progress, Indiana has yet to take meaningful steps to enable independent community solar. Legislation has been introduced multiple times—including House Bill 1581 and Senate Bill 541 in this most recent session—but nothing has passed. Utilities continue to oppose these efforts, arguing they will lose control of customers and revenue. But this resistance comes at a cost.

Right now, Hoosiers pay more for electricity than most Midwestern states. Indiana has seen five rate increases approved in the last five years, with more likely on the horizon. As energy-hungry tech companies like Amazon and Microsoft build data centers across the state, the demand for electricity is skyrocketing. Yet the only solutions on the table from utilities involve risky bets on small modular nuclear reactors and expensive infrastructure that ratepayers will ultimately fund even if the projects fail.

Community solar offers a better path. Unlike utility-scale projects, these smaller installations are financed with private capital, not ratepayer dollars. They generate electricity close to where it’s used, increasing grid efficiency and reducing peak demand. And best of all, they put customers in charge.

What Community Solar Could Mean for Indiana

Here’s what embracing community solar could do for Indiana:

• Lower energy bills: Studies show subscribers to community solar save between 10% and 15% on their electric bills.
• Job creation: The solar industry already supports thousands of jobs in Indiana. Enabling community solar would expand that workforce, particularly in construction, electrical trades and maintenance.
• Stronger economies: Community solar projects are often built on farmland or open space, providing farmers with a steady stream of lease income while keeping land in agricultural production.
• Energy independence: With community solar, customers aren’t stuck with whatever price or source their monopoly utility provides. They have options, and that makes the whole system more resilient.

A Nonpartisan Solution for a Pressing Problem

Clean energy is not a partisan issue. If Missouri and Iowa Republicans can come together to pass meaningful reforms that expand energy access and reduce costs, there’s no reason Indiana lawmakers can’t do the same.

Supporting independent community solar isn’t about going green for green’s sake. It’s about protecting Hoosier wallets, empowering local communities and preparing for a future where every home, business and factory needs affordable power.

Indiana has a chance to join a growing national movement led by pragmatic, forward-looking legislators from both parties. But to get there, we need policymakers willing to stand up to utility interests and put Hoosiers first.

Let’s follow the lead of red states leading the clean energy charge — and bring community solar to Indiana.