HR 4597 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To increase the quantity of solar photovoltaic electricity by providing rebates for the purchase and installation of an additional 10,000,000 solar roofs and additional solar water heating systems with a cumulative capacity of 10,000,000 gallons by 2019.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

February 4, 2010CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. COHEN (for himself, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. HALL of New York, Ms. KAPTUR, Ms. RICHARDSON, Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey, Mr. SIRES, Mr. WELCH, and Mr. YARMUTH) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and CommerceCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To increase the quantity of solar photovoltaic electricity by providing rebates for the purchase and installation of an additional 10,000,000 solar roofs and additional solar water heating systems with a cumulative capacity of 10,000,000 gallons by 2019.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘10 Million Solar Roofs and 10 Million Gallons of Solar Water Heating Act of 2010’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1)(A) there is huge potential for increasing the quantity of electricity produced in the United States from distributed solar photovoltaics and solar water heating systems;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the use of solar photovoltaics on the roofs of 10 percent of existing buildings could meet 70 percent of peak electric demand;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) a key barrier to increased deployment of solar photovoltaic and hot water heating systems is the upfront cost of capital, even though over time the systems are cost-effective;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) investment in solar photovoltaics technology will create economies of scale that will allow the technology to deliver electricity at prices that are competitive with electricity from fossil fuels;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) electricity produced from distributed solar photovoltaics helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, does not emit harmful air pollutants, such as mercury, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides, uses existing rooftop space, and does not require additional land for generation, thereby conserving natural resources and wildlife habitat;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) electricity produced from distributed solar photovoltaics enhances national energy security and helps to meet peak power demand without requiring the construction and siting of new transmission infrastructure;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) investments in renewable energy stimulate the development of green jobs in the United States that provide substantial economic benefits;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6)(A) rebate programs in several States have been successful in increasing the quantity of solar energy from distributed solar photovoltaics and solar water heating systems;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the State of California leads the United States in installed solar photovoltaic systems and has used rebate programs to promote the installation of more than 500 megawatts of grid-connected solar photovoltaics, with 226 megawatts installed during the 3-year period ending on the date of enactment of this Act due to the Solar Initiative of the State;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) the State of New Jersey is second in the United States in installed solar photovoltaic systems and has used incentive programs to achieve 90 megawatts of installed solar capacity;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) the State of Hawaii leads the United States in solar water heating systems installed, and will require all new homes to have solar water heating systems starting in 2010, which is projected to save the average household $600 annually and reduce the oil consumption of the State by 30,000 barrels in 2010 alone; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) the State of Florida has used consumer and business rebate programs for solar photovoltaic and solar water heating systems and is second in the United States in installed solar hot water systems;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) despite inventing solar technology, the United States has fallen behind nations with less solar resources because those nations have set in place policies to promote solar energy, and the United States now ranks fourth in installed solar behind Germany, Spain, and Japan;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) there are more than 1,500,000 solar water heating systems in the United States that rely on a free fuel source, the sun, to provide hot water, and there is enormous potential for additional solar hot water systems to displace fossil fuel use in water heating; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) homes in the United States spend more than $13,000,000,000 on energy for water heating, which is equivalent to 11.4 barrels of oil per home and accounts for approximately 30 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions of an average home, but solar water heating systems can reduce the cost of water heating and reduce residential carbon dioxide emissions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. REBATES FOR PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS AND SOLAR WATER HEATING SYSTEMS.

(a) In General- The Secretary of Energy (referred to in this Act as the ‘Secretary’) shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall provide rebates to eligible individuals or entities for the purchase and installation of solar photovoltaic systems and solar water heating systems for residential and commercial properties in order to install, over the 10-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, at least--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) an additional 10,000,000 solar systems in the United States (as compared to the number of solar systems installed in the United States as of the date of enactment of this Act) with a cumulative capacity of at least 30,000 megawatts; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) an additional 200,000 solar water heating systems in the United States (as compared to the number of solar water heating systems installed in the United States as of the date of enactment of this Act) with a cumulative capacity of 10,000,000 gallons.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Eligibility-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- To be eligible for a rebate under this section--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the recipient of the rebate shall be a homeowner, business, nonprofit entity, or State or local government that purchased and installed a solar photovoltaic system or solar water heating system for a property located in the United States; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the total capacity of the solar photovoltaic system for the property shall not exceed 2 megawatts.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) OTHER INCENTIVES- The Secretary shall issue guidance to participating solar installers and contractors to ensure that information is made available to rebate recipients on all available Federal, State, local, and other incentives for energy efficiency improvements that can be made in the buildings on the property at which the solar photovoltaic or hot water heating system is being installed.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) OTHER ENTITIES- After public review and comment, the Secretary may identify other individuals or entities located in the United States that qualify for a rebate under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Amounts-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) IN GENERAL- Subject to subparagraph (B) and paragraph (3), the amount of a rebate provided to an eligible individual or entity for the purchase and installation of a solar photovoltaic system for a property under this section shall be a rebate per watt of installed capacity not to exceed the following amounts:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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Calendar year Dollar per watt CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

                2010                   1.75 CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

                2011                   1.75 CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

                2012                    1.5 CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

                2013                   1.25 CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

                2014                      1 CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

                2015                      1 CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

                2016                   0.75 CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

                2017                   0.75 CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

                2018                    0.5 CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

                2019                   0.5. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

--------------------------------------------CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

(B) ADJUSTMENTS- The Secretary may adjust the maximum amounts described in subparagraph (A)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) to ensure deployment consistent with the purposes of this Act; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) to respond to projected and actual market conditions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) SOLAR WATER HEATING SYSTEMS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) IN GENERAL- Subject to subparagraph (B) and paragraph (3), the amount of a rebate provided to an eligible individual or entity for the purchase and installation of a solar water heating system under this section shall be not more than $1 for each watt thermal-equivalent of installed capacity during calendar year 2010.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) ADJUSTMENTS- The Secretary shall ensure that the maximum amount described in subparagraph (A) decreases over time at a rate that is similar to the schedule described in paragraph (1)(A), and consistent with projected and actual market conditions and the purposes of this Act, for each watt thermal-equivalent of installed capacity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) MAXIMUM AMOUNT- The total amount of a rebate provided to an eligible individual or entity for the purchase and installation of a solar photovoltaic system or solar water heating system for a property under this section shall not exceed 50 percent of the remaining cost to the purchaser for the purchase and installation of the system (after consideration of all applicable Federal, State, and local incentives and tax credits).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Relationship to Other Law- The authority provided under this section shall be in addition to any other authority under which credits or other types of financial assistance are provided for installation of a solar photovoltaic or solar water heating system for a property.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink