News from DSIRE: 1/20/12
FLORIDA – GRU PV Rebates Gobbled up
Due to strong customer demand, GRU’s rebate funds for residential PV are now fully reserved. Applicants who did not receive a rebate for FY2012 may apply for FY2013 rebates beginning October 1.
FLORIDA – GRU FIT in Hibernation
Previously open to new applications in 2010 and 2011, GRU’s PV feed-in-tariff is fully subscribed and will not be accepting applications for 2012. The next anticipated application period is scheduled to begin in January 2013.
ILLINOIS – SRECs Make Debut
2012 marks the first year that Ameren and ComEd are required to procure solar RECs under Illinios’s RPS. The Illinois Power Agency has approved the procurement plan for Ameren, which is now accepting pre-qualification applications. ComEd is expected to begin its SREC procurement process sometime in early 2012.
MASSACHUSETTS – Fresh Commonwealth Solar II Funds Unveiled
Commonwealth Solar II Funding Block 9 opens January 20 with reduced incentive amounts. The program has also announced Block 10 incentive amounts in order to provide some additional predictability. Each of these two funding blocks wields $1.5 million.
MINNESOTA – Seminal PACE Program Adopted
In November 2011, the Edina City Council voted to adopt the Edina Emerald Energy Program, thereby becoming Minnesota’s first city to create a PACE program. The program provides financing to commercial entities for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
OREGON – EWEB Solar Rebates Decline
The residential rate for net-metered systems for EWEB’s Solar Electric Program dropped on January 1. Previously, the rate was $2/W-AC, with a maximum award of $10,000. Now, the rebate is $1.70/W-AC, with an award cap of $6,000. The commercial rebate cap also declined, from $25,000 to $20,000.
TEXAS – Sunset Valley Sweetens Austin’s PV Rebate
The City of Sunset Valley, with a population of roughly 500, has re-opened its residential PV rebate program. This program offers $1/W for systems up to 3 kW and acts as an add-on to the PV rebates offered by Austin Energy. In order to qualify for Sunset Valley’s rebate, the system must first qualify for Austin Energy’s rebate.
TEXAS – CoServ PV Rebate Program Opens, Shuts
CoServ’s PV rebate program opened to new residential and commercial applicants on January 9, only to close one week later. Qualifying PV systems up to 50 kW received an incentive of $2/W, but awards were made only for the first 2.5 kW of qualifying systems.
VERMONT – Small Renewables Program Keeps Rebate Connoisseurs in Suspense
Vermont’s Small-Scale Renewable Energy Incentive Program, launched in 2003, has supported PV, solar hot water heating, wind and micro-hydro. It is unclear when the program will re-open; mid-February is a likely candidate.
VERMONT – Happy New Year for Expediting Small PV
Beginning January 1, net-metered PV systems up to 5 kW follow an expedited process for theCertificate of Public Good, required for all net-metered systems in Vermont, as long as the customer successfully completes registration and complies with utility interconnection requirements. Ten days after receiving the certificate of compliance with utility interconnection requirements, a Certificate of Public Good is automatically “deemed issued,” and the customers may proceed with installation. Other systems require a Certificate of Public Good for Interconnected Net Metered Power Systems.
WISCONSIN – Net Metering Expands, One Utility at a Time
In December, the Wisconsin Public Service Commission added Xcel to the list of utilities that may offer net metering to systems up to 100 kW. Although the PSC only requires utilities to offer net metering for systems up to 20 kW, several utilities have developed processes for allowing larger systems. In addition, the PSC has approved a new process for Xcel to reconcile customer net excess generation.
