Commonwealth Solar II Rebate Update

MassCEC is pleased to provide the following important updates regarding the Commonwealth Solar II Rebate Program.

Block 7 of the Commonwealth Solar II Rebate Program is currently open. Given the tremendous interest in the program, we have added an additional $2 million to the current funding block, bringing the total available funding to $3 million for Block 7. Block 7 will remain open until all of the funds are reserved or until the end of the third quarter (September 30, 2011), whichever occurs sooner.

Given the high volume of applications, we request that installers work to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the applications and documentation being submitted. More than half of the applications submitted thus far in Block 7 have required at least one follow up email due to missing or unclear information. Additionally, 44 percent of the projects that have submitted project completion paperwork since May 2011 have required at least one follow up email. These errors and ambiguities prolong the review process and significantly delay rebate awards and payments. We appreciate your effort to ensure a quick and efficient review process and help further solar energy development in Massachusetts.

To provide additional clarity to the application and backup documentation requirements, we are developing a cover sheet that installers will need to submit with future applications, starting in Block 8. If there are additional questions about the application or project completion process, please do not hesitate to contact us at moc.C1336595112ECssa1336595112M@sc1336595112.

Block 8 of the Commonwealth Solar II Rebate Program will open in early October 2011. There will be $3 million of funding available and the rebate levels will remain the same as Block 7. More information about programmatic updates will be available closer to the launch date.

At this time, MassCEC intends to continue providing rebates for residential and small-scale commercial projects through calendar year 2012. MassCEC will continue to work hard to streamline our application and payment processes. MassCEC will be issuing a Request for Information (RFI) to the industry in the near future to discuss the future of the Commonwealth Solar II program and get feedback. More information on the RFI will be available soon.

If you have any questions, please submit them via email to moc.C1336595112ECssa1336595112M@sc1336595112, and a member of our team will respond shortly.

Thank you for your continued support of solar power in Massachusetts!