CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina lawmakers may have reached a budget deal, but one big industry could take a hit.
Lawmakers are not extending the solar tax credit that expires at the end of the year.
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With the help of sunshine and these solar panels, Matt Axsom's Huntersville house will be off the electrical grid by the end of the week.
"We estimate that our power bill will be near zero," he said. "I think that frees up about $300 a month; so, that's pretty great."
Axsom is one of many home and business owners taking advantage of a 35 percent percent state solar credit.
"It wouldn't have really been feasible without it," said Axsom.
The project at his home cost nearly $150,000.
Axsom said with state and federal tax credits he expects to recoup half of that.
Others in the energy industry think losing that tax credit could force companies and jobs out of North Carolina.
Chris Verner with Accelerate Solar said without those tax credits many consumers will have to lease the systems from banks to handle the expense.
"The bummer for the consumer is now they are locked into an escalating electric rate over that period of time and it makes it very difficult to sell the house," he said.
Verner thinks businesses may opt to move elsewhere, too.
Channel 9 has reported on major companies like Apple building a solar farm in Maiden.
"If they can't get that money back, then they may not want to do those systems. If they can't do those systems, they may not want to move to North Carolina and use power produced by coal and things that might not go along with their mission statement," said Verner.
At Axsom's house, he plans to fill his roof with panels to take advantage of the credit before it expires.
"We have about 6,000-7,000 extra kilowatts of capacity," he said.
As long as a solar project starts before the end of 2015, homeowners and businesses can still take advantage of that 35 percent credit.
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