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July 21, 2010

Sanders wins Senate support for solar incentives bill

Senator Sanders said hundreds of thousands of jobs could be created by investing in solar power

A bill seeking rebates and incentives suitable to install 10 million solar roofs across the US has been approved by the Senate energy committee.

The bill from Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders was backed by 13 votes to 10 yesterday.

It proposes $250 million in grants in 2012, along with additional funding through 2012, to support 10 million solar electric systems for homes and businesses, as well as enough solar heating systems to provide 10 million gallons of hot water.

Sen Sanders said his bill would create hundreds of thousands of new jobs, as well as helping combat climate change.

The legislation would help finance up to 40,000 megawatts of new solar generating capacity, according to those behind it, and help to lower solar technology costs more generally thanks to the demand the incentives would create.

The Senator has now asked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to include the Ten Million Solar Roofs legislation within the comprehensive energy and climate change legislation he is attempting to bring before the full Senate this summer.

“With an investment of $250 million in fiscal year 2012, and $500 million annually from 2013-2021, we could create hundreds of thousands of jobs in the United States while we also reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Sanders wrote to Reid yesterday.

Rebates

The Vermont Senator’s bill has proposed giving rebates for any solar project under two megawatts in capacity.

Rebates would be around $1.75 per watt in 2010 and 2011, falling each year or two after that to a $0.50 per watt level by 2018 and 2019 – the falling incentive levels reflecting expectations that solar technology costs will fall.

Separate rates for solar heating systems would start out around $1 per watt thermal equivalent, again falling over time.

Rebates could cover up to 50% of remaining project costs after other federal or local incentives are taken into account.

Race for jobs

Senator Sanders’ home state of Vermont has seen “enormous” growth in solar power take-up, as businesses and utilities realize the benefits and as technology costs fall.

“We are losing the race for solar jobs, and falling behind other nations in solar installations. That must change,” said Sen. Sanders, who is also chairman of the Senate’s green jobs subcommittee.

We are losing the race for solar jobs” - Sen. Sanders

“The question is whether we will take advantage of clean, renewable solar energy or let other countries create solar jobs using technology developed in America. I think we can lead, this bill will help us do that.”

Supporters of the solar incentives bill point to the fact that the solar cell was invented by American scientists, but that other nations like Japan, Germany and Spain have since outpaced the US in taking advantage of solar technology.

With ambitions in India and China, where five of the top 10 solar panel makers are based, Senator Sanders said a stronger push is needed in the US.

“We are making some progress, but with a stronger push we could see an explosion of solar in Vermont and all across this country,” he said.