Renewable Technology Rebate Fund

September 13, 2011

Summary

Note: This program has closed. The program description below is for information purposes only.

Beginning March 22, 2010, the Arkansas Energy Office is offering rebates for renewable energy systems used to generate electricity and solar water heating systems. Funding for the rebate comes from The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Photovoltaics (PV), small wind, and solar water heating systems are eligible to receive the rebate. Local government systems receiving Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funding for renewable energy systems from the Arkansas Energy Office are not eligible for this rebate program.

Electricity-generating systems must sign an interconnection agreement and be net-metered in order to receive the rebate. Systems must meet net metering size requirements. Residential systems must be 25 kilowatts (kW) or smaller and non-residential systems must be 300 kW or smaller. In order to receive the rebate, the system must not be interconnected until after the start date of the rebate program. All systems must apply for the rebate using a form available online and submit a photo of the installation site prior to installing the system and prior to interconnection (for electricity-generating systems). Non-residential applicants must select a vendor from the list of qualified installers. This list is available on the program web site.

The rebate for PV and small wind is based on the actual first year production of the system. This amount is verified through monthly monitoring over the first year of operation. Rebate checks are mailed out quarterly, as production is verified. The rebate for PV systems is $1.50 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for systems sized 25 kW or less and $0.75/kWh for systems over 25 kW. The rebate for wind systems is $1.25/kWh for systems sized 20 kW or less and $0.625/kWh for systems over 20 kW. Wind systems over 20 kW must be specially approved on a case-by-case basis to receive a rebate. Rebates for solar water heating systems are based on collector area. Systems that are 320 square feet or less will receive $30/square foot; systems that are greater than 320 square feet will receive $15/square foot. Solar water heating systems must be SRCC-certified and must be installed on a residential or small commercial building. Rebates are available through March 31, 2012, or whenever program funds run out. The program closed in early 2011, and reopened on May 31, 2011. The program was open for 2 days before the funds were exhausted the program closed again on June 2, 2011.