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Solar Program
 Maine's Solar Energy Rebate Program
Funds are available for solar thermal systems, however, the photovoltaic (PV) money has been totally reserved through the end of the program in 2008. The 123rd Legislature extended the Maine Solar Program by two years to December 2010. Both thermal and PV systems will be refunded at $500,000 per year with 75% being allocated to thermal systems and 25% to PV. There are no funds available for new PV systems.
Governor Baldacci’s Solar Initiative was signed into law on June 29th, 2005. The Solar Energy Rebate Program applies to solar electric and thermal energy systems purchased after July 1, 2005. The Maine Public Utilities Commission Rule Chapter 930 governs implementation of the Act.
For Solar Thermal Systems
- Solar thermal system designed to heat water and air qualify for a basic rebate of 30% of the cost of the system or $2,500, whichever is less. Solar incentives for ENERGY STAR and Maine Home Performance Homes are 35% of the cost of the system or $3,000, whichever is less. The commercial incentive is 35% of the system costs of $10,500, whichever is less;
- Solar hot water systems must be installed by licensed plumbers who have been qualified to install such systems by the Maine Public Utilities Commission, or by licensed plumbers working with someone who has been qualified to install such systems by the Maine Public Utilities Commission;
- List of Certified Solar Thermal Installers; and,
- To become a certified solar thermal installer, an individual must take the 2-day workshop offered by the Maine Public Utilities Commission and pass the take-home exam. To see if a workshop is coming up, please visit the MSEP's calendar of events.
For Solar Electric Systems
- Solar PV systems qualify for rebates of $2.00/watt for the first 1,000 watts, capped at $2,000;
- Effective on January 1, 2008 all PV applications must include a copy of a home energy audit signed by the auditor.
- Up to 25% of the designated solar fund can be spent on solar electric system rebates;
- Solar electric systems must be installed on homes or businesses connected to the utility grid;
- For solar electric systems installed after January 1, 2007, the system must be installed by a master electrician who is North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) certified , or by a master electrician working with someone who is NABCEP certified; and,
- List of NABCEP Certified Solar Electric Installers.
 All Systems
Rebates are limited to Maine residents. Homeowners and businesses applying for rebates should be prepared to furnish all documentation of system purchase and copies of installer licenses and certification. Individuals engaged in the sale, purchase, or installation of a solar system after July 1, 2005 must carefully read the language of the law to ensure that the system will qualify for a rebate.
For More Information
Please contact Richard Fortier, Solar Program Manager Efficiency Maine at the Maine Public Utilities Commission, at (207) 287-3319 or by e-mail at richard.fortier@maine.gov.
Downeast Solar Co-Op
This project grew out of a Maine Million Solar Roofs (MSR) proposal where MSR Partnership participants began to think creatively about supporting the growth of “solar roofs” in a state that had, at that time, no significant incentive programs. Thus, the idea of a Solar Co-op was born, as a combination of tools and small incentives that would, in the aggregate, yield sufficient incentives to advance more Mainers into the ranks of solar homeowners. The Maine Energy Investment Corporation (MEIC) was awarded a Maine State Energy Program grant in the amount of $23,000 for this project. Bonneville Environmental Foundation, and Maine Interfaith Power and Light provided match funding in the amount of $33,000 for this grant. The resulting Downeast Solar Co-op (DSC) program consists of three core elements: Basic public education; “SolarCents” PV RECs aggregation, and “PV Reinvestment Fund”.
Basic public education on solar. Public education included the development of handouts and MEIC participation on panels at solar workshops.
“SolarCents” Aggregation project. While larger renewable generators have been selling RECs for years, owners of residential-scale PV installations may not even be aware that their system is eligible to earn RECs. In addition, most residential systems don’t produce enough output for a system owner to sell the associated RECs on his or her own. If many small systems were to be aggregated, however, the aggregation could qualify those small systems and assist them in the sale of their RECs (or sell the RECs on their behalf. The “SolarCents” aggregation effort continues to spur interest but few sign-ups. It seems that the hurdles for participation, (monitoring, verification and contracting with an aggregator, for example), remain daunting to prospective participants. We are hopeful that once REC sales are actually being processed, more eligible system owners will see the value to completing the registration process.
PV Reinvestment Fund. Two “mini-grants” have so far been awarded: Capital Village affordable housing complex in Augusta (a MSHA-sponsored complex). The second award was made to Maple Hill Farms, a “Green” B&B in Hallowell, for their 15 kW PV system. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for this installation was held January 18, 2007, and resulted in significant coverage in both print and TV media.
Both awardees were offered Fat Spaniel real-time monitoring systems, to enable the systems’ performance to be web-accessible. The Fat Spaniel System is currently running for Capitol Village, and will soon be up and running for Maple Hill Farms. http://www.renewmaine.org/solar/MiniGrants.html
At this time, we expect to make a second round of grants this coming fall.
For More Information
Please contact Shirley Bartlett, Efficiency Maine Program Manager at the Maine Public Utilities Commission, at (207) 287-3318 or by email at Shirley.Bartlett@maine.gov.
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Public
Utilities Commission