BETTER PERMITTING FOR SUN

Vermont Energy Act Offers A New National Model For Solar System Permitting
Jessica Lillian, 26 May 2011 (Solar Industry)

"Gov. Peter Shumlin, D-Vt., has signed into law the Vermont Energy Act of 2011 (H.56), which is designed to promote the development of solar energy and other sources of renewable energy in the state…

"…[T]he legislation…[includes] a new solar registration process for installations 5 kW and smaller…Vermont-based renewable energy systems provider[s]…[say] this unique streamlined registration process will provide an example for the rest of the U.S. in successful permit-cost mitigation."

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[AllEarth Renewables statement:] "The process, which replaces permitting, allows solar customers to install the system 10 days after completing a registration form and certificate of compliance with interconnection requirements…The utility has 10 days to raise any interconnection issues; otherwise, a Certificate of Public Good is granted, and the project may be installed."

"In addition, the law expands Vermont's net-metering access. All residential, commercial, nonprofit and municipal system hosts will receive an incentive of $0.20/kWh - minus the local retail electric rate. AllEarth Renewables estimates that most customers will receive between $0.06/kWh and $0.01/kWh...[T]he maximum size of a net-metered project has also been increased from 250 kW to 500 kW, and groups participating in net metering can specify allocation for accrued credits through direct billing."

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"Further financial incentives for solar and other forms of renewable energy will be provided through a shifting and strengthening of the state's Clean Energy Development Fund (CEDF)…[B]ridge funding for CEDF initiatives…[will provide] grants in lieu of tax credits. According to the governor's office, this funding will lead to nearly $3 million in clean energy investment this year...

"Finally, Vermont's Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program has been ‘strengthened and updated,’ according to the governor's office…[T]he state is currently working on a broader energy plan that is due to be released Oct. 15…that will continue Vermont's move from fossil fuels to renewable energy…"