California: Emerging Renewables Program

Having approved the revised program guidebook, the California Energy Commission reopened this program November 9, 2011 at 8:00 AM. The incentive for the first 10 kilowatts of small wind incentives will remain $3.00 per watt for 120 days following the reopening of the program. After 120 days, the rebate will decline to $2.50 per watt.

The California Energy Commission (CEC) offers cash incentives to promote the installation of grid-connected small wind and fuel cell renewable energy electric-generating systems through its Emerging Renewables Program. Wind systems must be permanently interconnected to the electrical distribution grid of the utility serving the customer’s electrical load, but fuel cells used for backup generation for emergency, safety, or telecommunication purposes do not need to be grid-connected. To qualify for an incentive, the participant must be a customer of one of the utilities contributing funds to support the program -- Pacific Gas& Electric Company , Southern California Edison Company, San Diego Gas & Electric Company, or Southern California Water Company (doing business as Bear Valley Electric Service).

Effective November 9, 2011, rebate levels for the Emerging Renewables Program are:

• Small Wind Turbines (up to 50 kW): $3.00/W for first 10 kW and $1.50/W for increments > 10 kW and < 30 kW
• Fuel cells (<30 kW) using renewable fuels: $3.00/W for systems less than 30 kW

For all small wind turbines on the CEC's list of eligible equipment, the power rating at 11 meters per second will be used for calculating the incentive. Rebates for eligible renewable energy systems installed on affordable housing projects are available at 25% above the standard rebate level up to 75% of the system’s installed cost.

Incentives received from sources other than this program, such as other utility incentive programs, a State of California sponsored incentive program, or a federal government sponsored incentive program, other than tax credits, will reduce the amount of the Emerging Renewables Program rebate by no less than 5% to prevent total incentives from exceeding total system costs.

The renewable energy system must generate electricity to offset the consumer's on-site electrical load, but the expected production may not be more than the historical or expected electrical needs of the consumer.

Funding for the installation of solar photovoltaic systems on new residential construction is available under the Energy Commission’s New Solar Homes Partnership program. Funding for the installation and operation of solar photovoltaic systems on existing residential and new and existing non-residential buildings is available under the California Public Utilities Commission’s California Solar Initiative. Information on these two programs can be found at www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov.