Rebate Frozen [RE-wrenches]
Dean T. Newberry
deant at dcn.org
Sat Dec 13 21:55:12 PST 2003
<x-flowed>
Hi y'All,
The following article reports that the CEC rebate is frozen. No new
rebate applications will be accepted until further notice.
cul deant at dcn.org
_____________________________________________________________
by Jesse Broehl, Staff Writer, SolarAccess.com News
Sacramento, California - December 11, 2003 [SolarAccess.com]
California's Emerging Renewables program, which has been crucial to
driving many new solar photovoltaic installations in the state, has been
temporarily frozen in response to a new order handed down from Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In an effort to alleviate the state's hemorrhaging budget deficit, the
governor recently issued an executive order prohibiting new state
contracts, contract extensions, and non-essential travel.
"It is vital to the economic health and prosperity of California that
state government be conducted in the most business-like and economical
manner, and that the people of this State be assured that their tax
dollars be spent wisely," Governor Schwarzenegger states in the
Executive Order. "The State General Fund is facing a significant
imbalance between revenues and expenditures, and additional action must
be taken to assure that the State lives within its means."
Executive Order S-4-03 prohibits all state agencies and departments from
entering into any new contracts or agreements to lease or purchase
equipment, from entering into any new services contracts, or from making
any changes to an existing contract that would increase the amount or
extend the term of such a contract, except as determined by the Director
of Finance to be in the best interest of the State.
In response to the governor's order, the California Energy Commission
(CEC), has temporarily put any new rebates and incentives on hold in
order to evaluate the program's legal status under the new terms.
According to Claudia Chandler, Assistant Executive Director, Media and
Communications Office for the CEC, the governor's order does impact the
rebates and the CEC will seek an exemption to be processed later this week.
Another source at the CEC, questioned whether allocating monies from an
existing account could be considered "new contracts" and felt the
current freeze is more of a precautionary pause to allow an evaluation
of the fund's legal status under the new order.
"The CEC is wondering whether that program falls into that account,"
said a CEC source speaking under condition of anonymity. "Like all
agencies, the emerging renewables account is examining its legal statues
and how it relates to the executive order."
The Emerging Renewables Program began on September 12, 2002, when Senate
Bill 1038 was enacted into law authorizing the CEC to administer the
program beginning in 2003 through 2006. The program grants capital cost
rebates to assist customers who purchase and install renewable
technologies for on-site generation. Increased sales encourage
manufacturers and retailers to expand operations, which in turn should
lower costs to consumers.
Participation in the program is setting record levels in 2003 with over
6,000 applications submitted, according to the CEC. In the first nine
months of the new program approximately half of the total funding
allocated through 2006 has been paid or reserved.
This may only be a temporary setback based on a legal technicality, or
it could prove to be something more serious for renewable energy in
California.
In related news to the Emerging Renewables Account, the CEC's Renewables
Committee is conducting a workshop today to solicit comments on proposed
revisions to the Emerging Renewables Program Guidebook (publication #
500-03-001F). Primary consideration is to reduce the rebate to $3/watt
to stretch the rapidly depleting funds further. The rebate is currently
at $3.80/watt and is scheduled to be reduced to $3.60/watt on January 1,
2004.
Copyright © 2003 - SolarAccess.com - All Rights Reserved
- - - -
To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Archive of previous messages: http://www.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/
List rules & etiquette: http://www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquete.htm
Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html
Hosted by Home Power magazine
Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
--^----------------------------------------------------------------
This email was sent to: michael.welch at homepower.com
EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bz9JC9.bWljaGFl
Or send an email to: RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com
TOPICA - Start your own email discussion group. FREE!
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/create/index2.html
--^----------------------------------------------------------------
</x-flowed>
More information about the RE-wrenches
mailing list