News from DSIRE: week of February 22, 2010
ILLINOIS – Solar, Wind Rebates Fully Allocated Illinois’s rebate program for solar and wind turbines, which reopened in November, is again closed due to high demand. Rebates for wind turbines were made available under this program during this past round. The program likely will re-open in FY2011. MAINE – Rules Adopted for Community-Based Renewables The Maine Public…
ILLINOIS – Solar, Wind Rebates Fully Allocated
Illinois’s rebate program for solar and wind turbines, which reopened in November, is again closed due to high demand. Rebates for wind turbines were made available under this program during this past round. The program likely will re-open in FY2011.
MAINE – Rules Adopted for Community-Based Renewables
The Maine Public Utilities Commission has finalized rules for the state’s Community-Based Renewable Energy Pilot Program. Under this program, community-based renewables have the choice of a long-term contract up to 20 years at $0.10/kWh for solar, wind or hydro projects, or a renewable energy credit multiplier of 150% of the amount of electricity generated. The program has an aggregate cap of 50 MW.
MINNESOTA – Residential Solar Rebates Revive
The Minnesota Office of Energy Security (OES) is once again offering rebates for residential PV and solar water-heating systems. Incentives ranging from $1.75 – $2.00 per watt (DC) are available for PV systems up to 5 kW. Solar water heating incentives are set at $25 per square foot of net aperture, with a maximum incentive of $2,000 for single-family dwellings, $4,000 for two- and three-unit multi-family dwellings, and $10,000 for multi-family dwellings with four or more units. The current program is budgeted at $3 million for all incentives, including those provided by future programs for commercial systems.
NEW YORK – Revised Net Metering Tariffs Approved
The New York Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved revised utility tariffs that incorporate changes made by A.B. 2442, enacted in August 2009. The new tariffs allow net metering for residential micro-combined heat and power (CHP) and fuel cells up to 10 kW. In contrast to other technologies eligible for net metering in NY, micro-CHP and fuel cell systems are only credited for net excess generation at the utility’s avoided-cost rate (as opposed to the utility’s retail rate). Credits for net excess generation are carried forward indefinitely.
TEXAS – Austin Unveils Production Incentive for Commercial PV
Austin Energy, a municipal utility, has initiated a program that offers a production payment of $0.14 per kWh for 10 years. The program is available for commercial PV systems up to 20 kW (AC) installed by customers with commercial meter numbers. Program participants remain eligible for net metering but are required to sign over all renewable energy credits produced by enrolled systems to Austin Energy.
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – Solar Hot Water Rebates, Loans Available
Using federal stimulus funding, the U.S. Virgin Islands is offering a loan program in coordination with a rebate program for solar hot water heating. Rebates up to $1,000 and low-interest loans up to $3,500 are now available. Loans are repaid via the customers’ electricity bills.
UTAH – Rocky Mountain Power Offers PV Rebates
Rocky Mountain Power, an investor-owned utility that serves portions of Utah, began accepting applications for its 2010 PV rebate program on February 15. The utility will accept applications on a first-come, first-served basis until the annual aggregate program limit of 107 kW is reached, with 57 kW reserved for residential and 50 kW reserved for non-residential installations.
