SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2019 SESSION

  • | print version

HB 2741 Clean Energy Advisory Board; established, solar energy installation rebates.

Introduced by: Lashrecse D. Aird | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

Clean Energy Advisory Board; low-to-moderate income solar loan and rebate pilot program and fund. Establishes the Clean Energy Advisory Board (the Board) as an advisory board in the executive branch of government for the purpose of establishing a pilot program for disbursing loans or rebates for the installation of solar energy infrastructure in low-income and moderate-income households. The bill provides that the Board shall have a total membership of 15 members, consisting of 14 nonlegislative citizen members and the Director of the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, who shall serve ex officio. The bill establishes the Low-to-Moderate Income Solar Loan and Rebate Fund to be used to fund loans or rebate payments to electric customers who complete solar installations or energy efficiency improvements. The bill provides that the pilot program is open to any Virginia resident whose household income is at or below 80 percent of the state median income or regional median income, whichever is greater. The bill establishes application requirements and procedures for the review and approval or denial of applications. The bill requires that each applicant document the installation of energy efficiency services to demonstrate that such services lower home energy consumption by at least 12 percent prior to the submission of an application. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2022.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Clean Energy Advisory Board; Clean Energy Rebate Fund; solar energy installation rebates; low-income and moderate-income households. Establishes the Clean Energy Advisory Board (the Board), an advisory board in the executive branch of government that is authorized to advise the Director of the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (the Director) on the disbursement of rebates under a rebate program established by the bill for the installation of solar energy infrastructure in low-income and moderate-income households. The bill provides that the Board shall have a total membership of 11 members, consisting of 10 nonlegislative citizen members and the Director, who shall serve ex officio. The bill establishes the Clean Energy Rebate Fund to receive the proceeds of bond sales by the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority and the Virginia Resources Authority and then to disburse rebates to qualified customers.

The bill provides that the rebate program is open to any Virginia resident whose household income is at or below 80 percent of the state median income or regional median income, whichever is greater. The bill establishes application requirements, procedures for the review and approval or denial of applications, requirements for installation of systems, and procedures for the disbursement of rebates. The bill requires that each applicant document the installation of energy efficiency services to demonstrate that such services lower home energy consumption by at least 12 percent prior to the submission of an application. The bill provides that the rebate shall be in the amount of $2 per DC watt for up to six kilowatts of solar capacity installed. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2022.