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The following is a program update to MassCEC's Commonwealth Solar II Rebate Program. MassCEC is committed to supporting the adoption of solar energy in Massachusetts indefinitely and intends to continue funding the Commonwealth Solar II Rebate Program through calendar year 2012.

 

In combination with declining prices for solar, the Commonwealth Solar II rebates, other state and federal incentives reduce the cost of a typical residential installation by more than half.  

 

Block 9 of the Commonwealth Solar II Rebate Program will open in January 2012 with several changes, including new incentive levels. These changes, which are detailed below, are aimed at providing:

 

  1. Increased stability by setting rebate levels for two blocks extending to the end of June 2012,
  2. Longevity to the program by allowing us to provide funding for more installations while maintaining rebates at a level sufficient to make solar an affordable option for Massachusetts residents and small businesses, 
  3. Transparency of the program by providing available funding levels on a weekly basis at  www.MassCEC.com/solar.

 

Since its inception in January 2010, the goal of the Commonwealth Solar II Rebate Program has been to bridge the transition from a rebate-based incentive mechanism to a market-based incentive mechanism (SRECs) for owners of small-scale solar PV installations. As the market continues to evolve in Massachusetts, and the SREC program emerges as the dominant financing mechanism for the development of small-scale projects, the Commonwealth Solar II Rebate Program is seeing dramatic success. MassCEC's intention is to gradually eliminate the Commonwealth Solar II program. In addition, programs such as Solarize Massachusetts will provide support for residential and small-scale commercial solar projects in Massachusetts.

 

Below are a list of program updates and changes: 

 

Please see below for a summary of some important changes and updates for Block 9. Please note: Full details about all program changes cannot be captured in this email, so please read the program documents carefully!

  • Blocks 9 & 10 of the Commonwealth Solar II Rebate Program are outlined below. The program will continue to provide a rebate for the first 5 kW of eligible residential, public, and commercial projects.

 

Blocks 9 & 10 Rebate Levels ($ per watt (DC @ STC))

Base Incentive

 $   0.40

 PLUS: Additions to Base

 

Massachusetts Company Components Adder

 $   0.05

Moderate Home Value Adder OR

Moderate Income Adder ≤ 120% of MA median income (only residential projects eligible)

 $   0.40

Natural Disaster Relief Adder

$    1.00

 

  • Expedited Installers will be required to electronically upload all back-up documentation when submitting an application into PowerClerk. This documentation will be required in order for the application to be submitted.
  • Blocks 9 & 10 will each have $1.5 million of funds available.
  • The program will accept applications for solar PV projects (residential, commercial, or public) that are 15kW or less in size. Note: if a project applying to the program is greater than 10kW, a data acquisition system (DAS) will be required.
  • Projects will be considered on a per property basis, no longer on a per building (or per ground-mounted system) basis. If a customer is looking to install a project that will span multiple buildings or ground-mounted systems on their property, they can submit one application to the rebate program.
  • Customers under the program will be eligible to receive rebates on up to 5kW of solar capacity per property.
  • Add-ons to existing solar PV projects will be eligible, given the following parameters:
    • If the add-on will be to a PV project that already received a rebate under the Commonwealth Solar II Rebate Program, the customer will be eligible to apply for a rebate for the additional capacity if the initial installation did not receive a rebate on 5kW of capacity. The add-on capacity can be up to 15kW, but MassCEC will only provide a rebate on the capacity that will bring the total rebated capacity on the property to 5kW under the Commonwealth Solar II Rebate Program.  For example, if a customer previously received a Commonwealth Solar II rebate for 3kW of capacity on a system, they would be eligible to install an additional 15kW of capacity, but only 2kW of capacity would be eligible to receive a rebate, bringing the total rebated capacity to 5kW.
    • If the add-on will be to a PV project that received a rebate under a program prior to the Commonwealth Solar II Rebate Program, the customer will be eligible to apply for a rebate as long as the add-on is metered separately through a revenue grade meter. The add-on capacity can be up to 15kW, but MassCEC will only provide a rebate on the first 5kW of capacity.
    • Note: the proposed additional capacity cannot be installed prior to submitting an application to the rebate program.

 

If you have any questions, please submit them via email to cs@MassCEC.com, and a member of the Commonwealth Solar Team will respond shortly.

 

Thank you for your support of solar power in Massachusetts! 

 

 

 

Best regards,

 

 

 PC Signature

Patrick Cloney,

MassCEC Chief Executive Officer