greenHILLhome: The Solar Saga Continues

uploaded to flickr.com by rishibando

Support for solar energy may be eclipsed in the District.  In the last greenHILLhome update on solar energy in the District, I reported on the status of funding for residential solar projects and how the rebates were in jeopardy due to DC budget cuts and reapportioning of money.  Thanks to the work of the Capitol Hill Energy Co-op and DC SUN (Solar United Neighborhoods) we have some additional information on where the solar energy rebate money is going.

According to Director Tolou of the District Department of the Environment (DDOE), there are nearly 500 people on the waiting list for the solar energy grant program.  At this point, DC residents not already on that list will most likely not be able to participate in the program (i.e. will receive no rebate).  The roughly $800,000 left in the program from 2010 was to be used to help close the city’s budget gap but solar supporters say it needs to be restored and apportioned to as many folks as possible on the waiting list.  Since that money came from an energy surcharge anyway, the money was collected with the intent of funding the rebate program and should not be “taken” by the District to stifle a budget shortfall.  If the program will be discontinued, the energy surcharge should also be discontinued.

In the meantime, DDOE is considering reducing the rebate amount that program participants receive by 50%.  This would allow twice as many people on the waiting list to receive funding, but receiving half the anticipated cash may discourage some residents from installing their solar panels.

On February 7 DC SUN sent a letterto Tolou requesting follow up on the funding issues noted above.  While no official response to the letter was received a program update was posted to the DDOE website on February 11 that included some information on the project funding.  The update states that the program budget was indeed reduced and that DDOE is currently “exploring options” with the City Council and Mayor to find more money for rebates for the folks already on the waiting list.   If no money can be found, the waiting list folks will be placed at the front of the line for funds in 2012.

Whether or not the program receives full funding in 2012 will have to remain to be seen.  The DDOE update did note, though, that at this time no additional pre-qualification letters will be sent to applicants.  That means if you aren’t on the waiting list by now to participate, you most likely will not be participating.

This sounds like a setback for alternative energy in the District for the moment, but undoubtedly the rally for funding solar energy installations will heat up in the coming months.