Solar panels in Hawaii

The Hawaii feed-in tariff makes solar power affordable for people looking to switch to the renewable resource.

The program was started in 2009 by the Hawaiian Electric Company.  This type of solar incentive is unique, compared to other programs that make solar power affordable, as it pays consumers a premium rate for the excess solar electricity generated by a solar array that is fed into the grid.  Its similar to net metering, by providing a credit (or sum) for those property owners that generate more power than they use.

The Hawaii Feed-in Tariff sets forth different rates, depending on the size of the solar panel system.  For those under 20 kilowatts (which should include most residential solar installations), the utility will pay 21.8 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

Hawaii is an expensive place to live – it has the highest electricity rates in the county, by a long shot!

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the state’s average electricity rate in 2009 was 21.21 cents per kilowatt-hour, compared to 18.06 cents per kilowatt-hour for second-place Connecticut. However, residential rates reached an average as high as 24.20 cents per kilowatt-hours, compared to 20.33 cents per kilowatt-hour in Connecticut.

For people that live in Hawaii, options for electricity are limited – unless you go with solar power!  Most of the power generated in the state comes from power plants running on petroleum.  With high oil costs, utility bills are even higher.

With the feed-in tariff, people in Hawaii can benefit greatly from installing solar panels.  Not only does the program help defray costs, but federal, state and local incentives and rebates further diminish the cost of going solar.

Maximize solar savings with rebate programs

These programs have been especially generous in Southern California.   For customers of Southern California Edison (SCE) solar rebates remain high, at about $1.10 per watt of solar energy systems installed.  To put this amount into perspective, solar power costs homeowners an average of $6 per watt.  So, you can save about 18% with this solar rebate program.  Other solar incentives like the 30% available through the Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit.  Adding these together, you have practically slashed solar costs by 1/2.  In other words, a solar panel system that costs $25,000 retail is only $12,500 after these generous rebate programs and rebates.

But you can’t continue to wait.  The Solar rebate programs have a capacity limit, and then incentive levels drop in 1/2.

If you live in California, check the Statewide Trigger Tracker for updates.  And, if you are not certain whether your home is within the SCE territory and qualifies for its rebates, if you live in the following counties: Los Angeles, Orange County, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, Kern, Tulare and Inyo, you may be in luck.

Tap into these generous solar rebate programs in Southern California before they are reduced or gone!

Solar Power in Texas

Everything’s bigger in Texas!

So, why hasn’t the Lone Star State taken better advantage of the ample sunshine that warms its sunny skies?

Among Southern States, Texas is far from being a leader in solar development, but now solar power is going big in Texas!

With new legislation proposed in House Bill 2961, called the Solar Generation Incentive Program, solar rebates for rooftop solar panels and commercial solar installations will help property owners afford solar power and make the change from coal and gas.

The state funding under consideration would help about 50,000 homeowners and 1,000 businesses install solar panels this year alone!

The new solar legislation should really jump-start the renewable energy industry in Texas.  According to the Star-Telegram, the following people are eligible for rebates: electric customers, qualified solar installers, remodelers, home builders, and  third-party owners of solar generator systems.  The incentives are in addition to federal tax credits up to 30% for solar.

The Solar Generation Incentive Program in Texas would provide:

• $2 per watt for distributed solar systems of 10 kilowatts (kW) or less at your home or business
• $1.40 per watt for installed solar of 10 to 2,000 kW
• $1 per watt for installed wholesale solar generation

In addition to helping residents make the switch to solar energy, the new program would also create a number of green solar jobs in the state.  Steve Wiese, President of Texas REIA, observes:

”If we can develop solar energy in this state, we potentially can develop a manufacturing base that can employ people producing these [solar] products for out-of-state as well as in-state.”

Talk about big, positive changes for the State of Texas!

San Francisco's Solar Map

Do you live in an area that gets lots of sunshine?  Ever wonder about your city’s solar power potential?   You can get precise data regarding the projected kilowatt-hours of solar electricity that could be generated by solar panels on your home or business, if a solar map has been prepared for your region.

For property owners in Colorado, check out the new Denver Regional Solar Map and type in your address.  The website will then give you a bird’s-eye view of the location with specific information for the property, including the roof size and solar potential of the home or business.  You also get information regarding potential shading and the angle of your roof.

The site will even tell you about potential solar incentives and rebates available in your area, as well as:

• Kilowatt generation by month
• An installation estimate
• Information on estimated yearly electrical bill savings
• A form you can complete to request more information from solar installers.

Denver is just the latest city to have developed solar maps to show solar power potential.   Since 2007, New York City, San Francisco, Boston, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon have also put together comprehensive maps that showcase the best areas to install solar panels, potential energy savings and cost of PV solar power systems.

Many of the solar maps are partially financed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar America Cities program, and are intended to simplify consumers’ ability to research solar energy options.  One thing is for certain – since the maps went live in many of these cities, solar panel installations have more than quadrupled over the past few years.

Don’t have a solar map in your city yet?  Write to your councilmembers and ask them to work with the USDOE in preparing one for your region!  Not only will it help green your city, but it boost green jobs, as well!

Solar Incentives in Washington State

Snohomish County Public Utility District (PUD) is offering solar incentives in Washington State.  As noted on its website:

“Costs for photovoltaic systems installed in Western Washington average $8,500 to $11,000 per kilowatt (kW) installed, depending on system size and complexity. An optimally located 1 kW system in Snohomish County or Camano Island will generate approximately 1,100 kWh per year.”

This week, the Herald Net (based in Everett, WA) published a report that the PUD has been giving rebates to its customers who go solar with solar hot water systems and/or PV panels.

“Commercial, industrial and municipal customers that install new PV systems can receive a cash incentive of $500 per installed kW, up to $10,000 for pre-approved qualified systems.”

Snohomish County PUD in Everett, WA

And, for residential customers, the following solar incentives are offered:

“Customers may choose a cash incentive of $500 per installed kW, up to $2,500, for pre-approved, qualified new systems. Optionally, customers may apply for a 2.9% APR loan of up to $25,000 to finance the installation instead of the cash incentive.”

To set the best example possible, the company is installing solar panels itself on its headquarters this year.

Fortunately, Snohomish County PUD is not the only utility that is taking the lead with respect to solar power systems.  Spurred on by tax incentives and rebates, many companies are helping their customers become more energy efficient and “green.”  You can expect to see many more homeowners install solar arrays in the coming years with government supporting efforts to become less reliant on fossil fuel-based energy.

Want to see more about the green power program in the Evergreen State:

Time for more utilities to step up and offer solar incentives for their customers.

Have any success stories to offer with respect to your own electric company?  Please share below!