Solar Rebate Program Has More Funds, Says Dinniman

The following information is courtesy of Senator Andy Dinniman (19th Senatorial District, covering Trappe, Upper Providence, Spring City areas):

 State Senator Andy Dinniman recently announced that additional funding is now available through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Sunshine Solar Rebate Program. 

“This additional funding is enough to restart the program, but it won’t last forever,” Dinniman said. “I encourage homeowners and small business owners looking to take advantage of the solar rebate program to act now because resources are limited and the remaining funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.”

The Commonwealth Financing Authority recently made available $7.25 million in funding to reactivate the program, which had been on hold since August 2011 because funding was exhausted. The additional funding is enough to provide rebates for projects currently on the waiting list, as well as an estimated 400 additional installations this year, according to DEP.

The DEP also announced a change in how contractors will apply for solar rebates on behalf of homeowners moving forward and advises that projects associated with previously reserved rebate money must be completed by June 1, 2013. Contractors with projects on the waiting list have received direct notification from DEP outlining this change and are encouraged to participate in a related webinar on Tuesday, Feb. 12, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Authorized by the Alternative Energy Investment Act of 2008, the Sunshine Solar Rebate Program provides rebates of up to 35 percent to cover the purchase and installation of certified solar electric (photovoltaic) and solar thermal (hot-water) systems.

All applicants for the solar program, either residents or small businesses, are required to use an installer from the department’s approved list. A list of approved installers is available on DEP’s website. (It is also attached t this article.) Registration information for the Feb. 12 webinar is also outlined on the Sunshine webpage, and information on rebate availability will be updated weekly.