Affordable Solar Electric via Feed-in Tariffs?

The National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) reports that feed-in tariffs are responsible for 75% of solar photovoltaic and 45% of wind projects worldwide.  Feed-in tariffs (FITs) require utilities to pay per kilowatt-hour to purchase electricity from renewable energy generators.  They enable stable and reliable pricing, and small generators and large plants have an equal opportunity to compete. Countries in Europe, especially Germany, France, and Spain, have used feed-in tariffs to greatly increase renewable energy production because of their increased cost-effectiveness.  For example, California receives 70% more sunlight for producing solar energy than Germany does, though the latter installs 15 times as many solar electric systems per year due to the effective use of FITs.

Generally, green markets in the United States lack strong federal support, and instead, progressive states like California create markets and regulations that eventually spread to the rest of the country.  Though many states have established FITs before, institutional resistance, too high or too low pricing, and bureaucracy have rendered them virtually ineffective. California is again taking the lead and has recently proposed to launch a new variation of the tariff.  In California, investor-owned utilities will be required to purchase electrical energy from renewable generators that are 1MW-20MW in size.

New York recently pushed a bill for FITs on Long Island, but it did not pass. The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) already awards large rebates (up to half of system cost!), and the 25% New York State and 30% federal tax credits have already made solar systems incredibly cost-effective.  We can only hope that pushes for cost-effectiveness like the FIT can get the United States on par with our European friends.

Feed-In Tariff Legislation a Possibility in NY

Feed-In Tariffs (FITs) implemented in Germany and Spain spurred record growth in their renewable energy industries, making them global leaders in solar energy. Now, there is a chance FITs could come to New York, bringing with them unprecedented benefits and opportunities.

A FIT establishes a premium rate at which renewable energy systems (small or large scale) sell their energy to the grid. Instead of net metering, system owners are paid for every kWh generated, not just those they don’t consume. Read the NREL paper to learn more about how FITs function.

Around the world, FITs have been proven to be the fastest and most economical way of deploying renewable energy systems. The New York Solar Energy Society gives 16 reasons why FITs are advantageous and effective. Some of the most prominent are:

1. A FIT will create tens of thousands of clean energy jobs in NYS

2.  Reliable, predictable credit flows from FITs promote private sector investment

3.  FITs promote investment in large scale AND small scale systems

A petition is out to support FIT legislation in NY. Add your name here.