New Solar Plan For January 2010 in Massachusetts
According to a Get Solar article, there are many ambitious initiatives in Massachusetts and one of them is regarding the Solar Stimulus Program. This program is concerning installing a 250 megawatts’ worth of solar capacities by 2017. The state of Massachusetts has been one of the leading states in the matter of solar power and they have been doing so for many years.
Right now that the great $68 million state solar program has finished the funds, the state is considering reinitiate it. The new program will be Commonwealth Solar.
“There are many people that want rebates” told Philip Giudice, the manager of Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources. He says that the program has been money well spent for the government and that they plan on recreating the program. The government officials say they want the plan to be initiated in January 1, has a lot to live up to.
The first rebate program that was created had to take about three years but the funds were over in just 22 months after the official inauguration. The homeowners that wanted solar power installations only had to pay around $13,000. The rest was covered by the state. Joel Frisch is one of the responsible persons for installing a 4.8-kilowatt system at its own Clinton home. He will be funding it using a $15,120 that was approved by the government.
Till now the Commonwealth Solar has funded about 208 commercial solar projects, which represents the equivalent of 10.3 megawatts’ worth of generating power. It has exceeded all expectations and will continue to do so.
In the following weeks there will be news on the program and the methodology. But the plan will not be 100% identical to the other. There will be differences. The second program will have a credit-based system. The people will have to buy some electricity credits from the residents and businesses using solar panels. The subsidy will be determined by the price of the credit. They are also thinking about creating traditional rebate system. In the next few weeks we will find out the guidelines for this interesting and most useful solar energy project.
