Virginia Solar Incentives
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INCENTIVE NAME: Net Metering
CATEGORY: Regulatory Policy
TYPE: Net Metering
SECTOR: State
TECHNOLOGY: Solar Photovoltaics,
CODE: VA02R
DETAILS:
Applicable Utilities – Investor-owned utilities, electric cooperatives
System Capacity Limit – 500 kW for non-residential; 20 kW for residential
Aggregate Capacity Limit – 1% of utility’s adjusted Virginia peak-load forecast for the previous year
Net Excess Generation – Credited to customer’s next bill at retail rate. After 12-month cycle, customer may opt to roll over credit indefinitely or to receive payment at avoided-cost rate.
Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits – Customer owns RECs
Meter Aggregation – Not addressed
INCENTIVE NAME: Local Option – Residential Property Tax Exemption for Solar
CATEGORY: Financial Incentive
TYPE: Property Tax Incentive
SECTOR: State
TECHNOLOGY: Solar Photovoltaics,
CODE: VA01F
DETAILS:
Incentive Amount – Varies (local option)
Maximum Incentive – Varies (local option)
Eligible System Size – Not specified
Equipment Requirements – Installation needs to be inspected by the local building authorities to determine tax credit
WEBSITE: http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DE/Energy_Incentives.shtml
INCENTIVE NAME: Interconnection Standards
CATEGORY: Regulatory Policy
TYPE: Interconnection
SECTOR: State
TECHNOLOGY: Solar Photovoltaics,
CODE: VA06R
DETAILS:
Applicable Utilities – All utilities
System Capacity Limit – 20 MW
Standard Agreement – Varies by system size
Insurance Requirements – Vary by system size and/or type; levels established by SCC
External Disconnect Switch – Utility’s discretion
Net Metering Required – No (separate interconnection standards exist for net-metered systems)
INCENTIVE NAME: TVA – Green Power Providers
CATEGORY: Financial Incentive
TYPE: Performance-Based Incentive
SECTOR: Utility
TECHNOLOGY: Solar Photovoltaics,
CODE: VA05F
DETAILS:
Incentive Amount – $1,000 upon installation
Years 1-10: retail electric rate + premium payment
Years 11-20: retail electric rate
2014 Premium Rates:
Solar: $0.04/kWh
Wind, Biomass, and Hydro: $0.03/kWh
Maximum Incentive – None specified.
Terms – PBI payments continue for 20 years.
Eligible System Size – Minimum size: 0.5 kW
Maximum size: 50 kW
Equipment Requirements – The system must comply with environmental regulations and national standards, be certified by a licensed electrician, and comply with all applicable codes.
Installation Requirements – Solar and wind installations approved by TVA in Calendar Year 2013 must be installed by a renewable energy professional with entry-level NABCEP certification.
Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits – TVA
WEBSITE: http://www.tva.com/greenpowerswitch/providers
UTILITIES: Appalachian Power Co, Bristol Virginia Utilities, Powell Valley Electric Coop,
INCENTIVE NAME: Solar Easements
CATEGORY: Regulatory Policy
TYPE: Solar/Wind Access Policy
SECTOR: State
TECHNOLOGY: Solar Photovoltaics,
CODE: VA08R
BUDGET:
INCENTIVE NAME: Commonwealth’s Energy Leasing Program
CATEGORY: Financial Incentive
TYPE: Leasing Program
SECTOR: State
TECHNOLOGY: Solar Photovoltaics,
CODE: VA14F
DETAILS:
Terms – Energy Projects less than $100,000 are not eligible for financingthrough the Energy Leasing Program
WEBSITE: http://www.trs.virginia.gov/Debt/leasing.aspx
INCENTIVE NAME: Arlington County – Green Building Incentive Program
CATEGORY: Financial Incentive
TYPE: Green Building Incentive
SECTOR: Local
TECHNOLOGY: Solar Photovoltaics,
CODE: VA16F
WEBSITE: http://freshaireva.us/2012/04/green-building-2/
INCENTIVE NAME: Voluntary Renewable Energy Portfolio Goal
CATEGORY: Regulatory Policy
TYPE: Renewables Portfolio Standard
SECTOR: State
TECHNOLOGY: Solar Photovoltaics,
SOURCE: Enhanced rate of return for renewable generation after approval from SCC
CODE: VA10R
DETAILS:
Standard – Goal: 15% of base year (2007) sales by 2025
Technology Minimum – No
Compliance Multipliers – 200% (double) credit for energy derived from sunlight, onshore wind, animal waste
300% (triple) credit for energy derived from offshore wind
REC Lifetime – 5 years
Credit Trading/Tracking System – Yes
Alternative Compliance Payment – Not applicable
BUDGET:
WEBSITE: https://www.scc.virginia.gov/pue/renew.aspx
INCENTIVE NAME: Solar Rights
CATEGORY: Regulatory Policy
TYPE: Solar/Wind Access Policy
SECTOR: State
TECHNOLOGY: Solar Photovoltaics,
CODE: VA15R
BUDGET:
INCENTIVE NAME: Mandatory Utility Green Power Option
CATEGORY: Regulatory Policy
TYPE: Mandatory Utility Green Power Option
SECTOR: State
TECHNOLOGY: Solar Photovoltaics,
CODE: VA18R
BUDGET:
INCENTIVE NAME: TVA – Mid-Sized Renewable Standard Offer Program
CATEGORY: Financial Incentive
TYPE: Performance-Based Incentive
SECTOR: Utility
TECHNOLOGY: Solar Photovoltaics,
CODE: VA41F
DETAILS:
Incentive Amount – Seasonal and time-of-day prices are set at the date of execution of the contract agreement.
Typical pricing for 2015: Varying between $0.029/kWh-$0.051/kWh
Terms – Up to 20 year contract with a 5% increase in base rates per year.
Eligible System Size – 50kW-20MW
Installation Requirements – Must be interconnected with a power distributor’s or TVA’s electric system
Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits – All credits and attributes are transferred to TVA.
WEBSITE: http://www.tva.com/renewablestandardoffer/
UTILITIES: Appalachian Power Co, Bristol Virginia Utilities, Powell Valley Electric Coop,
INCENTIVE NAME: Clean Energy Manufacturing Incentive Grant Program
CATEGORY: Financial Incentive
TYPE: Industry Recruitment/Support
SECTOR: State
TECHNOLOGY: Solar Photovoltaics,
CODE: VA46F
DETAILS:
Maximum Incentive – Aggregate amount of grants awarded and outstanding at any time cannot exceed $36 million
Terms – 6 years maximum
BUDGET: $36,000,000
INCENTIVE NAME: Energy Project and Equipment Financing
CATEGORY: Financial Incentive
TYPE: Loan Program
SECTOR: State
TECHNOLOGY: Solar Photovoltaics,
CODE: VA47F
DETAILS:
Loan Term – Varies
WEBSITE: http://www.virginiaresources.org/projectfinancing.shtml
INCENTIVE NAME: Voluntary Solar Resource Development Fund
CATEGORY: Regulatory Policy
TYPE: Public Benefits Fund
SECTOR: State
TECHNOLOGY: Solar Photovoltaics,
CODE: VA21R
DETAILS:
Types – Photovoltaics, Solar Space Heat, and Solar Water Heat
Total Fund – Varies; contributions are voluntary
Charge – None; contributions are voluntary
BUDGET:
WEBSITE: https://www.dmme.virginia.gov/srdd/frmMain.aspx
INCENTIVE NAME: Guidelines for Solar and Wind Local Ordinances
CATEGORY: Regulatory Policy
TYPE: Solar/Wind Permitting Standards
SECTOR: State
TECHNOLOGY: Solar Photovoltaics,
CODE: VA22R
BUDGET:
INCENTIVE NAME: City of Danville – Net Metering
CATEGORY: Regulatory Policy
TYPE: Net Metering
SECTOR: Local
TECHNOLOGY: Solar Photovoltaics,
CODE: VA23R
DETAILS:
Applicable Utilities – Danville Utilities
System Capacity Limit – 10 kW residential and 500 kW non residential
Aggregate Capacity Limit – less than 1% of the utility’s most recent peak load for all interconnected renewable energy generators
Net Excess Generation – A customer that would otherwise be a net metering customer shall receive no compensation for excess generation unless a power purchase agreement has been entered into with the utility.
Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits – Customer owns REC’s. The utility is not obligated to purchase net metering RECs.
Meter Aggregation – None addressed
BUDGET:
WEBSITE: http://www.danville-va.gov/
INCENTIVE NAME: Dominion Virginia Power – Solar Purchase Program
CATEGORY: Financial Incentive
TYPE: Performance-Based Incentive
SECTOR: Utility
TECHNOLOGY: Solar Photovoltaics,
CODE: VA58F
DETAILS:
Incentive Amount – $0.15/kWh
Terms – 5-year contract
No standby charge
Eligible System Size – Residential: 20 kW
Nonresidential: 50 kW
Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits – Transferred to Dominion
WEBSITE: https://www.dom.com/residential/dominion-virginia-power/ways-to-save/renewable-energy-programs/solar-purchase-program
UTILITIES: Virginia Electric & Power Co,
INCENTIVE NAME: Commercial Solar Property Tax Exemption
CATEGORY: Financial Incentive
TYPE: Property Tax Incentive
SECTOR: State
TECHNOLOGY: Solar Photovoltaics,
CODE: VA59F
DETAILS:
Incentive Amount – 100% of state and local taxes
Eligible System Size – Under 20 MW (AC)
WEBSITE: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?000+cod+58.1-3660
INCENTIVE NAME: Small Business & Non-Profit Loan Program
CATEGORY: Financial Incentive
TYPE: Loan Program
SECTOR: State
TECHNOLOGY: Solar Photovoltaics,
CODE: VA60F
WEBSITE: http://vdba.virginia.gov/vsbfa.shtml#programs
INCENTIVE NAME: TVA – Solar Solutions Initiative
CATEGORY: Financial Incentive
TYPE: Performance-Based Incentive
SECTOR: State
TECHNOLOGY: Solar Photovoltaics,
CODE: VA61F
DETAILS:
Incentive Amount – $0.04/ kWh for 10 years in addition to the incentives offered by the Renewable Standard Offer program
Terms – Must be participating in the Renewable Standard Offer Program
Eligible System Size – 50 kW- 1 MW
Total capacity of the program capped at 20MW
Installation Requirements – Installation and construction must be done by a NABCEP-certified contractor that works in the TVA region
Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits – Owned by TVA
WEBSITE: http://www.tva.com/renewablestandardoffer/ssi.htm
