How government influences the use of solar power

Government programs and policies have a significant impact on many areas of our lives.  Taxes on “sins” such as alcohol, cigarettes and soda aim to curb our use.  On the other hand, rebates and other incentive programs encourage people to invest in new technologies with the help of government funding.

Politics and solar power is a tenuous marriage.  After the Solyndra loan debacle in 2011, many are wary of government-backed investment in allegedly “unproven” energy sources.  Yet, there are many programs in the solar industry that are quietly celebrating success.  And there is more on the horizon.

California’s Million Solar Roofs initiative has driven installations in the state to levels that would not have otherwise been achieved.  Similarly, Colorado and New Jersey, are enjoying an upswing in solar power reliance, both at the local/distributed generation level, and via utility scale solar power plants.  Perhaps most importantly, utilities and consumers are now working together via grid-connected smart metering and more.

Government is doing its part to encourage more solar power by requiring utilities to generate a percentage of their electricity with renewables (so called renewable portfolio standards).  Green jobs programs also reward both employers and employees.  Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) loan programs allow consumers to install solar panels with no money down and then pay off the costs via incremental increases in local property taxes.

As fossil fuel prices rise and concerns of peak oil continue, we’ll see more governmental policies and other political influence with respect to solar power – via taxes, rebates, loans, and other political programs.

Do you think that politics and solar power should mix?  Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Best Solar Areas: Solar America Cities

If you are wondering how to identify the best solar areas in the United States, then look no further than the 25 metropolitan areas with which the Department of Energy is working through its Solar America Cities partnership (shown on the map to the right).

These cities are working to “accelerate the adoption of solar energy technologies,” by engaging with more than 180 organizations (including solar companies, universities, local and state agencies, utilities and non-profits) to use solar energy for municipal power.

The following video offers a great synopsis of the program:

Solar America Cities are cutting edge

They are truly cutting edge solar cities.  The map shows that, even though there is a range in solar resource potential (darkest shaded areas have the most, lightest have the least), these 25 cities across the United States are taking steps that will serve as a solar energy market model for other cities across the country.  Specifically:

“[The] Cities . . . are taking action to make solar energy a more viable option for their communities. These Solar America Cities are using innovative approaches to remove market barriers to solar and to encourage adoption of solar energy technologies at the local level.”

One of the primary goals of the program is to make photovoltaic (PV) power cost-competitive with coal-based electricity by 2015.  Through the R&D supported by the Solar America Cities program, many believe that we’ll get there, if not sooner.

Going solar is not reserved only to the people that live in one of the Solar America Cities, however.  A variety of programs are available across the nation, including rebates and tax credits, and/or net metering to help you go solar.  In addition, the DOE website explains:

Specific federal and state tax laws permit private companies and homeowners to credit the purchase price of their solar power systems against their annual income tax payment.