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Nevada residents who applied in 2005 for money to offset the cost of installing solar cell (photovoltaic) technology should be receiving rebate information soon said Sierra Pacific Power officials.
This is the third year the state-run SolarGenerations program has provided financial incentives to residents interested in offsetting the costs of installing solar electric systems on their homes and businesses.
Sierra Pacific officials said this last round of rebates will go towards 174 solar cell projects capable of converting sunlight into approximately 1,350,000 watts (1.35) megawatts of electricity in the state.
Among the many eco-friendly property owners who have capitalized on the solar rebates are those building the Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences on the Sierra Nevada College campus.
Elaine Jason, project coordinator for the building, said the rebate will offer the bi-state building consortium a significant reduction in the overall cost of the solar hardware that has been installed on the roof of the center.
"(SolarGenerations) offers quite a bit of money (back)," Jason said. "Its a pretty good program."
The solar cell technology installed on the roof of the science center will produce 32,500 watts (32.5 kilowatts) of electricity.
Science center building contractors submitted a rebate application to the program as a part of the 2005/2006 SolarGenerations funding cycle.
That funding cycle offers $4 for each watt of that electricity produced, earning the center an estimated a one-time total rebate of approximately $130,000.
Those who applied for rebates for the 2006/2007 funding cycle only receive $3 per watt of energy produced.
"The program is hugely helpful," said Steve Coonen, vice president of business development at Connect Energy, the company that produced and designed the 900 photovoltaic tiles already installed on the roof of the center. "In fact, it was critical in making the project a go."
The catch, project coordinator Jason said, is getting the solar cells up and running by June 30th of 2006 - this year's rebate deadline.
"You do not receive rebates until projects are completed," said Scott Gerz, program coordinator for the SolarGenerations program. "You have one year window to get a project completed."
Coonen said that the solar cells imbedded within the roofing tiles on the Science Center are completely installed, but that other electrical work for the building remains to be finished.
"We'll be ready by (the deadline) though," Coonen said.
Public institutions are not the only property owners taking advantage of the rebates.
Sierra Pacific's parent company said 67 photovoltaic systems have been installed on 42 homes in Northern Nevada and on 25 homes in southern Nevada.
Mike Warner, owner of Dr. Shock Electric in Reno, a business that provides photovoltaic technology installation said he thinks the rebates "dramatically improve the incentive for both commercial and residential owners to install solar systems."
"(The program) definitely encourages people that might not otherwise consider (solar system installation)," said Warner.
Sidebar: Meeting Nevada's alternative energy requirements:
Steve Coonen of Connect Energy, who produced the solar tiles for SNC's Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences, said while the SolarGenerations program may provide an incentive to home and business owners interested in solar energy, that Sierra Pacific Resources, Nevada's main utility company, has a long way to go to meet the state requirement mandating that 20 percent of the utilities energy must come from sources other than fossil fuels.
"Sierra pacific power need more solar to meet their legislative requirement... and they have a long way to go," Coonen said.
Coonen's sentiments were echoed by Tim Carlson, president and CEO of Powered by Renewable (PBR), a company that operates a satellite office in Incline Village.
"The power company has been looking for companies that have the capability of supplying alternative energy," said Carlson, who also serves on state of Nevada's Renewable Energy & Energy Conservation Task Force.
Powered by Renewables is engaged in the business of supplying that alternative power, Carlson said.
Recently, PBR announced it would partner with SunEdison of Marlyand to develop, in Nevada, the world's largest solar photovoltaic project.
Sierra Pacific Resources committed to purchasing renewable energy credits from the project for several decades, synching a crucial element to the forward progress of the photovoltaic field that will be located in Clark County.
The venture has won accolades from state officials, including Senator Harry Reid who said, "...These are the kinds of ventures we hope to repeat across the West, and the nation, as part of our drive for energy independence by 2020."
Sidebar 2: What SolarGenerations has funded:
In its first year SolarGenerations paid some $1 million in rebates to Nevada residents, small businesses, public buildings and schools.
The total available rebates for the third round of funding is estimated to be $6 million.
The estimated rebates for the fourth round of funding, (applications will begin to be accepted in July of 2006) is $7,980,000.
source Nevada Renewable Energy & Energy Conservation Task Force
For more information on solar rebate programs:
http://www.dsireusa.org
http://www.nevadarenewables.org
http://www.solargenerations.com
This is the third year the state-run SolarGenerations program has provided financial incentives to residents interested in offsetting the costs of installing solar electric systems on their homes and businesses.
Sierra Pacific officials said this last round of rebates will go towards 174 solar cell projects capable of converting sunlight into approximately 1,350,000 watts (1.35) megawatts of electricity in the state.
Among the many eco-friendly property owners who have capitalized on the solar rebates are those building the Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences on the Sierra Nevada College campus.
Elaine Jason, project coordinator for the building, said the rebate will offer the bi-state building consortium a significant reduction in the overall cost of the solar hardware that has been installed on the roof of the center.
"(SolarGenerations) offers quite a bit of money (back)," Jason said. "Its a pretty good program."
The solar cell technology installed on the roof of the science center will produce 32,500 watts (32.5 kilowatts) of electricity.
Science center building contractors submitted a rebate application to the program as a part of the 2005/2006 SolarGenerations funding cycle.
That funding cycle offers $4 for each watt of that electricity produced, earning the center an estimated a one-time total rebate of approximately $130,000.
Those who applied for rebates for the 2006/2007 funding cycle only receive $3 per watt of energy produced.
"The program is hugely helpful," said Steve Coonen, vice president of business development at Connect Energy, the company that produced and designed the 900 photovoltaic tiles already installed on the roof of the center. "In fact, it was critical in making the project a go."
The catch, project coordinator Jason said, is getting the solar cells up and running by June 30th of 2006 - this year's rebate deadline.
"You do not receive rebates until projects are completed," said Scott Gerz, program coordinator for the SolarGenerations program. "You have one year window to get a project completed."
Coonen said that the solar cells imbedded within the roofing tiles on the Science Center are completely installed, but that other electrical work for the building remains to be finished.
"We'll be ready by (the deadline) though," Coonen said.
Public institutions are not the only property owners taking advantage of the rebates.
Sierra Pacific's parent company said 67 photovoltaic systems have been installed on 42 homes in Northern Nevada and on 25 homes in southern Nevada.
Mike Warner, owner of Dr. Shock Electric in Reno, a business that provides photovoltaic technology installation said he thinks the rebates "dramatically improve the incentive for both commercial and residential owners to install solar systems."
"(The program) definitely encourages people that might not otherwise consider (solar system installation)," said Warner.
Sidebar: Meeting Nevada's alternative energy requirements:
Steve Coonen of Connect Energy, who produced the solar tiles for SNC's Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences, said while the SolarGenerations program may provide an incentive to home and business owners interested in solar energy, that Sierra Pacific Resources, Nevada's main utility company, has a long way to go to meet the state requirement mandating that 20 percent of the utilities energy must come from sources other than fossil fuels.
"Sierra pacific power need more solar to meet their legislative requirement... and they have a long way to go," Coonen said.
Coonen's sentiments were echoed by Tim Carlson, president and CEO of Powered by Renewable (PBR), a company that operates a satellite office in Incline Village.
"The power company has been looking for companies that have the capability of supplying alternative energy," said Carlson, who also serves on state of Nevada's Renewable Energy & Energy Conservation Task Force.
Powered by Renewables is engaged in the business of supplying that alternative power, Carlson said.
Recently, PBR announced it would partner with SunEdison of Marlyand to develop, in Nevada, the world's largest solar photovoltaic project.
Sierra Pacific Resources committed to purchasing renewable energy credits from the project for several decades, synching a crucial element to the forward progress of the photovoltaic field that will be located in Clark County.
The venture has won accolades from state officials, including Senator Harry Reid who said, "...These are the kinds of ventures we hope to repeat across the West, and the nation, as part of our drive for energy independence by 2020."
Sidebar 2: What SolarGenerations has funded:
In its first year SolarGenerations paid some $1 million in rebates to Nevada residents, small businesses, public buildings and schools.
The total available rebates for the third round of funding is estimated to be $6 million.
The estimated rebates for the fourth round of funding, (applications will begin to be accepted in July of 2006) is $7,980,000.
source Nevada Renewable Energy & Energy Conservation Task Force
For more information on solar rebate programs:
http://www.dsireusa.org
http://www.nevadarenewables.org
http://www.solargenerations.com
