Pennsylvania State Incentives: Pennsylvania Alternative Energy Investment Act
The Pennsylvania Alternative Energy Investment Act was signed into law on July 9, 2008. Governor Edward G. Rendell said this new law will save families and small businesses money on their energy bills by supporting investments in energy conservation and efficiency. Solar power is a key cost-saving technology that enables homes and businesses to generate their own electricity and sell any excess power back to the grid through net metering.
As part of the $650 million package, $100 million went to the PA State Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) which established the PA Sunshine Program to provide loans, grants and rebates to residents and businesses that cover up to 35% of the cost to install solar energy technology. $80 million was earmarked for grants and loans for economic development projects in the solar sector. Another $40 million was directed towards providing financial assistance through the state's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and establishing an energy efficiency loan fund through the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.
The Pennsylvania Sunshine Program
NOTE - As of August 19, 2011 the PA Sunshine Program is in the "Waiting List" phase. All funding for this program has been assigned at this time. PA Sunshine rebate applications will continue to be received and processed, however approval and assignment of PA Sunshine rebate funds is not guaranteed. Approved applications will be assigned funds if additional program funds become available.
The Pennsylvania Sunshine Solar Program was authorized to provide $100 million in rebates to help fund solar electric (solar photovoltaic) and solar hot water (solar thermal) projects for homeowners and small businesses in Pennsylvania. This program is authorized by section 306 of the Alternative Energy Investment Act. Funding will be deployed in the form of rebates for residential and small business projects. Rebates are awarded on a first-come-first-served basis to approved applicants. Households may receive one solar photovoltaic (PV) rebate for up to 10 kilowatts (kW) of installed PV generating capacity. A small business may only submit one solar PV application at a time and must complete the project and rebate process prior to submitting another application. For purposes of this program, all small businesses under common ownership shall be considered a single small business applicant. .
Residential Applicants: Residential applicants must be Pennsylvania residents. The applicant must be the owner of the home where the project will be installed. All residential projects must be completed on the homeowner's primary residence. Vacation homes and investment properties will not qualify for funding as a residential project. The rebate program will cover residential PV systems rated no less than 1 kW and up to 10 kW. Larger residential systems may participate, but will only receive rebates based on the first 10 kW.
Small Business Applicants: Small business applicants must be a "for-profit" business located within Pennsylvania. To qualify for small business funding, the applicant must be a separate legal entity with no more than 100 full time employees. The rebate program will cover commercial PV systems rated no less than 10 kW and up to 100 kW. Larger commercial systems may participate, but will only receive rebates equivalent to the costs of the first 100 kW.
Check out this website and click on your state to get information specific to your location: www.dsireusa.org. RMK solar continually monitors available grants, incentives, and financing options.