Description

Funding for Block II is fully subscribed. No additional applications are being accepted. Awards were announced in June: see the Energy and Environmental Affairs June 29, 2010 Press Release

Commonwealth Solar Stimulus, administered by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), provides rebates for the installation of grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) systems at commercial, industrial, institutional and public facilities. Commonwealth Solar Stimulus rebates are available to electricity customers served by Massachusetts investor-owned electric utilities and municipal lighting plant (MLP) utilities. Projects are eligible for rebates for PV projects greater than 10 kilowatts (kW) and less than or equal to 200 kW in capacity. For residential projects and projects 10 kW or smaller, see the Commonwealth Solar II rebate program. Ground mounted systems up to 60 kW are eligible.

Rebate amounts are based on the total PV system size per building, regardless of the number of electric meters in use and certain other characteristics of the project. The Commonwealth Solar Stimulus rebate tiers are:

• For first 1 to 25 kW: $1.50/watt
• For greater than 25 to 100 kW: $1.00/watt
• For greater than 100 to 200 kW: $0.50/watt

The rebate is available to the system owner, which may or may not be the host customer. Solar renewable-energy credits (SRECs) associated with system generation belong to the system owner and may be sold. MassCEC reserves the right to conduct post-installation inspections of PV projects prior to approval for payments.

System installers are responsible for the application process and securing necessary permits. MassCEC has developed an online application system (called PowerClerk) for pre-approved installers. An energy-efficiency audit is generally required. Required documentation generally includes electric utility interconnection approval, an energy-efficiency audit, paid invoices or equivalent, and, if applicable, evidence that automated reporting is functional. All installers must comply with the minimum insurance requirements established by MassCEC. It is recommended, but not required, that installers or their subcontractors obtain or seek to obtain North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) PV installer certification. There are additional compliance requirements because the funding for this rebate comes from Federal stimulus (ARRA) money.

This summary does not capture all of the requirements of the Commonwealth Solar Stimulus program. MassCEC provides program manuals as well as appendices with full program requirements.