Important Update Regarding The Commonwealth Solar Ii Rebate Program

DEAR MASSACHUSETTS SOLAR STAKEHOLDER, The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) would like to provide an important update regarding the Commonwealth Solar II rebate program. As MassCEC has previously indicated, the Commonwealth Solar II rebate program is scheduled to sunset permanently at the end of funding Block 20. Launched in January 2010, the program has helped to jump-start the small-scale solar market in Massachusetts, and has grown along with this segment of the industry. To date, the CSII Program has awarded over 10,000 rebate applications for over 62 MW of solar capacity, facilitating the investment in solar of over 314 million by home owners and business owners across Massachusetts. However, given the enormous growth in solar projects, MassCEC believes that the program has served its intended purpose, and beginning in 2015 MassCEC plans to transition from the administration of this rebate program to other forms of support for the residential and small-scale solar market. AS A RESULT OF HIGHER-THAN-ANTICIPATED DEMAND ASSOCIATED WITH THE END OF THIS PROGRAM, THE 3 MILLION THAT WAS INITIALLY ALLOCATED FOR BLOCK 20 IS FULLY SUBSCRIBED AS OF TODAY. GIVEN THE FUNDING DEPLETION HAS HAPPENED EARLIER THAN EXPECTED, MASSCEC HAS TODAY OBTAINED APPROVAL FROM ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR AN ADDITIONAL 3 MILLION IN FUNDING TO ENSURE THE ORDERLY CLOSE-OUT OF THE PROGRAM. This is the final funding allocation for the Commonwealth Solar II Rebate Program, which will sunset at the end of the fourth quarter 2014, or when the additional funds are fully reserved, whichever occurs earlier. The final funding will be made available as BLOCK 20-A. This will enable the final funding block of the rebate program to remain open farther into the quarter, better coinciding with the Department of Energy Resources' launch of the residential solar loan program, anticipated to launch in early 2015. In adding this final amount of funding, MassCEC is attempting to smooth the transition at the end of the rebate program, and to allow installers to better plan for availability of funds. IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, SOLAR INSTALLATION COMPANIES WILL BE LIMITED TO SUBMITTING NO MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED (100) ADDITIONAL REBATE APPLICATIONS UNDER BLOCK 20-A. BLOCK 20-A FUNDING PARAMETERS WILL BE EFFECTIVE FOR ALL REBATE APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED AFTER APPLICATION NUMBER CS2-13932. Once a company has reached the submittal of 100 applications, no additional applications will be eligible to reserve funding. In order to allow applicants to better manage the remaining funds that are available, MassCEC will immediately begin posting on our website the remaining amount of funding available on a daily basis, available at www.masscec.com/commsolar. MassCEC is excited to see the tremendous growth of the residential and small-scale commercial solar industry, and we appreciate all of your efforts to continue driving solar in Massachusetts. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the MassCEC solar team at cs@masscec.com. The post Important Update Regarding the Commonwealth Solar II Rebate Program appeared first on Sun Wind.