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Federal Initiatives

Department of Treasury Releases Guidance on applying for the grant program created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

July 9, 2009 - Good news for commercial solar project developers. The Treasure just released guidance on how to apply for grants equal to 30 percent of the cost of commercial solar property, in lieu of claiming the commercial investment tax credit.

Click here for the Treasury guidance document.

Click here to view the sample application. (Note that the actual application has not been released, and the Treasury is not accepting applications quite yet).

Climate Change Bill Passes the House

On Friday, June 26, the House of Representatives passed  the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES – HR 2454) by a vote of 219 to 212 (see how your Congress Member voted here).  This is the first time that climate change legislation has passed either house of Congress – so this is BIG news.

Solar-Related Provisions in the bill:

  • National Renewable Energy Standard (RES) of 20 percent by 2020 (however, with the various exemptions this will likely lead to 11.5% renewable by 2020).
  • Sets aside a portion of the carbon allowances for states to use to fund renewable energy and energy efficiency projects (9.5 percent of carbon allowances).
  • Provisions to expedite the overhaul of our transmission system to make room for new renewable energy (allows for regional transmission grid planning and federal siting authority)
  • Allows the federal government to fund solar installations on public buildings through entering into a 20-year Power Purchase Authority (PPAs).
  • Establishes a “Green Bank” (aka the Clean Energy Deployment Administration) to provide seed money to domestic companies developing cutting-edge renewable technologies including solar.

(Learn more about each of the provisions by clicking here to see the Solar Energy Industries Association’s summary of the bill)

Solar Funding in the Recovery Act - Curious how much clean energy funding is available to your state? Click here - scroll down the page- to access the Department of Energy’s interactive “recovery funding” map. Deadlines for applying for the cash is fast approaching.

Federal Policy Overview: The Obama presidency has recharged federal leadership on renewable energy, and Vote Solar is busy helping shape strong provisions for solar. Up first was the economic stimulus package ($32 billion in clean energy funding), now we are gearing up for comprehensive Energy Bill (transmission, national renewable energy goals, and climate change legislation all together).

All this comes on the heels of last year's big win to extend the expiring 30 percent investment tax credit. The critical incentive is locked in until 2016 and expanded for residential and utility system owners, effectively making solar installations, from small 1 kilowatt roof top systems and large-scale 250 megawatt solar power plants, a third cheaper. As part of that hard fight, Vote Solar prepared a white paper (PDF) on the opportunities for federal action.

Vote Solar lead for federal initiatives is Annie Carmichael.