New federal funding for solar projects and incentives on the horizon
Its now 2010, and some important renewable energy provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act could expire at year’s end.
That is, unless the Renewable Incentive Act (S 2899), proposed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), is passed. Under the bill, federal solar funding is proposed to extend to 2012, in order to keep momentum behind the creation of green jobs and continue efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
As noted on Sen. Feinstein’s official website:
“The bill would primarily extend and expand a popular Treasury Department grant program that was established in Section 1603 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in order to help diminish the impact of the economic crisis on the renewable energy sector.”
While the text of the proposed law could change as it moves through Capitol Hill, as currently drafted, the following provisions would be included:
1. Allowance for public utility providers to apply for Treasury grants. Commonly known as PUDs, these companies supply power to over 45 million Americans.
2. Expanded funding for solar hot water heaters, both for commercial and residential applications.
3. Establishment a new solar tax credit for consolidation of disturbed private land with high solar value (aka “solarity”). In other words, funding is encouraged to acquire property for solar power projects in areas that have already been developed (factories, mines, etc.), instead of pristine wildlife areas like the Mojave Desert. The benefits of doing so are several: preservation of natural habitat, and also location of already-developed land closer to existing grids and population centers.
Finally, the proposed bill would extend solar funding provisions that otherwise would expire in 2010 to 2012. As Sen. Feinstien states:
Extending the funding to 2012 is just brilliant. I can’t think of a better way to pull America through the recession without resorting to historical means, such as warfare and the manufacture of the materials for it.
I tend to agree.
Tags: american recovery reinvestment act, creation of green jobs, federal solar funding, high solarity, renewable energy fields, renewable incentive act, solar hot water heater
“In other words, funding is encouraged to acquire property for solar power projects in areas that have already been developed (factories, mines, etc.), instead of pristine wildlife areas like the Mojave Desert.”
That is my favorite part! There are so many areas that are already over-developed yet they have properties, buildings, etc that are not in use. It makes more sense to put those to good use first.
Right on 100%! I love that the government is encouraging the pulling together of tracts of already developed parcels. Making that easier will dissuade developers from looking further out to pristine areas…