First Renewable Feed-in Tariff Introduced in U.S. (Michigan)

[jpak]

http://www.renewableaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50004

Patterned after Germany's highly successful Renewable Energy Sources Act, Veteran Michigan Assemblywoman Kathleen Law submitted a bill to the Michigan House of Representatives earlier this week that creates the first comprehensive renewable energy feed-in tariff (FIT) introduced into any U.S. legislature.

Like the German law which has powered the country to world leadership in wind, solar, and biomass energy—and created nearly one-quarter million new jobs in its booming renewable energy industry—proponents of the bill are hoping the tariff will revive Michigan's flagging economy.

"We are extremely excited that Michigan has joined the ranks of so many progressive states in making the commitment to reduce our carbon footprint," said Subhendu Guha, President of United Solar Ovonic, which is headquartered in Michigan and is a leading manufacturer of thin film solar cells. "Policies like this will create new jobs in Michigan and will help maintain a cleaner environment."

The tariffs proposed in HB 5218 (2007) are equivalent to those in Germany and would be the highest in North America if the bill is made a law.

• Hydro less than 500 kW: $0.10 USD/kWh
• Biogas less than 150 kW: $0.145 USD/kWh
• Geothermal less than 5 MW: $0.19 USD/kWh
• Wind: $0.105 USD/kWh
• Wind energy from small wind turbines: $0.25 USD/kWh
• Rooftop solar less than 30 kW: $0.65 USD/kWh
• Solar façade cladding less than 30 kW: $0.71 USD/kWh

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:thumbsup:

[razzleberry]

1. another ripoff of the ratepayers

is the value to society, of solar electricity
anywhere near 70 cents a kwh?


I think subsidies have a place, but not
value times 14

[greenman3610]

2. Haven't read the bill, but

in the German and Canadian versions, the
tariffs go down over time.

The Ontario low has been more successful than expected in boosting
alternative development.

http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=48565


Before the program began OPA estimated that they would receive applications for 100 MW of capacity per year. It has already received applications for 330 MW of capacity in the first six months, which administrators estimate will translate into about 100 MW of fully developed projects by the end of the year. Most of those projects will be wind farms and small hydroelectric dams, although one of the goals of the new program is to diversify the renewable energy mix as much as possible.