California Solar Incentives. California Solar Incentives

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1 California Solar Incentives California Solar Incentives William W. Westerfield, III Stoel Rives LLP 770 L Street, Suite 800 Sacramento, CA (916)

2 The Universe of of Solar Incentives Rebate Programs Production Incentives Loan Programs Grants Tax Breaks Lease Purchase

3 Current Solar Market in California 17,000 grid connected PV systems, with capacity of 130 MW (56,000 MW Statewide capacity) 85% of total U.S. installed solar capacity Next largest markets are New Jersey, Arizona and Pennsylvania

4 Existing Solar Programs CPUC: Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) Non-residential systems only, 30 kw and above ~$50 million per year since MW solar capacity installed 62 MW in progress

5 Existing Solar Programs (con( con t.) CEC: Emerging Renewables Program (ERP) Primarily residential systems ~$230 million spent since MW solar installed capacity

6 California Solar Initiative 10-year, $2.9 billion program Goal: Increase installed capacity by 3,000 MW by 2017; over 2000% increase PV and Solar Thermal projects under 1 MW Capacity-based subsidies start at $2.80/watt for PV, and decline over time Explore transition to performance-based incentives (PBI) structure Minimal impact on residential electricity and natural gas customers

7 California Solar Initiative (con( con t.) CPUC Program Existing residential buildings Single-family homes Low-income Multi-family apartments All commercial buildings Schools State buildings All industrial facilities Warehouses Manufacturing All agricultural facilities

8 California Solar Initiative (con t.) CEC Program New residential buildings only Single-family homes Low-income Multi-family apartments CEC will specifically target and work with the builder/developer community

9 Solar Initiative Funding $ millions CEC funds: Total $400 million CPUC funds: Total $2.8 billion Year

10 California State Tax Incentives Real property tax exemption for solar systems (Ca. Rev. & Tax Code 73) State income tax exemption for state financial incentives (Ca. Rev. & Tax Code 17,138.1 and 24,308.1) Federal income tax question: Are state financial incentives also exempted from federal gross income under IRS Code 136?

11 Three Financing Alternatives 1. Property owner owns and finances Solar PV system: Cash payback in 4 to 6 years 2. Property owner owns and other party finances Solar PV system: Positive cash flow from Year 1 3. On-site utility model: Property owner receives discounted electricity with no capital investment; investor receives tax benefits

12 Host Owns and Pays Cash for a PV Solar System 29.4 kw PV Commercial System PG&E A1 electric rate, CEC Incentive ($2.80/W), 30% Solar Tax Credit PV system paid for in 4 to 6 years

13 Host Owns and Other Party Finances 29.4 kw PV Commercial System PG&E A1 electric rate, CEC Incentive ($2.80/W), 30% Solar Tax Credit Financed Case Analysis Energy savings Tax savings 1st year $8,477 $87, year Totals $384,365 $115,089 Loan payments Down payment After tax cash flow ($16,906) ($13,826) $65,672 based on 10 year, 6% loan with 10% down ($169,060) ($13,826) $316,568 Positive cash flow from Year 1 onward

14 On-Site Utility Model Tax Investor/ Owner Contractor/ Manufacturer -cash flow -Installation, service & monitoring -substantially all capital required Developer -tax benefits -cash flow -Renewable Energy Certificates -Solar energy -payments for energy -payments Customer / Host REC Buyer

15 January kw Net Metering Rules 50 kw 25 VT: 15/ * 100 * NH: 25 MA: * 30 10/400 RI: 25 * 25/100 * 25 * CT: * varies * no limit NJ: 2, * 40 DE: 25 2, * * * * * MD: 80 1,000 * 15 VA: 10 /500 20/100 * DC: /100 * 10 10* 10/ * 25/ kw * State-wide net metering for all utility types State-wide net metering for certain utility types (e.g., IOUs only) Net metering offered by one or more individual utilities # s indicate system size limit (kw); in some cases limits are different for residential and commercial as shown

16 California Interconnection Standards

17 California Solar System Warranties Module Manufacturer Inverter Manufacturer Vendor/ Installer Vendor/ Installer Manufacturer/ Vendor 20 to 25 year warranties Typically 5-year limited warranty CA requires 5-year nocost warranty Implied warranties on new home sales CA warranties on consumer goods

18 The Future? Concentrating Solar Power

19 California Solar Incentives California Solar Incentives William W. Westerfield, III Stoel Rives LLP 770 L Street, Suite 800 Sacramento, CA (916)

State Solar Policy: Overview & Trends

State Solar Policy: Overview & Trends Rusty Haynes N.C. Solar Center N.C. State University NCSL Solar Energy Institute Washington, D.C. October 19, 2007 Presentation Outline I. Financial Incentives to