Oregon has cut tax credits for homeowners who install solar power systems, according to an OregonLive article.
Generous subsidies in the state in recent years allowed homeowners to purchase a 2,000-watt solar system at a price of about $650 dollars after credits and rebates. The new policy, enacted to respond to the state’s budget shortfall, will raise that cost to about $3,325.
The rule change is temporary for the next 180 days. The state Energy Department will hold hearings to determine whether or not to make it permanent.
Solar installers say the price increase will have a large negative impact on their business.
Virginia Wants Offshore Wind Demonstration
Virginia is trying to convince the federal government to build a $60 million to $80 million offshore wind demonstration center off the state’s coast.
The U.S. Department of Energy is commited to testing wind turbine technologies in shallow and intermediate waters, and Virginia gave its pitch last week for locations around Chesapeake Bay.
According to an Associated Press story, the state is working to start the leasing process of tracts 12 miles off Virginia Beach.
Wyoming Wind Study
Despite an unfriendly tax structure, Wyoming is still an attractive market wind power, according to a new report that analyzes the costs of building wind farms in western states.
The Wyoming Governor’s Office and the state’s Infrastructure Authority commissioned the study, to address the ongoing debate over the taxation of wind projects in the state.
State lawmakers instituted a $1 per MWh tax on wind farms to begin in 2012. And sales tax exemptions will expire in 2011, making the state less attractive to wind power developers.
However, the new study finds that only Montana produces cheaper electricity than Wyoming when measuring the cost at the production site. According to a Bloomberg article, the cost per megawatt hour for energy produced is $77 in Montana, $82 in Wyoming and $89 in New Mexico.
Massachusetts Passes Wind Energy Siting Reform Act
The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed the Wind Energy Siting Reform Act by a vote of 101-52, according to the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF). Modeled after a bill passed by the Senate in February, the act will streamline the siting process for wind energy projects.
"Massachusetts needs to tap into its abundant wind energy resources in order to meet its clean energy goals," says Sue Reid, director of CLF’s Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Change Program. "This new legislation will make it easier to develop well-designed wind energy projects."
The bill will now head to a House-Senate conference committee for further discussion.
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