There is talk that photovoltaic energy in Pennsylvania may be a victim of its success. In 2010, PV in the Keystone State exploded, growing 637% from 2009 to place sixth in the nation for total installed PV. Fueled by federal stimulus grants and residential tax credits, generous state rebates and a strong S-Rec market, solar was a bright employment spot in a dismal economy. Today, with the collapse of the S-rec markets, commercial PV installations have slowed to a trickle and most likely the state rebate and federal grant programs will end this year.
While a must have for large commercial projects, the diminishing of these programs does not spell the end for residential and small-scale solar, according to Vera Cole and Bill Hennessy, who will make their case at the July meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Association. The public is invited to the free program, which will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 26 at 1 TEK Park, 9999 Hamilton Blvd., Breinigsville, 18031.
Estimates are that the state rebate program will run out of money this fall-some two years ahead of state projections, according to Hennessy, MAREA's director of education and a PV installer. To date, the state has provided some 4,000 rebates for residential solar electric installations and 400 for solar hot water projects with homeowner projects using half of the $111 million in program rebates.
The rebate program has lowered PV installed costs to homeowners during its short run. These lower costs, when coupled with the 30 percent federal tax credit and the current $80 pricing for S-recs can support a viable residential PV industry, according to Cole, newly-appointed chair of Penn State's Energy and Sustainability Policy program. She will present updates on recent Public Utility Commission net metering activities and proposed legislation that would boost the price of solar renewable energy credits.
"Ignoring climate change and the pollution from coal-fired power plants has not made them go away," says Hennessy. "When society holds itself accountable for the true cost of its power, solar PV in PA will be there to offer competitively priced power without pollution."
Following the talk, there will be a networking session and planning meeting for this fall's Pennsylvania Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Festival. Volunteers are needed and anyone with an interest in renewable energy or sustainable living is welcome to participate.
The seventh annual festival will be held September 16-18, 2011 at Kempton in Berks County.
MAREA, which was formed in 2005, is a nonprofit, grassroots educational organization that supports citizen participation in renewable energy and sustainable living projects.
