Think of the solar industry as a baby—born into a world doing its best to raise it. We celebrated its birth, fed it with tax credits, and stayed up all night worrying when rates spiked or financing dried up. Some of us got tossed around. Some of us never got paid. But we kept going, nurturing this new thing, watching it grow from infancy into a strong, healthy toddler.

Now, with recent discussions about scaling back or eliminating the federal solar tax credit, it feels like the baby is crying. Do we console it… or let it cry it out?

It’s important to remember: while the industry was federally born, it takes a village to raise a child. Removing the tax credit entirely would be like starving the baby.

Hopefully, no one wants that.

If solar is in its toddler years, then sure—growth might slow a bit. But that doesn’t mean it’s failing. It means it’s maturing. Even without the federal credit, the solar industry is not helpless. In fact, it’s poised to adapt.

Over 40 states already offer property tax exemptions for renewables. More than 30 states have enshrined a Right to Solar. Over 20 offer sales tax exemptions. Ten offer SRECs. Five offer their own state-level tax credits. And beyond incentives, solar still has strong fundamentals: affordable financing, rising utility rates, increasing property values, and growing consumer demand.

The solar “baby” may not grow quite as fast—but it will still grow. With support from states, innovation from leaders, and continued momentum, the future is bright.

Just don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.