The United States Recovery Act has been bolstering up solar after the 2008 market slide (due to the world-wide recession). This is partially due to new solar financing options.

Advanced Green Technologies is working hard to put solar panels in with business owners. They are offering a 0-0-3 program, no down payment and interest free for 3 months. This would allow business owners to purchase a solar system, take advantage of tax credits, and pay down the loan before interest payments begin.

Tennessee Valley AUthority proposed adding nuclear reactors, but it is warming up to solar. It created a program, TVA's Generation Partners program, which will provide a $1,000 incentive for small solar projects. It has also guaranteed a price for buying excess electricity.

California started it's PACE program, allowing homeowners to pay back the city for a solar installation through property taxes.

When homeowners meet specific criteria, solar can be added to a mortgage during a refinance. This will decrease interest rates and increase the return on investment (ROI) of a solar system. 

Solar finance are starting to pop up all over the United States to encourage deployment of photovoltaics. Solar panels provide renewable, reliable electricity with no emissions after production and no moving parts. They have a 20-30 year electricity production warranty (and will continue to produce electricity for decades after that).

With these types of programs, it is inevitable that the price of solar will continue to decrease as demand for cheaper renewable energy grows stronger every year.

Posted via email from richhesslersolar's posterous

Florida Attempting to Save Solar Rebate Program

The recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has awakened America to re-examine renewable energy. One state, Florida, has a solar rebate program in trouble. 

The Florida solar rebate program was established in 2007. It provides homeowners $10,000 for photovoltaic solar installations and $500 for solar hot-water systems. Unfortunately, Florida state Legislature did not fund the program. Florida received $14.4 million in federal stimulus, but most of the funds went directly to solar rebates. This money was quickly used by applicants from the previous year.

Governor Charlie Crist requested $10 million for the program in 2010-2011. So far, Florida has provided no funds.

Currently, there are nearly 10,000 applicants waiting for $25 million in rebates. The program is set to expire at the end of June unless the Legislature reauthorizes its continuation.

Governor Crist said a special session is needed to consider banning oil drilling and investing money in renewable energy. 

http://wdbo.com/blogging/mt-tb.cgi/72984

Posted via email from richhesslersolar's posterous