The Philadelphia Inquirer reports today that Pennsylvania's solar-energy industry is "collapsing under the weight of its own good fortune."
"Spurred by hundreds of millions of dollars in federal and state incentives, solar developers have built so many projects in recent years that they have created an oversupply of solar-energy credits, the market instruments that provide the developers with a critical income stream.
"The price of solar credits in the state has plummeted as much as 75 percent in the last year, dramatically shrinking the income-producing potential of new and existing solar projects."
Pennsylvania State Rep. Chris Ross (R., Chester County) expects today to introduce a legislative rescue for the industry that would increase the amount of solar energy that utilities must buy through 2015, propping up the price of solar credits. The bill also would close Pennsylvania's solar markets to out-of-state producers. Developers here say cross-border imports of solar power are driving down prices in Pennsylvania.
Watching what has happened across the Delaware River--and charging that the Christie Administration's 's foot dragging on a revised energy master plan had created perilous uncertainty in the market--New Jersey State Senator Bob Smith introduced legislation designed to prevent a similar fate for solar in the Garden State.
But at a hearing last week on the bill, numerous industry representatives noted that solar energy projects in New Jersey were still doing well--despite dropping prices for solar credits--and that the bill's tinkering with long-term financing might not be necessary if the state Board of Public Utilities were required to extend programs for utility solar projects beyond their current 2016 expiration date. Most parties, however, agreed with Smith's suggestion that the legislation be changed to establish a floor price for solar credits.
Have you installed solar on your business or home? Are you a solar installer? We invite you to provide your opinion on the future of the solar industry in the response box. If one is not visible, click on the tiny 'comments' line below.
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An Electrical Contractor's License and Business Permit is required for solar-photovoltaic (SPV) installations in New Jersey.
ReplyDeleteNJ's Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors who regulate the Electrical Contracting Industry in NJ affirmed in 2007 that with the exception of owners of single family homes performing the installation of PV panels themselves on their own home, an Electrical Contractors License and Business Permit is required to handle and install Solar Panels in New Jersey.
N.J.S.A. 45:5A-1 et seq., known as "The Electrical Contractors Licensing Act of 1962", States; "No person shall advertise, enter into, engage in, or work in a business as an electrical contractor unless they have secured a business permit and a license from the New Jersey Board of Electrical Contractors (the Board)."
The term "electrical contractor" is defined as a person who engages in the business of contracting to install, erect, repair, or alter electrical equipment for the generation, transmission, or utilization of electrical energy (N.J.S.A. 45:5A-2(d)).
SPV systems, by definition, are electrical work. They are a series of components that generate (the SPV panels), transmit, and/or utilize electrical energy. Any person engaged in installing, erecting, repairing, etc. such equipment must be an electrical contractor under the provisions of the Act.
The Law applies to all Residential, Commercial, and Institutional, and Industrial installations of Photo Voltaic Panels. A solar company that is operating without an NJ Electrical Business Permit is by the nature of their business operating an electrical contracting company without a license
Additionally any person who engages in these activities without a valid Electrical Contractors Business Permit may be charged with a Felony in the State of New Jersey.(151_C.2C21-33 of the New Jersey Statutes)
Read Felony Law at http://tinyurl.com/3dvbk22
A stable SREC market is extremely important to the long term health of the solar industry in NJ. Many potential customers decide not to go forward because of the uncertainty of the SREC market. The state government has been dragging it's feet since January of last year when it was mandated to produce a cost schedule for the SREC market. It's time they gave some certainty to the marketplace and stopped waiting. They need to make a commitment to the only bright spot in the otherwise dead construction segment and Keep jobs growing in the solar industry in NJ.
ReplyDeleteSolar energy is the best way of money saving. Solar panels are highly efficient, and by keeping a few considerations in mind it should be possible to choose solar panels that are perfect for you.
ReplyDeletesolar panels new jersey