Playing in the Pennsylvania Sunshine
I know it sounds like a cheesy sixties travel song or the latest tourism campaign but Pennsylvania Sunshine may brighten our state in another way.
As an add-on to Gov. Ed Rendell’s Alternative Energy Investment Act, Pennsylvania Sunshine provides $100 million in grant funding for commercial and residential solar projects. This bill, which was passed after the Commonwealth Financing Authority board voted unanimously last week, knocks down the largest barrier to solar energy in Pennsylvania. High upfront costs for solar arrays, combined with Pennsylvania’s already high labor and building costs have prevented solar development from taking off.
Funding will be available on a first-come-first-served basis, with applications available through the Department of Environmental Protection as early as next week.
This legislation comes as a huge sigh of relief for companies like Solar States, interested in furthering solar development. The fact is that solar energy is not yet cost effective for up-and-coming businesses to afford in the short term. The Pennsylvania Sunshine law allows for investment into energy independence; an investment that is going to become more and more important as rate caps disappear at the end of 2010.
The Pennsylvania solar community came out in force in support of the bill last week, as installers, potential developers and displaced solar company employees gathered in Harrisburg. Nine months ago, when Rendell’s energy policy was passed through the state house, install and development companies sprung up across PA, hoping to take advantage of promised rebates. But by the first of the year, no rebates had been issued and many installers had to lay off employees. 
With the economy being in the shape it is in, cities and municipalities have been scrambling to keep development dollars flowing in. Philadelphia, for example, has had bills flowing through City Council since December to scale back generous tax abatement programs. But fears about negative impacts on development prevented support from the Mayor’s office. Pennsylvania Sunshine was propped up alongside federal stimulus funds as better incentives for green development.
Lastly, this law is great news for the city’s engineering students and solar technicians-in-training counting on early investment into solar energy to create a bedrock of the Philadelphia solar industry. Because, hey, someone has to be first.
Check out the full literature of the Pennsylvania Sunshine Law, as well as applications for inclusion here.
Author: John SteeleTags: alternative energy, investment, Nutter, PA law, Pennsylvania Sunshine, Philadelphia, Rendell, solar energy, state law
August 13th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Please mail me a form for the PA. Sunshine Program. I already got 2 estimates . ONLY 1 company told me about this grant.I am tired of paying Duquine light 318. amonth on budget. Thay refuse to come to my home to see what is the problem.So I wont to get riid of them at my home.
August 13th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
my address is 1027 highland ave.Port VUE. PA. 15133 [home] please mail me the form for the PA.Sunshine Program
November 22nd, 2009 at 11:44 pm
I’ve been active in taxes for longer then I care to admit, both on the individual side (all my employed life story!!) and from a legal viewpoint since satisfying the bar and pursuing tax law. I’ve put up a lot of advice and righted a lot of wrongs, and I must say that what you’ve put up makes complete sense. Please continue the good work – the more people know the better they’ll be armed to cope with the tax man, and that’s what it’s all about.
March 14th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
Nice info. Good read. Thanks!