Micro wind systems are supported through a hybrid rebate consisting of two parts:
Rebate 1: Will be based on the rated capacity of the system at 11 m/s (taken from the system’s power curve).
Rebate 2: Will be based on the verified estimate of kilowatt-hours produced by the system for its first year of operation.

Ninety percent of the rebate will be paid after project completion and ten percent will be paid after 12 months reporting of electricity production and monitored wind data. The total rebate is capped at:

• $4.00/watt and $100,000 per project for non-public entities, and

• $5.20/watt and $130,000 per project for public entities.

The Applicant must demonstrate that 50% or more of the renewable energy produced by the proposed renewable energy system is expected to be used onsite or assigned through net metering based on annual production and usage estimates. For example, the Applicant’s onsite annual electricity consumption and expected net metering accounts must be greater than or equal to 50% of the estimated annual production of the renewable system. Only new construction projects may use energy modeling or similar estimates to demonstrate 50% onsite or assigned usage.

The Installation Rebate is calculated based on rated capacity (kW) using the following equation:

Rated Capacity X 460 + 3200

The Estimated Performance Rebate will be paid with the installation incentive based on estimated electricity production. Estimated electricity production must be calculated using the Commonwealth Wind Evaluation and Siting Tool (CWEST) which is available through Attachment C. The estimated annual production and applicable assumptions will be verified by MassCEC. Please note that CWEST estimates must utilize a 10% wind speed derate factor, as stated in the Customer and Project Requirements section of this solicitation.

The Estimated Performance Rebate is based on Expected Production (kWh) and rated capacity (kW) using the following equation:

Expected Production x 2.8 x (Rated capacity -0.29)

For projects that, after 12 months of operation, outperform their estimated performance, a bonus incentive may be available. This bonus incentive is paid on a $/kWh basis and is of equivalent value to the projected performance incentive. This total bonus incentive is limited to 20% of the estimated performance incentive.

Production-Only Rebate Structure

MassCEC is also currently piloting a “production-only” incentive for projects that do not fall under our Standard Rebate Structure because they do not meet the expected minimum performance threshold. Please see the solicitation documents for further details.

Mandatory System Energy Production Reporting

System Owners of MassCEC-funded renewable energy projects or their designee must report the

system’s electrical output every month to MassCEC’s Production Tracking System (PTS) for at least the

first year of operation.

Reporting Background. In summary, reporting to the PTS involves the following steps:

1. Once the Applicant is awarded a rebate, MassCEC or the PTS Administrator will email the

Awarded Applicant PTS login information including a username and password. The Awarded

Applicant should log in at this time and keep this information in a safe place for later use.

2. Upon project completion, the System Owner, or designated representative, must go to the PTS

website specified in the instructions and enter all first time data (e.g. date the renewable energy

system started producing power).

Complete List Massachusetts Approved Wind Turbines (3/1/2012)

USDA is taking applications for all components of the REAP program with the following
deadlines:

• renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement grant applications and
combination grant and guaranteed loan applications until March 30, 2012;

• renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement guaranteed loan only
applications on a continuous basis up to June 29, 2012;

• renewable energy system feasibility study applications through March 30, 2012;

• energy audits and renewable energy development assistance applications through
February 21, 2012.

Agricultural producers and rural small businesses are eligible for the grants and loans for
renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements. USDA announced that
applicants who applied for these grants and loans in FY2011 and were determined to be eligible,
but were not funded, may submit a written request to USDA to consider the FY2011 application
for FY2012 funds.

Additional information on REAP is available at the USDA website for the program.

Net metering programs serve as an important incentive for consumer investment in on-site renewable energy generation. Net metering enables customers to use their own generation from on-site renewable energy systems to offset their consumption over a billing period by allowing their electric meters to turn backwards when they generate electricity in excess of their demand, enabling customers to receive retail prices for the excess electricity they generate. Without net metering, a second meter is usually installed to measure the electricity that flows back to the provider, with the provider purchasing the power at a rate much lower than the retail rate.

Net metering is a low-cost, easily administered method of encouraging customer investment in renewable energy technologies. It increases the value of the electricity produced by renewable generation and allows customers to “bank” their energy and use it a different time than it is produced, giving customers more flexibility and allowing them to maximize the value of their production. Providers may also benefit from net metering because when customers are producing electricity during peak periods, the system load factor is improved.

As of November, 2010, net metering was offered in 43 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico (see map of state net metering rules from DSIRE). For a more detailed description of state net metering policies and links to the authorizing legislation, see the DSIRE database, which is a project of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council funded by the U.S. DOE and managed by the North Carolina Solar Center.

The credit is available to any owner or tenant of residential property. For a newly constructed home, the credit is available to the original owner/occupant. Joint owners of a residential property shall share any credit available to the property under this subsection in the same proportion as their ownership interest. Any excess credit amount may be carried over to the next 1-3 taxable years. To claim the tax credit, complete schedule EC.

Federal Renewable Energy Tax Credit of 30%  
Eligible Renewable  Technologies: Solar Water Heat, Photovoltaics, Wind, Fuel Cells, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Other Solar Electric Technologies, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels.
A taxpayer may claim a credit of 30% of qualified expenditures for a system that serves a dwelling unit located in the United States and used as a residence by the taxpayer. Expenditures with respect to the equipment are treated as made when the installation is completed. If the installation is at a new home, the “placed in service” date is the date of occupancy by the homeowner. Expenditures include labor costs for on-site preparation, assembly or original system installation, and for piping or wiring to interconnect a system to the home. If the federal tax credit exceeds tax liability, the excess amount may be carried forward to the succeeding taxable year. The excess credit may be carried forward until 2016.

Solar-electric property 
•    There is no maximum credit for systems placed in service after 2008.
•    Systems must be placed in service before December 31, 2016.
•    The home served by the system does not have to be the taxpayer’s principal residence.

Solar water-heating property
•    There is no maximum credit for systems placed in service after 2008.
•    Systems must be placed in service before December 31, 2016.
•    Equipment must be certified for performance by the Solar Rating Certification Corporation (SRCC) or a comparable entity endorsed by the government of the state in which the property is installed.
•    At least half the energy used to heat the dwelling’s water must be from solar in order for the solar water-heating property expenditures to be eligible.
•    The tax credit does not apply to solar water-heating property for swimming pools or hot tubs.
•    The home served by the system does not have to be the taxpayer’s principal residence.

Fuel cell property
•    The maximum credit is $500 per half kilowatt (kW).
•    Systems must be placed in service before December 31, 2016.
•    The fuel cell must have a nameplate capacity of at least 0.5 kW of electricity using an electrochemical process and an electricity-only generation efficiency greater than 30%.
•    In case of joint occupancy, the maximum qualifying costs that can be taken into account by all occupants for figuring the credit is $1,667 per 0.5 kW. This does not apply to married individuals filing a joint return. The credit that may be claimed by each individual is proportional to the costs he or she paid.
•    The home served by the system must be the taxpayer’s principal residence.

Small wind-energy property
•    There is no maximum credit for systems placed in service after 2008. .
•    Systems must be placed in service before December 31, 2016.
•    The home served by the system does not have to be the taxpayer’s principal residence.

Geothermal heat pumps
•    There is no maximum credit for systems placed in service after 2008.
•    Systems must be placed in service before December 31, 2016.
•    The geothermal heat pump must meet federal Energy Star criteria.
•    The home served by the system does not have to be the taxpayer’s principal residence.

Eligibility is generally limited to projects that can demonstrate a high likelihood of qualifying for the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard.

The Department of Energy Resources (DOER), in partnership with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), is providing incentives and grants, subsidizing construction loans for energy improvements, and providing technical assistance to help homeowners, businesses, and municipalities that sustained damages inflicted by the June 1, 2011 tornadoes in Western Massachusetts.

Energy Efficiency
For energy efficiency opportunities please visit: www.mass.gov/energy/ReBuildWesternMA, call (877) 524-1325, or email ReBuildWMA@icfi.com. Participants may also be eligible for additional incentives through their local electric and natural gas utility and information can be found at www.masssave.com.

Renewable Energy 
MassCEC is providing a Natural Disaster Adder to its Commonwealth Solar II Rebate Program and Commonwealth Solar Hot Water Rebate Program for homeowners and business owners who incorporate solar photovoltaic (PV) or solar hot water (SHW) projects into their rebuilding process.

At this time, MassCEC is pleased to begin accepting pre-design study grant and construction rebate applications. Pre-Design Study Grant applications may request up to $10,000 to help building owners assess the potential benefits of installing a solar hot water system. Construction rebates are calculated based on entity type (public or private), the number of collectors installed and the SRCC thermal performance rating of the collectors. In addition to the base rebate, you may be eligible to receive additional funding if your system has eligible Massachusetts manufactured components or if your building was affected by the June 1, 2011 tornado in the western part of Massachusetts.

The Commonwealth Solar Hot Water Residential Program offers grants through a non-competitive application process for SHW construction projects at single-family and multi-family (up to 4 units) residences.

Residential Rebate: $25/per collector x the SRCC thermal performance rating of the collectors (please refer to the kBTU/panel/day for Category C, Mildly Cloudy climates). If your system includes Massachusetts Manufactured components from the list below, you may be eligible to receive an additional $200. Rebates are capped at $3,500 (including $200 MA manufacturer adder) or 25 percent of system costs. In addition to this base rebate, if your residence was affected by the June 1, 2011 tornado in the western part of Massachusetts, you may be eligible to receive additional funding.