1.This Act may be cited as the
10 Million Solar Roofs and 10 Million
Gallons of Solar Water Heating Act of 2010
.
2.Congress finds that—
(1)(A)there is huge potential
for increasing the quantity of electricity produced in the United States from
distributed solar photovoltaics and solar water heating systems;
(B)the use of solar photovoltaics on the
roofs of 10 percent of existing buildings could meet 70 percent of peak
electric demand;
(C)a key barrier to increased deployment
of solar photovoltaic and hot water heating systems is the upfront cost of
capital, even though over time the systems are cost-effective;
(2)investment in
solar photovoltaics technology will create economies of scale that will allow
the technology to deliver electricity at prices that are competitive with
electricity from fossil fuels;
(3)electricity
produced from distributed solar photovoltaics helps to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, does not emit harmful air pollutants, such as mercury, sulfur
dioxide, and nitrogen oxides, uses existing rooftop space, and does not require
additional land for generation, thereby conserving natural resources and
wildlife habitat;
(4)electricity
produced from distributed solar photovoltaics enhances national energy security
and helps to meet peak power demand without requiring the construction and
siting of new transmission infrastructure;
(5)investments in
renewable energy stimulate the development of green jobs in the United States
that provide substantial economic benefits;
(6)(A)rebate programs in
several States have been successful in increasing the quantity of solar energy
from distributed solar photovoltaics and solar water heating systems;
(B)the State of California leads the
United States in installed solar photovoltaic systems and has used rebate
programs to promote the installation of more than 500 megawatts of
grid-connected solar photovoltaics, with 226 megawatts installed during the
3-year period ending on the date of enactment of this Act due to the Solar
Initiative of the State;
(C)the State of New Jersey is second in
the United States in installed solar photovoltaic systems and has used
incentive programs to achieve 90 megawatts of installed solar capacity;
(D)the State of Hawaii leads the United
States in solar water heating systems installed, and will require all new homes
to have solar water heating systems starting in 2010, which is projected to
save the average household $600 annually and reduce the oil consumption of the
State by 30,000 barrels in 2010 alone; and
(E)the State of Florida has used consumer
and business rebate programs for solar photovoltaic and solar water heating
systems and is second in the United States in installed solar hot water
systems;
(7)despite inventing
solar technology, the United States has fallen behind nations with less solar
resources because those nations have set in place policies to promote solar
energy, and the United States now ranks fourth in installed solar behind
Germany, Spain, and Japan;
(8)there are more
than 1,500,000 solar water heating systems in the United States that rely on a
free fuel source, the sun, to provide hot water, and there is enormous
potential for additional solar hot water systems to displace fossil fuel use in
water heating; and
(9)homes in the
United States spend more than $13,000,000,000 on energy for water heating,
which is equivalent to 11.4 barrels of oil per home and accounts for
approximately 30 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions of an average home,
but solar water heating systems can reduce the cost of water heating and reduce
residential carbon dioxide emissions.
3.Rebates for
purchase and installation of photovoltaic systems and solar water heating
systems
(a)The Secretary of Energy (referred to in this Act as the
Secretary) shall establish a program under which the Secretary
shall provide rebates to eligible individuals or entities for the purchase and
installation of solar photovoltaic systems and solar water heating systems for
residential and commercial properties in order to install, over the 10-year
period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, at least—
(1)an additional
10,000,000 solar systems in the United States (as compared to the number of
solar systems installed in the United States as of the date of enactment of
this Act) with a cumulative capacity of at least 30,000 megawatts; and
(2)an additional
200,000 solar water heating systems in the United States (as compared to the
number of solar water heating systems installed in the United States as of the
date of enactment of this Act) with a cumulative capacity of 10,000,000
gallons.
(b)
(1)To be eligible for a rebate under this section—
(A)the recipient of
the rebate shall be a homeowner, business, nonprofit entity, or State or local
government that purchased and installed a solar photovoltaic system or solar
water heating system for a property located in the United States; and
(B)the total capacity
of the solar photovoltaic system for the property shall not exceed 2
megawatts.
(2)The Secretary shall issue guidance to participating
solar installers and contractors to ensure that information is made available
to rebate recipients on all available Federal, State, local, and other
incentives for energy efficiency improvements that can be made in the buildings
on the property at which the solar photovoltaic or hot water heating system is
being installed.
(3)After public review and comment, the Secretary may
identify other individuals or entities located in the United States that
qualify for a rebate under this section.
(c)
(1)Solar
photovoltaic systems
(A)Subject to subparagraph (B) and paragraph (3), the amount
of a rebate provided to an eligible individual or entity for the purchase and
installation of a solar photovoltaic system for a property under this section
shall be a rebate per watt of installed capacity not to exceed the following
amounts:
Calendar
yearDollar per watt
20101.75
20111.75
20121.5
20131.25
20141
20151
20160.75
20170.75
20180.5
20190.5.
(B)The
Secretary may adjust the maximum amounts described in subparagraph (A)—
(i)to
ensure deployment consistent with the purposes of this Act; and
(ii)to
respond to projected and actual market conditions.
(2)Solar water
heating systems
(A)Subject to subparagraph (B) and paragraph (3), the amount
of a rebate provided to an eligible individual or entity for the purchase and
installation of a solar water heating system under this section shall be not
more than $1 for each watt thermal-equivalent of installed capacity during
calendar year 2010.
(B)The
Secretary shall ensure that the maximum amount described in subparagraph (A)
decreases over time at a rate that is similar to the schedule described in
paragraph (1)(A), and consistent with projected and actual market conditions
and the purposes of this Act, for each watt thermal-equivalent of installed
capacity.
(3)The total amount of a rebate provided to an eligible
individual or entity for the purchase and installation of a solar photovoltaic
system or solar water heating system for a property under this section shall
not exceed 50 percent of the remaining cost to the purchaser for the purchase
and installation of the system (after consideration of all applicable Federal,
State, and local incentives and tax credits).
(d)Relationship to
other lawThe authority
provided under this section shall be in addition to any other authority under
which credits or other types of financial assistance are provided for
installation of a solar photovoltaic or solar water heating system for a
property.
(e)Authorization of
appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated such sums
as are necessary to carry out this section.