Latest News
  This frequently-updated page is intended to give readers updates on news and events that we consider important or relevant in some way to our company or renewable energy generally.

August 19, 2008:
NYSERDA PV incentive funds exhausted

This morning, Mr. Mark Mayhew, Project Manager for NYSERDA, sent the following message to eligible installers in the PV incentive program:

The PV Incentive Program has allocated all of its funding to potential projects. NYSERDA will continue to accept and process applications, however, any applications received after August 18, 2008 will not be approved nor funded, until additional funding becomes available.

Obviously, there will now be a gap in PV incentive funding, during which time NYSERDA will continue to accept incentive applications from eligible installers (like Renovus), but will not allocate funds to specific projects until more money becomes available - which is "expected some time in October" - but we're talking about a government agency here, so you can take that statement for what it's worth. When program funding is restored, applications will be approved and funded in the order that they were received at NYSERDA.

As such... potential clients of ours should definitely not wait until program funding is restored. Your place in the funding queue is clearly important since it is unknown how much additional funding will become available or how long that additional funding will last. In the midst of an emerging energy crisis, it seems to us that this unfortunate funding gap could have and should have been foreseen and prevented by NYSERDA and by those who allocate funds to its various programs.

So... Renovus urges our existing and potential clients to make their voice heard - particularly those who have already benefitted from the NYSERDA incentive program, and/or wish to see the program extended, and/or feel dismayed at the lack of NYSERDA's foresight. You may direct your comments directly to either or both of the following persons:

  • Mr. Mark Mayhew, NYSERDA Project Manager - direct phone: 518.862.1090 ext. 3319.
  • Mr. Jeff Peterson, NYSERDA Program Manager - direct phone: 518.862.1090 ext. 3288.

July 29, 2008:
NYSERDA PV incentive funding status

This morning, Mr. Jeff Peterson, Program Manager for NYSERDA, sent the following message to eligible installers in the PV incentive program:

My understanding is that the Public Service Commission staff is moving through the process to add funds to the PV incentive program. The process requires a public comment period and then PSC action.

The following link explains the process DPS will be going through:
http://www.dps.state.ny.us/new_psc_sapa.html

The SAPA notice will be published in the NYS Register. I expect it to be published on July 30. The link is on the aforementioned webpage and given below:
http://www.dos.state.ny.us/info/register/2008.htm

The public comment period is one opportunity to provide comments to the PSC on the topics/issues outlined in the SAPA.

We understand the need for installers to make business decisions. That is one reason we started informing the group on funding status.

Renovus urges our existing and potential clients who wish to take advantage of the NYSERDA incentive program to make their voice heard during the "public comment period" referenced above (if you can figure out how to!) and/or to comment directly to Mr. Peterson - his direct telephone number at NYSERDA is 518-862-1090 ext. 3288.

At this point, Renovus is very concerned that, at the very least, there will be a gap in funding - which will occur in about 1 month from now - during prime time for installation of PV systems. With all due respect, we feel that this is not exactly good planning by those in government whose salaries we pay.

July 28, 2008:
NYSERDA PV incentive funding status

Today, NYSERDA informed its eligible installers that $13.6 million of $16.7 million of RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standard) funding has been "reserved" under the PV incentive program (PON-1050) based on applications received to date.

At the current rate, Renovus expects funding for the PV incentive program to be exhausted within 2 months.

We urge potential PV clients to contact Mark S. Mayhew, Project Manager for NYSERDA's PV incentive program, to express your concern about the pending exhaustion of funding. Mr. Mayhew's direct telephone number at NYSERDA is 518-862-1090, ext. 3319.

For all practical purposes, interruption or loss of the NYSERDA PV incentive will effectively shut down the solar industry in New York - almost certainly resulting in job loss at companies like Renovus. More importantly though, its impact on the health of our communities and planet should be considered. We urge you to express yourself to NYSERDA, to your legislators, or even to the office of the Governor.

July 18, 2008:
NYSERDA PV incentive funding status

Today, NYSERDA informed its eligible installers that $12.9 million of $16.7 million of RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standard) funding has been "reserved" under the PV incentive program (PON-1050) based on applications received to date.

At the current rate, Renovus expects funding for the PV incentive program to be exhausted within 2 to 3 months.

July 17, 2008:
Tompkins County makes solar tax exemptions permanent

At a meeting on July 15, 2008, the Tompkins County legislature voted 12 to 2 to make existing tax exemptions for residential solar energy systems equipment sales, use and installation services permanent. Renovus Energy wishes to thank those area legislators who voted in favor of the exemptions. Nathan Shinegawa, D-City of Ithaca, noted "Hopefully this exemption, along with other state and federal benefits, will encourage people to pursue getting solar energy for their homes."

August 18, 2007:
Extensive updates to our website

After a long drought, we've made some very necessary updates to our webpages and site organization in order to better provide information that prospective clients request most often. If you still have difficulty finding what you want to know or have recommendations on how we can improve our presentation, please let us know. Thanks!

January 8, 2007:
NYSERDA PV incentive to be extended... at reduced levels

On December 11, 2006, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced additional changes to the state solar incentive program. Instead of improving and restructuring the program as promised to coordinate with New York's more recently passed Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), NYSERDA announced in mid-December that they will extend the existing program another year (until December 30, 2007). As a part of this extension, the incentive budget will remain fixed at last year's level and the amount of solar incentives available per project will be reduced.

Presently, the incentive level for residential and commercial solar PV is $4.00/watt for systems up to 50kW. Under NYSERDA's new proposal, however, the residential incentives will remain at this level only for systems up to 5kW. For additional watts above 5kW, the residential incentives will be reduced to $3.00/watt, and will only be available up to 10kW. For commercial or municipal systems, incentives will remain $4.00/watt up to 25kW, and will then be reduced to $3.00/watt up to 50kW. As in the past, EnergyStar projects and building integrated PV are eligible for an additional $0.50/watt. NYSERDA plans to bring these incentive changes into effect on March 1, 2007.

These changes, however, are not what New York needs. Based on the success of the incentive program at meeting its intended goals, the publically-funded nature of the program, and the urgent need to reduce the amount of CO2 being emitted into our atmosphere, Renovus feels strongly that reduction in support for solar PV at this time is misguided. We strongly urge concerned members of the community to contact NYSERDA and demand that the incentive amounts available per project be at least maintained at the current level. For further details, please feel free to contact us.

August 25, 2006:
Solar water heating tax credit update

 The Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) has recently issued proposed guidelines for the Federal Investment Tax Credits for both residential and business solar hot water systems commissioned in 2006-2007.

SRCC Recommendations for Residential Solar Investment Tax Credit:

For calendar year 2006, no credit shall be allowed under this section unless such property is certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation according to its certification guidelines for residential systems unless the system complies with the OG-100 solar collector rating and certification protocol, or with the OG-300 solar system certification protocol, except where state-based or utility-based solar heating program guidelines for performance and installation have been established, and the solar heating equipment is accepted under guidelines so established.

In brief, this is good news for systems that Renovus has installed and will install this year since the Sunda evacuated tube collectors that we use have OG-100 ratings.

For calendar year 2007, no credit shall be allowed under this section unless such property is certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation according to its certification guidelines for residential systems unless the system complies with the OG-300 solar system certification protocol, except where state-based or utility-based solar heating program guidelines for performance and installation have been established, and the solar heating equipment is accepted under guidelines so established.

In brief, this is very bad news for systems that Renovus would like to install next year. It means that we will be restricted to offering "cookie cutter" or pre-packaged systems (collectors + tanks + pumps... the whole enchilada) which may, or may not, be a good fit to your home. No innovation or modifications from a pre-tested, canned system would be allowed. In our view, this is a strong disincentive for continuous improvement in system design and performance. Please contact us for more information if you'd like to complain to the appropriate parties.

SRCC Recommendations for Business Solar Investment Tax Credit:

Non-residential systems utilizing solar thermal collectors certified by the SRCC under its OG-100 certification protocol shall undergo design review by appropriate state or local authorities prior to installation, where such design review requirements exist, and, in the absence of those, shall be engineered by an appropriately licensed or certified individual or company. Non-residential systems shall also acquire construction permits as required by state or local authorities, and shall include performance monitoring devices to assess system energy production, in order to claim a credit allowed under this section which is not to exceed 30 percent of the system cost.

Renovus has no problem with this recommendation.

March 22, 2006:
Renovus receives NYSERDA award
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