Save the solar tax credit: The 5-minute action guide

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on May 22 that would kill the 30% residential solar tax credit nearly a decade ahead of schedule. 

For the average homeowner, this would automatically increase the cost of solar by about $9,000—and that’s before accounting for tariff-related price increases. The stakes are even higher for solar installation companies, which are typically small, local businesses that already operate on razor-thin margins. 

The good news? It’s not law yet. Speaker Mike Johnson quickly pushed the bill through the House on a tight, self-imposed deadline, and it only narrowly passed by one vote. Now the bill is with the Senate. 

The Senate can save the solar tax credit by the July Fourth deadline, but garnering clean energy champions on Capitol Hill requires input from constituents.

Your voice matters and can influence your Senators’ decisions. We’ve made taking action simple. Let’s break it down. 

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For those planning to go solar, losing the 30% residential solar tax credit is likely the difference between “let’s go solar” and “maybe someday.” Without it, you’ll pay around $9,000 more on average to install solar panels. 

Even if you're not planning to go solar, this bill will still affect your wallet. Eliminating clean energy tax credits will not only make solar panels more expensive but also indirectly raise electricity prices for everyone, whether you’re a solar owner or not.

• Clean energy resources help meet skyrocketing energy demand: Between growing AI use and electrification expansion, our energy demand is higher than ever—but our aging grid isn’t capable of keeping up with it. Clean energy projects help stabilize the grid, meet demand, and lower rates.

• Clean energy resources are cheap: Unlike finite resources like oil, solar and wind energy are renewable and freely available domestically, making them some of the most affordable sources of electricity. 

• Solar competition keeps everyone's bills lower: When your neighbors can generate their own power, utilities compete on price. More solar in your area means downward pressure on everyone's electricity rates. Kill the tax credit, and utilities lose that competitive pressure.

• Your energy bills won't get cheaper: Analysis shows that losing clean energy incentives could increase electric bills by over $140 annually on average. Without solar competition, traditional utilities have less pressure to keep rates down.

Step 1: Find your senators

You have two senators—we recommend contacting both, regardless of party.

• Go to senate.gov

• Click "Contact Your Senators"

• Enter your state 

Step 2: Get their contact information

For each senator, take note of their:

• Washington D.C. office phone number

• Online contact form link

• Local office number (if you prefer)

Step 3: Pick your method (phone, email, or both)

A phone call will have the maximum impact:

• Call between 9 AM and 5 PM, Monday-Wednesday

• Ask for the energy policy staffer

• Keep it under 3 minutes

But an email can be more detailed and faster:

• Use their online contact form or fill out this form from Solar United Neighbors

• Include more specifics

• Usually gets an official response

Step 4: What to say

If you're calling: "Hi, I'm [Your Name] from [City]. I'm calling about the reconciliation bill that cuts the residential solar tax credit. This puts 75,000 jobs at risk and would cost families like mine at least $9,000 more to go solar. Can Senator [Name] support extending this credit through 2027 instead of cutting it?"

If you're emailing:

Subject line: Extend residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) - Please don't cut it

Dear Senator [Name],

I'm [Your Name] from [City]. I'm writing to ask you to extend the residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) through 2027, rather than let the reconciliation bill cut it at the end of 2025.

Cutting this credit would:

• Put 75,000 jobs at risk, hurting hardworking Americans in local solar businesses.

• Cost families like mine at least $9,000 more to go solar. [Find your state's exact savings here]

• Kill American energy independence and domestic solar manufacturing. 

[PICK ONE]

• As someone considering solar, cutting this tax credit would make solar unaffordable for my family at a time when our electric bills are skyrocketing.

• As a resident of [State], I am concerned that abruptly cutting this tax credit will make electricity unaffordable and our grid unstable. 

• As an American citizen, I want our country to lead in clean energy and be energy independent—cutting this tax credit would set us back.

Please support extending this credit through 2027 or, at minimum, advocate for a reasonable phase-down instead of an abrupt cut.

Thank you, 

[Your Full Name] [Your Address] [Your Email]

Timing is everything

• Call Monday-Wednesday: These calls get logged and reported to senators.

• Avoid Fridays if you can: Staff are usually focused on weekend prep.

Make it local

• Mention local solar companies if you know them.

• Reference how this affects your specific community.

• Connect it to local job concerns.

Multiply your impact

• Forward this guide to friends and family.

• Share your experience on social media.

• Join local clean energy groups for coordinated efforts.

Calling senators can feel like shouting into the void. But here's the thing: Constituent calls actually do move the needle. Senators' offices track every call, and staffers report the numbers directly to senators before key votes.

Several senators have already started questioning the reconciliation bill. But we need to keep making our voices heard. The Senate vote is expected before the Fourth of July—you can make a difference if you act fast.

The solar tax credit has helped millions of families take control of their energy costs while creating hundreds of thousands of American jobs. Use your voice to save affordable, clean, and domestically produced electricity.