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January 21st Webinar here |
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Massachusetts is running on solar energy!
The Commonwealth Solar II and Commonwealth Solar Stimulus Solicitation documents are now available at www.commonwealthsolar.org
The $4 million funding for Block 1 of the Commonwealth Solar Stimulus Rebate Program is now closed. Information on future funding blocks will be forthcoming.
Applications for Commonwealth Solar II are still being accepted.
January 21, 2010 - Update
January 13, 2010 - Update
Commonwealth Solar will be hosting a webinar on January 21st to discuss upcoming programs. Please click here for more details >>
December 29, 2009
Dear Massachusetts Solar Stakeholder:
Building on the success of the Commonwealth Solar rebate program, which issued awards for 23.5 megawatts (MW) of solar power in less than two years, we are very pleased to announce new rebate programs that continue this momentum toward Governor Deval Patrick’s goal of 250 MW of solar energy installed by 2017.
Commonwealth Solar has already played an important role in speeding the Bay State’s transition to a clean energy economy. With more than 1,200 homeowners, businesses, and municipalities taking advantage of this innovative program in the past two years, we look forward to furthering this success as we continue along the path toward a clean energy future.
Beginning in January, the new programs—Commonwealth Solar II and Commonwealth Solar Stimulus—will begin accepting rebate applications for residential and commercial projects to help finance the installation of these solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. The application process, award requirements and forms are underdevelopment and will be ready in late January 2010. The proposed rebate levels for each program are set and are shown below.
The program funding for Commonwealth Solar II, which will provide rebates for photovoltaic (PV) systems which are 5 kilowatts or less (residential and small commercial systems), will come from $1 million per quarter in existing funds of the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust. As part of the Patrick-Murray Administration’s Massachusetts Recovery Plan to secure the state’s economic future, the program funding for Commonwealth Solar Stimulus, which will provide rebates for commercial PV systems sized greater than 5 kilowatts (kW) up to 200 kW, will come from $8 million in State Energy Program funding from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
These new rebates are specifically targeted to complement and support the introduction of the new Solar Credit market in Massachusetts in January 2010, which is being developed by the DOER under the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard. Rebate recipients under Commonwealth Solar II or Commonwealth Solar Stimulus will additionally be able to participate in the Solar Credit market. The Solar Credit market will be an important and sustainable part of building predictable market support for the solar industry in Massachusetts. More information about the Solar Credit Market is on DOER’s website at www.mass.gov/doer.
Investment in solar energy is a critical component of Governor Patrick’s Massachusetts Recovery Plan. The Patrick-Murray administration’s emphasis on solar power has spurred the growth of a vibrant solar industry in Massachusetts – expanding the number of solar installation contractors and subcontractors from roughly 50 in January 2008 to nearly 200 today. A recent survey of 98 solar PV manufacturers, integrators and installers revealed that these companies doubled their Massachusetts employment from 1,086 to 2,075 (from 2007 to 2008), and expected to add another 960 employees during 2009. Eighty percent of these firms added employees in 2008, and all but 11 planned to expand their workforce this year.
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, the new home of the Renewable Energy Trust, looks forward to putting this new pool of funding to work providing rebates for solar projects that will help to us achieve Governor Patrick’s goal of 250 MW of solar energy by 2017.
Thank you for your support of solar power in Massachusetts!
Carter Wall
Executive Director, Renewable Energy Trust
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
The Clean Energy Center plans to hold workshops for installers regarding new reporting requirements for systems applying for ARRA stimulus funding, as well as installer training on how to use PowerClerk to submit electronic applications. The Trust will provide additional information regarding these training opportunities, and additional information on program eligibility and participation, closer to the launch date in January, 2010.
