USA states step back on solar funding

By CHRIS KAHN – 59 minutes ago
NEW YORK (AP) — Homeowners who waited until this year to install rooftop solar panels and take advantage of a hefty new government subsidy might not get the payback they anticipated.
As federal subsidies are rolled out, states under severe economic strain and utilities have slashed their own solar incentives, and as a result, cut the expected discount by thousands of dollars in some cases.
"It's two steps forward, one step back," said Jeff Wolfe, CEO of Vermont-based solar installer groSolar. "It's frustrating."
In Massachusetts, for example, the Commonwealth Solar program cut its rebate by $1 per watt on Jan. 1, reducing the overall discount by $3,000 for a 3 kilowatt solar panel system. In Colorado, customers of Xcel Energy Inc. saw a similar rebate cut, and they'll pay more now to install solar than they would have a year ago.

Labels: News, Solar Energy, Solar Funding

posted by Ertai at 4:52 PM