Solar Feed In Tariff Website

The future of the solar industry in the north eastern United States now looks much brighter following the massive injection of $20 million in federal money designed to act as a stimulus for the solar industry in Massachusetts. The cash stimulus will equate to 16 Megawatts of new solar installations in the state and will see the construction of some high profile solar sites including Logan International Airport in Boston.

Deval Patrick, Governor of the state of Massachusetts has made it his aim over recent months to make the state a leader in the field of photovoltaic investment and recent announcements regarding the cash that will be made available for large solar installations certainly backs up the political rhetoric coming from the governor’s office.

Speaking about the states renewable energy plans, Ian Bowles, secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs in Massachusetts stated that,

“With this infusion of federal funds, Governor Patrick is building the clean energy economy of the future for the Commonwealth”, going on to add that, “It’s phase one of the solar big bang”.

The current plans for solar installations in Massachusetts which will include new housing projects, public buildings and of course Logan Airport are part of a wider project which has been in place since the investiture of Governor Patrick. When he took office, solar installations in the state were around 3.5 megawatts and he has set the ambitious target of 250 megawatts of solar capacity by 2017.

The state of Massachusetts provides a good example of a solar industry growing with the help of government funding and root changes in attitudes with regards to the way our energy should be produced. As Seth Kaplan, spokesman for the Conservation Law Foundation commented,

“The amazing thing when you think about it is that we don’t have solar on every large flat roof. Any large flat roof without solar on it is a missed opportunity.”

Which such ambitions, the state of Massachusetts will be sure to provide a great opportunity for photovoltaic investors in the near future as they set their sights on a solar future.

Tags: Boston, Governor Patrick, Ian Bowles, Logan Airport, Massachusetts, New England, photovoltaic, solar, solar energy, Solar Feed In Tariff, solar investment, solar power, solar product

At the beginning of the month the British parliament voted in favour of a parliamentary motion supporting next year’s introduction of feed-in tariffs by a massive majority of 240 MPs. The legislation designed to spur investment in the photovoltaic (PV) industry will, when implemented be an extremely effective mechanism for promoting growth in the fledgling renewable industry in the UK as it has been in other regions where feed-in tariff legislation has been introduced.

Feed-in tariffs work by offering fixed, premium rates for electricity fed-in to the grid by small scale solar energy producers. Over a period of 20-25 years the feed-in tariff (FIT) contract offers a return to solar investors thus greatly increasing the installation of PV plant. In Germany, for example where the tariff has been extremely successful in attracting investment there have been other market advantages such as job creation in the solar industry and of course a sharp rise in solar equipment manufacturing.

Members of the UK solar industry are now increasingly optimistic that the government FIT will generate a successful solar industry across the UK. As Clive Collison, head of Action South Facing a Hertfordshire based solar installation firm commented,

“We are very excited about this. We are now getting all sorts of inquiries from companies, local authorities and individuals. But nothing is guaranteed. We don’t know the level it will be set at yet and the big energy companies are still lobbying against it.”

With big conventional energy producers lobbying against solar energy legislation and a lingering support for nuclear power, it will be essential that the government seizes the opportunity this year to set up a FIT which offers real possibilities for a vibrant PV industry in Britain. With Gordon Brown’s commitment to the ‘Green New Deal’ with planned job creation and economic revitalization by means of the renewable energy industry, it is expected that the UK will reap the benefits of a strong tariff mechanism. Jeremy Leggett, Chairman of Solar Century has added his wait to the debate by pointing out the dangers of missing the boat on effective PV policy,

“UK plc will essentially have to sit and watch as other countries create jobs, tax income and energy security in one of the fastest-growing industries within the emerging green industrial revolution.”

Tags: Clive collison, FIT, Germany, Gordon Brown, Grid parity, Jeremy Leggett, Kevin Langley, National grid, photovoltaic, PV, Solar Century, solar economics, Solar Feed In Tariff, solar fit, solar investment, solar power, solar products, UK, Uk solar