Report: As solar explodes nationwide, Maine lags

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Comment by Kathy Sherman on July 24, 2016 at 5:58pm

P.S. The incentives in MA are sufficient and programs sponsored by the ratepayer funded state agency such as "solarize my x Town" are favorable enough that many homeowners do own rather than just rent their roof. Still, it is not for anyone who might move anytime soon.

Comment by Kathy Sherman on July 24, 2016 at 5:49pm

The important thing in Massachusetts is the SRECs - when a 400 MW "solar carve-out" was first legislated, the floor price for SRECs was $300/MWh and the price might have been capped at $600 or so. That created a "gold rush" that was surprisingly unanticipated. Plus the MA legislature invented net-metering whereby generation by Tier 1 generators is paid retail rather than wholesale. The solar carveout was soon expanded by 1700 MW (or to 1700 MW, I am not sure) with some effort to prioritize to solar projects on brownfields, solar parking canopies and on-site use (especially residential) and large projects which clearcut such as the 40 acre project in my town were discouraged somewhat. The net-metering caps were raised especially for the public sector. Municipalities are major landowners. The bottomline is that those who don't have the opportunity to go solar will be paying the costs to the utility of the largesse to those that do, and paying for the transmission/distribution system needed by those with solar without storage. Next we will also probably pay for "smart" grid modernization so that those who do have storage can sell back to the grid at the most profitable time.

It beats industrial wind marching across ridgetops or less than 1000 ft. from homes or occupying 500,000 acres surrounding Martha's Vineyard, but unfortunately it is not either/or, but rather "all-of-the-above" as long as it is wind or solar rather than hydro.

So far this summer solar PV has not risen above about 0.2% of the ISO-NE load. Unfortunately "clean energy" fans think that those 1000 MW of PV in Massachusetts can REPLACE the aging nuclear power plant, which can't afford to compete and really does need to retire anyhow.
I do hope that the expensive 1000 MW solar does at least have the claimed "system benefit" for others of reducing summer peak demand, but I don't think anyone has bothered to check.

Good points about the tax credits - I saw a video where tax credits could be traded to those who do need them, but maybe that is only in California. The maze of incentives and variation by state (and state vs. federal) is astounding and constantly changing, at least in New England.

Comment by Eric A. Tuttle on July 23, 2016 at 3:27pm

That is what corporate is counting on.......... that the do-it-yourselfer's will be limited by income, and though this is true for most Mainers for even the smaller systems, it is true for corporate also as they seek credits and other incentives. They know it is a dream by idealists that is financially out of reach for the initial set up and it is also unsustainable in the long run without a constant influx of cash for labor and to continuously maintain by replacing parts.

Comment by Pineo Girl on July 23, 2016 at 1:51pm

And as my husband points out - Rooftop solar is expensive - beyond most homeowners reach.  I have a friend who has a beautiful solar array which she paid $15,000 for - A lot of money for an appliance - and hard to recover over time when you compare the cost of retail electricity.Plus we still have not developed an adequate means for storage if you are serious about solar and want to get off the grid.  The worst part of those who have installed solar, because if inadequate storage you still have to deal with the robber baron - your local electric utility!

Comment by Eric A. Tuttle on July 23, 2016 at 12:57pm

Even if the average homeowner in Maine received the 30% tax credit it would be deferred out over a time period, with the hopes of recovering it before the systems complete failure in 20 years. Since the average homeowner in Maine is well below the poverty level by State and Federal standards, they (those that can afford to purchase) will receive some sort of refund. Those under 30,000 per year income jointly and paying NO taxes, get 30% of NO taxes thus $0 as the plan goes. Those that do get something, it is 30% of your 10% - 20% bracket, or about 3% - 6% of the cost of the unit. --- such a joke is the tax credit system for the lower income people.

I could be wrong on this but I would consult a Tax consultant before making any decision. Furthermore where is the tax incentives for the individuals that purchased out of pocket their own Wind generation equipment ? That which keeps them off the grid, thus allowing more power for those on the grid.

One person in Monson Maine is stuck viewing his tax dollars providing for others in such a situation.

Comment by Pineo Girl on July 23, 2016 at 12:42pm

We are lagging for one reason only - We do not have the proper regulations in place for solar yet!  I keep hearing that roof top solar is exploding in Massachusetts with many many homeowners having it installed on their roof.  But it is the same bad deal as wind or perhaps worse- The comapny that owns the solar hardware and sells you the power from your roof top gets the 30% tax credit and the 2.3 cent tax credit - You get only power and something on your roof someone else owns!  What good is that if you have to move and no buyer wants that thing on your roof?