The solar installers in the state has been and is still making the sales pitch that you could get back up to $.54 per kwh of power generated to help pay off your solar in 5-7 years. I would like to advise those that are looking into installing solar at their home to contact their utility to make sure that they are still able to sign up for this program, though likely at reduced rates as a lot of utilities have exceeded their incentive payback. A letter I received states that payback has been reduced 12 percent for 2016 and 25 percent for 2017 to 2020 (when the program ends unless it is extended). Knowing this could help in negotiating a lower price for the system. Definitely buyer beware.
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Washington State Incentives for perspective solar installation could be reduced
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About time. It is insane for WS State to offer any incentive. The state has more dirt cheap hydro power than it knows what to do with. So dang much they have to ship it to Calaphonies. Solar provides nothing and just raises electric rates on everyone to pay for the incentives. I guess legal ganja got some Stoners thinking clearly and realized how stupid they were.MSEE, PE -
Not insane. The state still burns coal for power; seehttp://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/ghg_inventory.htmComment
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Washington SB 2346 is going through the govt now. You can read a summary of the bill here
Link
http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/bienni...20TED%2016.pdf
the amazing thing about this bill is that most utilities in the state are supporting this bill, but want to keep the current incentives in place. Most of the business community and citizens are also supporting this bill. All parties in all socioeconomic classes are wanting to keep the current incentives as is. The utilities want to keep the incentives because they make money from the sale of extra energy generated by solar. If nobody is buying solar, the utilities are not making money selling this energy to Surrounding states and California. Plus, with most utilities building their own community solar farms, they are making money from citizen investors. I honestly don't see this monetary incentive going away? Everybody is making money and contributing to the overall economy of Washington. I found a video from the House Appropriations Committee with 20 plus community leaders, utilities, solar installer companies, business community, and advocates asking to keep the current incentives in place. There is some kinks that needs to be worked out before the final bill is drafted, but I see this bill being passed.
Video: skip to 59:23 and they talk about SB 2346
Last edited by SolarFamilyGuy; 02-08-2016, 11:37 PM.Comment
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Yep. Looks like they imposed the EPA's limit for new coal plans on the existing one.
They even generously allowed use of carbon capture and sequestration to meet that standard, just to be fair.
Since CCS is not economical, that in effect means the plant has to shut down.
In parallel, they've mandated an increasing fraction of (non-hydro) renewable energy:
They probably feel that the reduced subsidy for rooftop solar is appropriate given its falling cost?
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centralia_Power_Plant
Yep. Looks like they imposed the EPA's limit for new coal plans on the existing one.
They even generously allowed use of carbon capture and sequestration to meet that standard, just to be fair.
Since CCS is not economical, that in effect means the plant has to shut down.
In parallel, they've mandated an increasing fraction of (non-hydro) renewable energy:
They probably feel that the reduced subsidy for rooftop solar is appropriate given its falling cost?Comment
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Nope, I try to follow this board's "all sarcasm in comic sans" convention.
Here's a little bit more about the issue from one utility:
http://www.seattle.gov/light/solaren...ve_cap_faq.pdf
You might want to call your congresscritter and ask them to raise the cap from 0.5% of electricity to 5%, as it is in California.
They last raised it in 2005 (from 0.1% to 0.5%):
http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/bienni...e/2352.HBR.pdf
Last edited by DanKegel; 02-09-2016, 10:53 AM.Comment
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Washington has 1 coal plant. The state is planning on shutting that plant down soon. I say good.
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Nope, I try to follow this board's "all sarcasm in comic sans" convention.
Here's a little bit more about the issue from one utility:
http://www.seattle.gov/light/solaren...ve_cap_faq.pdf
You might want to call your congresscritter and ask them to raise the cap from 0.5% of electricity to 5%, as it is in California.
They last raised it in 2005 (from 0.1% to 0.5%):
http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/bienni...e/2352.HBR.pdf
Increasing the cap is already added to SB 2346. And from what I had read and watched, this bill will pass. But I could be wrong. There is a "HUGE" dependency on SB 2346 from all walks of life and economic status. If this bill does not pass, Washington's economy will take a big hit. I hate to say this, but the proverbial solar train is up to full speed. If this bill does not pass, this train will derail.
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I gather that bill raises the cap to 2%, but it makes a lot of other changes, not sure what they all do.
http://www.energy.wsu.edu/EnergyLibr...ckingTool.aspx is handy, BTW.Comment
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Well, it looks like SB 2346 was passed by a majority 11-2 in the House Appropriations Committee. Now is being sent to Rules Committee for review. It is looking like I and all current solar customers will be grandfathered into the $54 per KWh until 2020.
http://app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summa...2346&year=2015
Summary of the passed bill:
http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/bienni...20TED%2016.pdfLast edited by SolarFamilyGuy; 02-10-2016, 01:40 PM.Comment
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