We in this space are well aware that the country is not in budget season. And we note that not much attention is paid to the regular sittings of the Upper House. But news coming out of last Friday’s sitting deserve some attention.

Reports are that the Senate approved a tax credit for acquisition and installation of solar systems at places of residence.

Now, experience teaches us that the drafting of law is not for the weak of heart. Years of debates — and the occasional contretemps — usually precede getting sign-off from joint select committees, well before the full House sees the proposed legislation. So we know the terms ratified on Friday were not compiled overnight. But it seems timely — even if serendipitous.

The Jamaica Information Service reports that the Senate approved the Income Tax (Amendment) Act, 2024, which sets out the appropriate legal framework that will allow individuals to benefit from the income tax credit.

Now, Minister of Finance and the Public Service Dr Nigel Clarke had announced the initiative during his 2023/24 Budget presentation, but so much goes without the requisite follow-up these days that we celebrate the relatively short run-up between announcement and the document getting to our senators.

While some of our compatriots are — three weeks after the passing of Hurricane Beryl — still without electricity, the benefit offered by this legislation will give more Jamaicans the opportunity to have an alternative energy source to the monopoly Jamaica Public Service (JPS).

Piloting the legislation, minister of information, skills and digital transformation, Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon, said that approximately 600 homes will benefit per year from the tax relief, totalling approximately $100 million in tax revenue.

She added that it is formalising an important component of the Government’s green policy and increasing renewable energy adoption in the country.

The minister said Jamaica has set a target to achieve a 50 per cent use of renewable energy in the electricity generation sector by 2030, and that the utilisation of appropriately targeted fiscal measures is critical to achieving this result.

The main deterrent to wider adoption of solar energy sources has been the cost of set-up. This tax credit is a seeming game-changer.

Dr Morris Dixon confirmed that the major components utilised in the installation of a solar photovoltaic system, such as the solar photovoltaic panels, solar inverters, and solar batteries, including lithium-ion batteries, are also exempt from the payment of General Consumption Tax (GCT).

Music to some people’s ears.

We await the supporting public education programme to inform Jamaicans how they may gain access to the credit. We trust that the hurdles of bureaucracy and administrative speed bumps will not make for more challenges than necessary.

Recall, we in this space charged on July 17, 2024 that it was time to rethink our energy infrastructure. This action falls in line with that call and ensures the country will not face all the same challenges when the next weather system is done with us.

Celebrations aside, we have carried reports that later in Friday’s sitting Opposition senators staged a walkout, but we are grateful that this agenda item received the necessary seriousness and rigour before our parliamentarian’s showed their underbellies.

Still, we remain hopeful of a less cantankerous legislative year.