The Pennsylvania Sunshine Solar Program will provide $100 million in rebates to help fund solar electric (solar photovoltaic, or PV) and solar hot water (solar thermal) projects for homeowners and small businesses in Pennsylvania. This program is authorized by section 306 of the Alternative Energy Investment Act, Act of July 9, 2008 and additional funding may also be provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Funding will be deployed in the form of rebates for residential and small business projects. Rebates will be awarded on a first-come-first-served basis to approved applicants.  Households may receive one solar photovoltaic (PV) rebate for up to 10 kilowatts (kW) of installed PV generating capacity plus one solar thermal rebate not to exceed $2,000. A small business may only submit one PV and one solar thermal application at a time and must complete the project and rebate process prior to submitting another application.  Low income residents may qualify for additional incentives through the program.

For more information, go to the Pennsylvania Energy Independence website.   The site includes guideline packages, lists of qualified installers, upcoming courses, and more.

Now, where are the windmill rebates?  In the winter, it often seems like freezing wind is our most abundant resource.