Washington State "Solar Bills" are Signed Into Law!

Washington's Governor Christine Gregoire signed into law what Denis Hayes calls "the most important solar legislation ever introduced in any American state legislature." As former director of the federal Solar Energy Research Institute and founder of Earth Day, Hayes knows of what he speaks. These bills -- SB5111 and SB5101 -- were conceived, written and carried through both houses of the legislature with the cooperation of both political parties, receiving almost unanimous support. Mike Nelson, Manager of the Washington State University Northwest Solar Center, worked with Washington legislators Bob Morton, Erik Poulsen and Maralyn Chase to advance the solar energy industry in Washington State. Working from shared goals of job creation and advancing renewable, legislators found ways to build on existing resources and to grow an industry that will produce solar products that are on demand worldwide.
 

SB5111 will provide tax breaks for renewable energy businesses that locate themselves in economically depressed and low population counties. SB5101 establishes a renewable energy "feed-in" production incentive, modeled after a successful German program. With this first state-wide program of its kind in the U.S., homes and businesses with solar photovoltaics, wind power systems and anaerobic digesters will earn 15 cents per kWh of electricity generated by their renewable energy systems. This figure is multiplied if the project's components are manufactured in Washington to as much as 54 cents, up to $2000 annually. The program will be in effect for nine years and gives home and business owners the opportunity to invest in their own clean energy production.

While existing programs in the U.S. pay people up front for the purchase of a solar system the Washington program is performance-based. "I've been a strong proponent for creating incentive programs that focus on paying for performance, as opposed to capacity-based dollar per watt incentives" said Tom Starrs, Chair of the American Solar Energy Society, and Vice President of Marketing and Sales with the Washington-based Bonneville Environmental Foundation. With net metering, green power programs and now feed-in tariffs there are 3 ways that Washington utilities and customers can work together to produce new sources of clean energy.

Pamela Burton

President Solar Washington

Important message for Photovoltaic Pioneers

Get the Dept. of Revenue form to receive incentives for clean energy production.

See Governor Gregoire speak about Solar Bills - Videos for Dial-up or Broadband

Photos of Governor Gregoire signing SB5101 and SB5111

Washington State Passes Progressive Renewable Energy Legislation - Great article at RenewableEnergyAccess.com