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Building on the success of the Commonwealth Solar rebate program, which
issued awards for 23.5 MW of solar power in less than two years, Gov.
Deval Patrick, D-Mass., has unveiled new rebate programs that continue the momentum toward Massachusetts' goal of 250 MW of solar energy installed by 2017.
Beginning
in late January, the new programs - Commonwealth Solar II and
Commonwealth Solar Stimulus - will begin accepting rebate applications
from residents and businesses seeking help financing their solar
photovoltaic systems. The new rebate programs will benefit from a
two-pronged funding scheme. Funding for Commonwealth Solar II, which
provides rebates for small residential and commercial PV systems, will
come from $1 million per quarter in existing funds from the
Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust (MRET). Now, as part of the
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, the MRET is financed through a small
renewable energy charge on utility ratepayers' monthly bills.
As
part of the Patrick-Murray administration's Massachusetts Recovery Plan
to secure the state's economic future, the commonwealth plans to tap $8
million in State Energy Program funding awarded to the Department of
Energy Resources (DOER) under the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act for Commonwealth Solar Stimulus, which will assist PV systems
between 5 kW and 200 kW.
To further support the financing of
projects eligible for the rebate program - as well as those greater
than 200 kW - the DOER is developing regulations for a new Solar Credit
market under the state's renewable portfolio standard. The Solar Credit
initiative, authorized by the Green Communities Act of 2008, will be an
important and sustainable part of building predictable market support
for the solar industry in Massachusetts and is expected to begin in
early January.
