Solar Thermal Electric

Renewable Auction Mechanism (RAM)

Note: This program completed its sixth and final mandated auction in 2015. CPUC Decision 14-11-042  allows the utilities to continue using RAM as a mechanism for meeting a portion of their RPS requirements. Future RAM solicitations will be issued at the discretion of the utilities. Some of the parameters put in place by the CPUC will be lifted, but the essence of the RAM program will remain. Namely, utilities will select projects based on lowest price, and selected projects will be granted standard non-negotiable contracts. See the utility websites below for more information. 

The Renewable Auction Mechanism (RAM) was approved

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Solar and Energy Loan Fund (SELF)

The non-profit Solar and Energy Loan Fund (SELF) provides unsecured personal loans to qualifying Florida Homeowners for:

SELF gives qualifying homeowners the ability to secure financing for:

  • Weatherization and insulation
  • Replacement of inefficient air-conditioning systems
  • Solar thermal and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems
  • Roofs, windows, doors, and hurricane shutters
  • disability products and aging in place

SELF provides home improvement loans up to $50,000.

History

In June 2010, St. Lucie County received a grant award through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency Block Grant Program (EECBG). The $2.9 million award was used to kick-start the SELF pilot loan program, which began

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Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Generation Facilities

Personal Property

In 2010 Nebraska created a nameplate capacity tax that replaced the Nebraska Department of Revenue's central assessment and taxation of depreciable tangible personal property associated with wind energy generation facilities (see L.B. 1048). In 2015, eligibility was extended to solar, biomass, and landfill gas (see L.B. 424).

The nameplate capacity tax is $3,518 per installed megawatt (MW). On March 1 of each year, the owner of a renewable generation facility must file with the Department of Revenue a report on the nameplate capacity of the facility for the previous calendar year. Nameplate capacity taxes for any

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Miami-Dade County - Florida PACE Finance Programs

Note:  In 2010, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), which has authority over mortgage underwriters Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, directed these enterprises against purchasing mortgages of homes with a PACE lien due to its senior status above a mortgage. Most residential PACE activity subsided following this directive; however, some residential PACE programs are now operating with loan loss reserve funds, appropriate disclosures, or other protections meant to address FHFA's concerns. Commercial PACE programs were not directly affected by FHFA’s actions, as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac do not underwrite commercial mortgages. Visit PACENation for more information about PACE financing

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City of Danville - Net Metering

City of Danville Utilities allows its customers to participate in net metering. Production and consumption are netted over the course of the monthly billing period. Any excess generation remaining at the end of the monthly is carried forward to the following month.  

For a renewable fuel generator with a capacity of 25 kilowatts (kW) or less, a notification form must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the date the customer intends to interconnect their renewable fuel generator to the utility's facilities. Renewable fuel generators with a capacity over 25 kW are required to submit forms no later than

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Energy Project and Equipment Financing

The Virginia Resources Authority (VRA) was created in 1984 and provides financial assistance to local governments in Virginia for a variety of projects, including energy and energy conservation projects. In March 2011, H.B. 2389 added "renewable energy" to the list of eligible projects (though it may have already been technically eligible under the "energy" category). VRA offers a couple financing options, including the Virginia Pooled Financing Program and Revolving Loan Funds. Interested entities can use the contact form available on the VRA web site in order to discuss financing options with VRA staff.

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Roaring Fork Valley - Energy Smart Colorado Energy Efficiency Rebate Program

For details on available rebates, check here

Energy Smart Colorado is the first rural multi-jurisdictional consortium in the U.S. to implement a comprehensive residential energy efficiency program.

Residents of Boulder, Eagle, Gunnison, Lake, Pueblo and surrounding counties, Roaring Fork Valley, Southwest Colorado, Summit, Park, Yampa Valley, Routt, and Moffat counties are eligible for energy efficiency and renewable energy assistance, rebates, and financing through the Energy Smart Colorado program. The program helps homeowners identify, finance, and complete energy improvements in their homes.

In addition to this, the program also offers utility efficiency rebates of varying sizes for customers of City of

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Voluntary Clean Energy Portfolio Standard

In May 2011, Indiana enacted S.B. 251, creating the Clean Energy Portfolio Standard (CPS), also known as the Comprehensive Hoosier Option to Incentivize Cleaner Energy (CHOICE) program. The program sets a voluntary goal of 10% clean energy by 2025, based on the amount of electricity supplied by the utility in 2010. Indiana's participating utilities receive an incentive to increase the amount of renewable energy sources in their portfolio.

Eligible Technologies

Indiana's CPS includes renewable energy technologies, but also conventional energy sources like nuclear, coal, and natural gas. Specifically, there are 21 eligible "clean" energy technologies: solar energy; photovoltaic
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Interconnection Guidelines

In October 2009, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) approved net metering regulations. These rules were finalized and approved by the lieutenant governor in January 2010 and became effective January 15, 2010.  In May 2011, the RCA approved interconnection guidelines.  All utilities subject to Alaska's net metering regulations were required to issue revised tariffs that address interconnection.

The interconnection guidelines state that the utility can require a customer to have liability insurance, if the insurance is easily available at a reasonable cost to the customer.  No external disconnect switch is required; the customer is either given the choice of installing an

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City of Los Angeles - Green Building Retrofit Requirement

In April 2009, Los Angeles enacted Ordinance 180636, known as the Green Building Retrofit Ordinance. This ordinance was later amended by Ordinance 182259. The law requires all city-owned buildings that are either more than 7,500 square feet or built before 1978 to be retrofitted. The goal of the retrofits will be to achieve LEED for Existing Buildings Silver certification or higher. This requirement is subject to the availability of state or federal funds. The Ordinance requires that at least half of the buildings retrofitted are located in high-poverty and high-unemployment areas, and that, to the extent feasible, all construction

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