Renewable Energy Rebates

SMPA realizes it isn't always easy to 'go green' - it can be costly. As a result, SMPA offers monetary incentives to members who install renewable energy systems on their home or small business. Renewable energy sources include:

  • Solar
  • Solar Thermal
  • Wind
  • Hydro
  • Biomass
  • Geothermal

SMPA pays members $3 per watt with a maximum of $4,500. Systems installed on a personal residence must be 10kW or less, and systems installed on a commercial building must be 25kW or less.

Members interested in installing a renewable system need to contact SMPA and ask for a rebate application and the program guidelines.

 

Download your Renewable Energy Rebate Application here.  
Complete the form and return it to your local SMPA office.

 

The application is very important, as funds for the rebates are limited and are given on a first come, first served basis. Members have 90 days to complete the entire application process, which includes the initial application, installation and a final application packet. As always, SMPA staff members are on hand to help with applications and compliance.

Through partnerships with governmental agencies, SMPA offers additional rebates and/or incentives that help members offset the cost of their investment in local renewable energy. These programs change on a regular basis. Contact SMPA Member Services at (970) 626-5549 for the most up to date information.

Additional rebates offered through SMPA and the Governor's Energy Office include:

  • Insulate and Seal
  • E-Star Training
  • Energy Savings Partners

Renewable Energy Rebate Policy

I. OBJECTIVE:

To establish policy to support and encourage the use of renewable generation by offering Association members rebates on approved installations. The Association wishes to provide an incentive for members to install small renewable energy systems at their primary place of residence or business.

II POLICY:

It shall be the policy of San Miguel Power Association, Inc. to:

  1. Provide a Renewable Energy Rebate, not to exceed the cost of the unit, as outlined in #1 of the Renewable Energy Rebate Program Guidelines, to residential or commercial customers who install a solar, wind, geothermal, biomass or hydropower generating facility.
  2. Only residential or small commercial, grid-tied installations located within the SMPA service territory are eligible for the Renewable Energy Rebate.
  3. Eligible systems must meet the requirements as outlined in the Renewable Energy Rebate Guidelines distributed with the Application for Rebate.
  4. The Renewable Generation Rebate will be $3 per watt. System wattage will be calculated based on the nameplate rating of the installed system.
    1. Solar - the total installed photovoltaic panel capacity.
    2. Solar with tracking - the total installed photovoltaic panel capacity times 1.25. This factor represents the additional energy output obtained by the use of a tracking device
      3. .
    3. Wind - the nameplate capacity times 0.30. This factor represents the expected energy output given the wind resources of SMPA service territory. If 12 months of hourly, site specific anemometer data can be provided, this factor may be adjusted to represent the site’s wind resource.
    4. Geothermal - the nameplate capacity of the installed system.
    5. Biomass - the nameplate capacity of generator.
    6. Hydro - available head (in feet) times average annual flow rate (in cfs) times 84.64 (power conversion factor).
  5. The maximum allowable Renewable Energy Rebate will be $4,500 per service.
  6. An annual cap of $90,000 shall be established for this program. Once that amount of rebates have been issued, Board approval will be necessary for any additional rebates for that calendar year.
  7. SMPA will evaluate participation in any government, or other, rebate program where part or all of the rebate amount may be recovered by SMPA. Where feasible, SMPA will participate in programs that allow members to participate in any such program.
  8. SMPA will receive all renewable energy credits (RECs) produced by the system for a period of ten (10) years. The RECs may be sold in SMPA Green Blocks program to generate additional funds for the Renewable Energy Rebate program.
  9. The owner of the renewable energy system shall maintain the system and its’ components in good working order for a minimum of ten (10) years from date the rebate is issued. If during the ten year period the system should become damaged or no longer operate in a normal manner for any reason, the owner will be liable for repayment of a pro-rated portion of the original rebate amount. (Ex. If the system ceases to produce during year 5, the owner would be liable for 50% of the original rebate.)
  10. SMPA reserves the right to inspect any generating facility while interconnected with SMPA’s system. All facilities attached to SMPA’s system must meet and maintain compliance with SMPA’s interconnection requirements.
  11. Staff will develop a quarterly report on the capacity and number of generating facilities installed.

III. RESPONSIBILITY

The General Manager/CEO will be responsible for the administration and compliance of this policy.

Effective Date: August 1, 2009
Date Approved by Board of Directors: July 15, 2009

 


Employee Login | Board Login