Solar contractor urges passage of H.716, says behind‑the‑meter charge and shrinking net‑metering value are pricing out Vermonters

Summary

Jared Cobb of Catamount Solar told the House Energy committee that sudden loss of a federal tax credit, $62 million in state funding changes and negative net‑metering adjusters have pushed payback periods from about 7–8 years to 12–13 years, and he urged lawmakers to eliminate the 'behind‑the‑meter' deduction in H.716.

Jared Cobb, general manager of Catamount Solar, told the House Energy & Digital Infrastructure committee on Feb. 12 that H.716 should be passed to stop what he described as diminishing compensation for rooftop solar and the administrative burden created by production meters. Cobb said his Randolph‑based, worker‑owned firm has 25 employees (13 co‑owners) and donates 5% of net profits to community organizations.

Cobb said the industry faces three main headwinds: the sudden loss of a federal residential tax credit, the removal of roughly $62,000,000 in state solar funds, and higher material costs driven by tariffs. Those changes, he said, have lengthened payback periods for typical residential systems from seven or eight years to 12 or 13 years, making sales to middle‑income households difficult. "We had a short five months to adjust for a huge disruption in the industry," Cobb said.

Using a legislative handout, Cobb walked committee members through how net‑metering adjustments have…

Solar contractor urges passage of H.716, says behind‑the‑meter charge and shrinking net‑metering value are pricing out Vermonters

Summary

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