Commercial Businesses Should Purchase Solar Energy Before 2011

Online, October 29, 2010 (Newswire.com) - In Connecticut, the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund just recently re-opened its commercial solar photovoltaic program with a $3 million grant (with an additional $8.9 million request in state money) from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act to help Connecticut commercial facilities install solar panels. Re-opening the Clean Energy Fund is certainly a cause of celebration, however, a larger grant to Connecticut would have had a bigger impact on the future prospects of solar power in the state. One thing to bear in mind is that the Clean Energy Fund was initially funded with $77 million but had to shut down because those funds were used up supporting installation of residential and commercial solar systems throughout the state...clearly a success. So while funding remains tight, the state government and the public have the shown the willingness to push for and utilize increased funding to support the state solar industry. Good thing too as participation in the Clean Energy Fund rebate program can reduce the cost of Connecticut solar panels by approximately half and has lowered the cost of solar panels for homes in the state to about $8.50 per watt, with an average system size of 4.3 kilowatts. Despite a tougher funding environment, Connecticut has still seen very respectably growth in grid connected solar installations, approximately 16% from 2008 to 2009, and the state still remains an excellent market commercial and residential solar energy because it has the second highest electricity rates in the U.S. making solar power financially attractive.