HARRISBURG, Pa. — The new Pennsylvania Sunshine Solar Program is performing better than expected and has helped to double the state’s solar generating capacity in less than 6 months.
According to the Department of Environmental Protection, the program has reached its first incentive milestone for small business rebates — the deployment of 5 megawatts of solar power, or enough to supply electricity to about 575 average homes in the state.
Good news
Gov. Edward Rendell said achieving the goal is good news for those small businesses interested in lowering their electricity costs through clean, renewable energy, and also for Pennsylvania’s environment and economy.
“When we enacted the Pennsylvania Sunshine program, we said it was going to help reduce electricity bills for consumers, make solar energy more affordable, create economic opportunities and help produce more renewable energy that will help improve our environment,” said Rendell.
“Pennsylvania Sunshine is putting people to work across the state doing everything from manufacturing solar technologies to installing and maintaining them, while helping people and businesses become less dependent on the electrical grid and other fossil fuels, which saves them money. And because of the program, we’re also emerging as a national leader in developing and deploying solar technology. With the projects this program is making possible and others in the works, it is likely that we will be among the top five states for total solar capacity within the next year,” he added.
Since the program opened May 18, the commonwealth has committed $12.5 million in 625 projects by residential and small business consumers.
The projects represent at least $50 million in private investment, according to the Department of Environmental Protection.
Certified
More than 300 installers have been certified to install solar systems under the program and the department continues to receive and accept applications.
The solar electricity capacity created by the small business program, 5 megawatts, is enough to offset 5,580 tons of carbon dioxide, 16,000 pounds of nitrogen oxide and 77,500 pounds of sulfur oxide.
A running tally of completed projects is kept on the rebate program’s Web site so perspective applicants and solar developers are able to track the program’s progress.
The $100 million Pennsylvania Sunshine Solar program reimburses homeowners and small business owners up to 35 percent of the purchase and installation costs of solar energy technology.
In combination with federal tax credits, consumers could reduce system costs by 45 percent. It is part of the $650 million Alternative Energy Investment Fund Rendell signed into law in July 2008.
Original guidelines
Under the original guidelines of the program, reaching the 5 megawatt threshold means the incentive rates for small business solar projects will be reduced.
Originally, the program offered $2.25 per watt for 3-10 kilowatt projects, $2 per watt for 10-100 kilowatt projects, and $1.75 per watt for 100-200 kilowatt projects.
As of Oct. 31, all small business incentive rates were reduced by 50 cents across the board. Homeowner incentive rates will remain at the original level of $2.25 per watt.
More information
For more information, call the Office of Energy and Technology Deployment at 717-783-8411 or visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: Pa. Sunshine.
