Long Island Solar Rebates Adjusted Downward

Long Island, New York [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) announced an update to its incentive level in LIPA’s Solar Pioneer program to reflect the next phase of its decreasing-rate rebate program. The good news is that rebates are available for small solar projects in this next round however the rebate level has dropped by 25 cents per watt.

LIPA is updating the current incentive level of $4.00 per watt to $3.75 per watt. LIPA said the original program design called for this incentive level to be $3.50 per watt. Starting on November 19, 2005, LIPA will enter into the next incentive level of $3.75 per watt. The incentive level will continue until 1000 kW (for all installed and approved PV systems) of incentives are paid at the $3.75 level. The incentive level for the schools, NFP and government accounts will change from the current incentive of $5.00 to $4.75 for the new incentive level. LIPA’s Solar Pioneer program started in 2000 to help transform the photovoltaic (PV) market. From the start of LIPA’s Solar Pioneer program, LIPA has paid financial incentives to more than 569 Solar Pioneer customers. Incentives have been paid in five different incentive levels (per watt) in blocks of 1000 kW. As the 1000 kW incentive blocks are paid, the LIPA incentive level is adjusted to reflect approximately 50 percent of the final PV costs to a customer. LIPA will accept PV applications up to Friday, November 18, 2005. Applications can be mailed or faxed into LIPA. The organization requests that all applications are either postmarked or faxed (to 516-545-6134) by November 18, 2005. The mailing address for PV applications is: LIPA Solar Pioneer Program, Distributed Resource Management, 175 E. Old Country Rd., Hicksville, NY 11801.