To State Lawmakers: Raise the Cap and Prioritize Interconnection
Solar advocates in Massachusetts are urging state lawmakers to raise the net metering cap before the upcoming Thanksgiving recess.
Net metering is a program that compensates solar users for the excess clean energy they produce.
Representative Frank Smizik of the 15th Norfolk district and Representative Jonathan Hecht of the 29th Middlesex district submitted a letter to House Committee on Ways and Means Chair, Brian S. Dempsey on November 6, asking that three points be met in order for the state to take full advantage of as much as $250 million in federal solar tax credit dollars.
“That is money that can be going to support good jobs in Massachusetts while generating Massachusetts –sourced clean energy,” the letters author wrote.
The three points in the letter are:
- A cap raise significant enough to ensure that it will not be reached again before January 1, 2017. Experts have said that a cap raise to 1600MW would be reached by summertime, stalling solar projects once again.
- Ensure a seamless transition from the Solar Carve-out II program to the new solar program to maintain business certainty during this pivotal time.
- Direct the DPU to work with distribution companies to prioritize processing interconnection applications and performing interconnection construction in advance of the ITC deadline.
Read the letter HERE.
