Richard Sedano, Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Public Service today pledged that Vermont would add at least a thousand solar installations by the year 2010.
In a letter of commitment handed by Mr. Sedano this morning to Dan Reicher, U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Vermont became the newest State Partner in the Million Solar Roofs Initiative.
The Million Solar Roofs Initiative, in which DOE is the lead agency, has as its goal, the installation of one million new soar energy systems on U.S. buildings by 2010. "Solar roofs" include systems that produce domestic hot water from solar energy, a solar power swimming pool heater, and photovoltaic systems that generate electricity from the sun.
"This is the same number that the state of Colorado pledged," said Mr. Sedano, "so we believe Vermont is upping the ante for new partners in the future." "Vermont already has an estimated 300 solar installations, and it has a network of solar designers and installers that is far more active and far larger than one might expect in this climate," Sedano added.
Mr. Sedano went on to add that his Department yesterday had filed proposed rules for simplified permitting and standardized interconnection of solar photovoltaic systems (and other renewable energy systems) of up to 15 kilowatts in size. This action will help implement Act 136, a "net metering" bill passed by the Vermont legislature in 1998. "This will make a huge difference for homeowners and small businesses. It will improve the economics of solar installations, and dramatically lower the "hassle factor" of interconnecting with the grid.
"The Vermont Department of Public Service commits itself to developing a partnership among consumers, small businesses, utilities, non-profit organizations, installers and governmental bodies that can simultaneously improve our economy, lower negative environmental impacts from electricity generation, and develop new, renewable sources of energy to meet our future needs." Sedano said.
"We are proud to be a partner in this creative initiative, and we look forward to working with the Department of Energy on this and many other energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives in the future," concluded Sedano.
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