CEA Releases Comprehensive Solar Incentive Analysis; Highlights Importance of Pro-Solar, Pro-Grid, Pro-Consumer Policies
WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–$solar #CEA–As part of Consumer
Energy Alliance’s (CEA) Solar Energy Future campaign, the
organization today released a new report, “Incentivizing
Solar Energy: An In-Depth Analysis of U.S. Solar Incentives,”
that provides a comprehensive quantification of solar incentives
available for U.S. energy consumers. The report analyzes the cost for a
typical solar facility in 15 states and details the federal, state, and
local incentives available for rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV). No
previous analysis has ever quantified this data.
Among the
report’s key findings:
- Existing Incentives For Residential Solar PV Are Significant
- Third Party-Owned Solar PV Facilities Receive Significant Incentives
-
Existing Incentives May Change the Economics of Future Investments in
Solar - The NEM Incentive Shifts Costs onto Less Affluent Customers
- Incentives For Residential Solar PV Vary Widely Among The States
The report also found that government incentives, combined with utility
offered incentives, have reduced residential customers’ net costs of
installing rooftop solar systems to record-low levels. These reductions
are now so significant that, in many states, total incentives are
greater than a solar system’s total costs. In light of these dramatic
cost reductions, many states are re-examining the scope and methods
surrounding their incentive programs and are now considering programs
that rely more on a competitive marketplace to provide the economically
optimal levels of rooftop solar adoption.
“As the technology continues to advance, solar energy is becoming an
even more incredibly powerful and cost-competitive technology that has
the potential to change the face of American energy both today and in
the future,” said Michael Whatley, Executive Vice President of CEA.
“Solar brings with it tremendous benefits for all consumers. Solar’s
deployment has been truly remarkable as growth rates have exceeded 40% a
year for the past five years.”
Whatley added: “As solar energy continues to progress as a larger slice
of America’s all-of-the-above energy pie, we hope that CEA’s new report
will help yield pro-solar, pro-grid and pro-consumer policies to ensure
the proliferation of solar technology, the continued efficiency of a
robust electric grid, and increased access to clean, renewable,
affordable, and reliable energy sources for all American consumers.”
The report analyzed the incentives for solar in a cross section of
states including Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia,
Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, and North Carolina. This report relies on
public data and a relatively analytical, conservative approach to
quantify the most common incentives for solar energy. To review the full
results of this analysis and a copy of the report, please visit solarenergyfuture.org.
To read the executive summary, please
click here.
For the full report, please
click here.
About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) brings together consumers, farmers, small
businesses, producers and manufacturers to engage in a meaningful
dialogue about America’s energy future. With more than 400,000 members
nationwide, our mission is to help ensure stable prices and energy
security for households across the country. We believe energy
development is something that touches everyone in our nation, and thus
it is necessary for all consumers to actively engage in the conversation
about how we develop and diversify our energy resources and energy’s
importance to the economy. CEA promotes a thoughtful dialogue to help
produce our abundant energy supply, and balance our energy needs with
our nation’s environmental and conservation goals. Learn more at ConsumerEnergyAlliance.org.
Contacts
Consumer Energy Alliance
Emily Haggstrom, 720-582-0242
ehaggstrom@consumerenergyalliance.org
