Links
Below are useful links to state solar programs and other organizations and websites that offer excellent information on solar energy technologies.
Arizona Solar Center
The mission of the Arizona Solar Center is to enhance the utilization of renewable energy, educate Arizona’s residents on solar technology developments, support commerce and industry in the development of solar and other sustainable technologies and coordinate these efforts throughout the state of Arizona.
California Center for Sustainable Energy
The Center for Sustainable Energy works to foster public policies and provide programs, services, information and forums that facilitate the adoption of clean, reliable, renewable, sustainable, and efficient energy technologies and practices. This website offers information for homeowners, businesses and public agencies.
California Energy Commission - Consumer Energy Center
The Consumer Energy Center went on line in 1995 to offer the public a one-stop site on the Internet for the latest information about energy resources and how to use them wisely in homes, at work and in vehicles. This website offers lots of information about solar and other clean energy technologies, with sections offering seasonal consumer tips, "how-to" videos for the consumer and energy professional, and a direct link to information about incentives and rebates.
California Solar Initiative (CSI)
The California Public Utilities Commission, through its California Solar Initiative, provides incentives over the next decade for existing residential homes and existing and new commercial, industrial, and agricultural properties. The CSI offers PV incentives starting at $2.50 per watt for systems up to one megawatt in size; funds for solar installations for existing and new low-income and affordable housing; and a pay-for-performance incentive structure to reward high-performing solar projects.
California New Solar Homes Partnership
California Energy Commission manages a 10-year, $400 million program to encourage solar in new home construction, known as the New Solar Homes Partnership (NSHP). The CEC will work with builders and developers to incorporate high levels of energy efficiency and high-performing solar systems to help create a self-sustaining solar market where home buyers demand energy efficient, solar homes. The NSHP will specifically target single family, low-income, and multi-family housing markets.
Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA)
CESA is a nonprofit coalition of state clean energy funds and programs working together to develop and promote clean energy technologies and markets. CESA provides information sharing, technical assistance services, and a collaborative network for its members by coordinating multi-state efforts, leveraging funding for projects and research, and assisting members with program development and evaluation.
Connecticut Clean Energy Fund - Solar Rebates
The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF), which began operations in 2000, promotes the production and use of energy from clean and renewable sources, for the benefit of Connecticut ratepayers. The fund is administered by Connecticut Innovations, a quasi-public organization, and is funded by a surcharge on electric utility bills. CCEF offers rebates to Connecticut residents, nonprofits and governmental organizations who work through participating solar installers.
DSIRE Database
DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. DSIRE’s frequently updated maps and tables provide users with information on financial incentives available in their states in support of renewable energy technologies. Established in 1995, the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency is an ongoing project of the North Carolina Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Energy Trust of Oregon - Solar Energy Programs
Energy Trust incentives, combined with Oregon state energy tax credits and federal tax incentives, can substantially defray the total cost of a solar electric system for homes and businesses. ETO offers cash incentives for the installation of PV systems and solar hot water systems to homes, businesses, industry, and government and nonprofit organizations.
FindSolar.com
FindSolar.com’s mission is to serve as a convenient, user-friendly means for home and small commercial building owners to make preliminary evaluations of solar energy options for their location, and to help find qualified professionals who can design, install and service solar energy systems. This website offers Online "quick calculators" to help you determine the costs and benefits of solar energy systems for your particular location and building needs, a means to review and access solar energy contractor and professional services, and links and resources to current information about solar energy data, programs and other helpful information.
Florida DEP Energy Office - Solar Energy Systems Incentive Program
As part of the 2006 Florida Energy Act, the Solar Energy Systems Incentives Program is providing rebates for purchase and installation of solar energy systems in homes and businesses. Any resident of Florida who purchases and installs a new solar energy system from July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2010, is eligible for a rebate on a portion of the purchase price of that solar energy system.
Florida Solar Energy Center
The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) was created by the Florida Legislature in 1975 to serve as the state’s energy research institute. The main responsibilities of the center are to conduct research, test and certify solar systems and develop education programs.
Go Solar California
This website is a joint effort of the California Energy Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission. The website is hosted and maintained by the Web Team of the Energy Commission’s Media & Public Communications Office. This site provides consumers a "one-stop shop" for information on rebates, tax credits, and incentives for solar electricity systems in California.
Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)
The Interstate Renewable Energy Council is a non-profit organization dedicated to moving renewable energy resources into the marketplace. IREC emphasizes education and outreach, stakeholder coordination, technical assistance, workforce development, the adoption and implementation of uniform guidelines and standards, consumer protection and building networks to share experiences and information.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) - Case Studies of State Support for Renewable Energy
Berkeley Lab, in collaboration with the Clean Energy States Alliance, has initiated a case study series that will report on the use of state clean energy funds. The primary purpose of this series is to briefly report on the innovative programs and administrative practices of state (and some international) clean energy funds, to highlight additional sources of information and to identify contacts. These case studies are useful for administrators of clean energy funds and other stakeholders that are interested in learning about the pioneering renewable energy efforts of newly established clean energy funds.
Maryland Energy Administration - Solar Energy Grant Program
The Solar Energy Grant Program went into effect on January1, 2005. This program provides funding for a portion of the costs to install certain qualifying solar energy systems. MEA is still accepting applications and issuing grants in 2008.
Masschusetts Renewable Energy Trust - Commonwealth Solar Initiative
The Renewable Energy Trust seeks to maximize environmental and economic benefits for the Commonwealth’s citizens by pioneering and promoting clean energy technologies and fostering the emergence of sustainable markets for electricity generated from renewable sources. Commonwealth Solar provides rebates through a non-competitive application process for the installation of PV projects at residential, commercial, industrial, and public facilities. Non-residential projects are eligible for rebates for PV projects up to 500 kilowatts (kW) and residential projects are eligible for up to 5 kW. The applicant (and project site) must be a customer of a Massachusetts investor-owned electric utility.
National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC)
NARUC is a trade association representing the State public service commissioners who regulate essential utility services, such as electricity, gas, telecommunications, water, and transportation, throughout the country. As regulators, our members are charged with protecting the public and ensuring that rates charged by regulated utilities are fair, just, and reasonable.
National Association of State Energy Offices (NASEO)
The National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) is the only nonprofit organization that represents the Governor-designated energy officials from each state and territory. The organization was created to improve the effectiveness and quality of state energy programs and policies, provide policy input and analysis, share successes among the states, and be a repository of information on energy issues of concern to the states and their citizens.
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) - Energy Policy Database Search (Link)
This NCSL database tracks current and previous years’ bills on energy issues relating to to topics such as energy security, efficiency, climate change, fossil energy and renewable energy.
New Jersey Clean Energy Program - Renewable Energy
All ratepayers in New Jersey are entitled to financial incentives through the New Jersey Clean Energy Program. Financial incentives are available to reduce the overall cost of your renewable generation system. Incentives are currently paid incrementally based on the size of the system installed. The incentives can defray installation, equipment and interconnection costs for renewable energy technologies.
New Jersey Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) Program
New Jersey’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requires electricity suppliers provide a percentage of their electricity sales from solar generation. The Board of Public Utilities requires use of the Office of Clean Energy’s Solar Renewable Electricity Certificate system to satisfy this mandate. Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) represent the renewable attributes of solar generation, bundled in minimum denominations of one megawatt hour of electricity production. New Jersey’s SREC program provides a means for solar certificates to be created, verified, tracked, sold to and eventually retired by electric suppliers to meet their solar RPS requirement. All electric suppliers are required to use the SREC program to show compliance with this part of the State’s renewable portfolio standard. Launched on June 25, 2004, New Jersey’s on-line marketplace for trading SRECs is the first of its kind in the world.
New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency - SUNLIT Program
The New Jersey Board of Utilities (BPU) Office of Clean Energy (OCE) has allocated significant funds to a separate set-aside of Solar Renewable Energy Rebates under the Customer On-Site Renewable Energy (CORE) program – to be managed by the NJHMFA Green Homes Office. HMFA’s SUNLIT program was developed to allow solar Photovoltaics (PV) to be a more financially viable option for multi-family rental affordable housing projects. The program works to help make the cost of solar energy affordable through rebates and certificates for solar PV given by the Board of Public Utilities, and equity and financing through various HMFA administered programs.
NYSERDA - Power Naturally Solar Program
NYSERDA’s Solar Electric Programs are designed to help develop and implement a sustainable market for grid-connected solar electric or photovoltaic (PV) energy for all applications. Whether you are interested in a solar electric system for your home, business, school, or farm, NYSERDA has information and tools to help you make an informed decision about investing in a solar electric system.
NYSERDA - School Power Naturally Program
School Power…NaturallySM is an innovative program from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) that is designed to educate New Yorkers about energy, and, in particular, the role solar electric power – photovoltaics, or PV – can play in providing clean energy for our homes, schools and workplaces.
NYSERDA - Solar Training and Education
Installer training has been a top priority for NYSERDA, with certification by the North American Board of Certification for Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). NYSERDA has provided financial support for NABCEP, while subsidizing training costs to help installers obtain certification. NYSERDA has created a $1 million grant program for institutions that offer solar installation training. This program helps schools purchase equipment, develop curriculum, and hire instructors.
Solar Alliance
The Solar Alliance works closely with the Solar Energy Industries Association as it pursues national solar policy and with local solar advocates within targeted states. The Solar Alliance works to form coalitions with corporations, grass roots organizations, academic institutions as well as local governments that advocate solar energy.
Solar Energy Business Association of New England (SEBANE)
SEBANE is a business association of solar energy companies based, or doing business, in New England. Their membership includes companies from all sectors of the PV industry, including photovoltaic (PV) cell and module manufacturers, component part manufacturers, project developers, system designers, and installers. With funding support from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC), SEBANE is working to remove regulatory barriers to the development of small and behind the meter renewable generation resources.
Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)
SEIA is the national trade association for the solar industry and works to expand markets, strengthen research and development, remove market barriers, and improve education and outreach for solar.
Solar Nation
Solar Nation works to advance the use of renewable — especially solar — energy by encouraging policy change, informing political leaders and candidates about solar power, and helping to shape policy platforms at the local, state and federal level.
U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Solar Energy Technologies Program
The Solar Energy Technologies Program leads the effort to research, develop, and deploy cost-effective technologies toward growing the use of solar energy throughout our nation and the world.
U.S. Department of Energy - EERE Financial Opportunities
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) works with business, industry, universities, and others to increase the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. One way EERE encourages the growth of these technologies is by offering financial assistance opportunities for their development and demonstration. This website offers links to financial opportunities for states, businesses, universities, and industries.
U.S. Department of Energy - National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) - Solar Energy Basics
This website offers basic information about solar energy technologies with links to more in-depth information about NREL’s solar research.
U.S. Department of Energy - NREL - Solar Resource Models and Tools
This webpage features NREL’s Renewable Resource Data for solar resource models and tools, including PVWATTS, a performace calculator for grid connected systems.
U.S. Department of Energy - Solar America Initiative
The Solar America Initiative is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) effort to accelerate the development of advanced solar energy technologies. The goal is to make solar electricity cost-competitive with conventional forms of electricity by 2015. The Solar American Initiative Strategy is to pursue complementary activities in the research and development of solar technologies to reduce costs and in the transformation of the solar marketplace to eliminate barriers to commercialization.
Vote Solar
The Vote Solar Initiative is a non-profit organization with the mission of stopping global warming and increasing energy independence by bringing solar energy into the mainstream. Vote Solar is working on the key policies necessary to bring solar to scale. Vote Solar works with state governments to build sustainable solar markets, removing regulatory barriers and laying the necessary groundwork for a solar future. And Vote Solar works with cities to build large-scale and cost effective solar projects, building the economies of scale necessary to bring down costs.
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