DNREC and Sustainable Energy Utility to start Joint Green Energy Program Aug. 4
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Division of Energy and Climate and the state’s Sustainable Energy Utility have announced the Monday, Aug. 4 launch of the Joint Green Energy Program with the intention of increasing small-scale photovoltaic installations in Delaware through the state’s Green Energy Fund. Other Green Energy Fund-related incentives and grant applications are being revised to become effective on the same date.
The Green Energy Fund helps Delaware homeowners, businesses, and nonprofit organizations in the Delmarva Power & Light service territory meet their energy needs in a more sustainable way through the installation of renewable energy systems, including solar photovoltaic, solar water heating, geothermal, and wind. Funding for the program is collected via a public benefit charge on DPL customer utility bills. Since 1999, the Green Energy Fund has supported more than 1,500 renewable energy projects in Delaware and helped Delaware emerge as a national leader in solar energy, contributing to a 30-fold increase in new solar capacity since 2008.
While the DNREC Green Energy Program and the SEU Solar Renewable Energy Credit program are independent, the joint program will benefit solar PV system owners by removing SREC price uncertainty while also reducing system payback time. The joint program also streamlines the application process by allowing applicants to apply for both the grant program and for SRECs by using a single online application portal.
The SEU is committing $1.5 million of Delaware’s Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative funds on an annual basis for two years to fund the SREC portion of the Joint Green Energy Program. The SEU SREC program is open to all Delaware-sited systems less than or equal to 50 kW in size, regardless of the customer's electric provider.
Also as of Aug. 4, the Joint Green Energy Program will expand incentives for geothermal and solar water heating projects. The SEU is committing $1 million for two years to offer grants up to $200,000 for commercial and nonprofit geothermal and solar water heating projects sited in Delaware.
Effective the same date, all Green Energy Fund grant applications for DPL customers and applications for the SEU SREC purchase program must be submitted online through www.GreenGrantDelaware.com.
All program applicants and prospective applicants are encouraged to participate in a webinar that will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, Aug. 1. It can be viewed at https://inclime.clickmeeting.com/Green_Grant_Delaware. The webinar will answer any questions with the website as well as changes to the program. The Green Energy Program grant application process for Delaware Electric Cooperative and the Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation customers will not change; however, these customers are eligible to apply for the SEU’s SREC program through www.GreenGrantDelaware.com.
For more information on the Green Energy Fund, current incentives, and program rules, visit http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/energy/services/GreenEnergy.
