Today, the Governor signed Senate Bill 6658 into law which expands opportunities for community solar energy projects in Washington. This bill gives greater flexibility to project organizers by allowing them to form LLCs to receive incentive payments. Each participant of an LLC can receive up to $5,000 per year until 2020 for electric power from solar generation that is sold to a local utility. The program requires each eligible project of up to 75KW to be located in the State.

Sen. Phil Rockefeller, D-Kitsap County, sponsored SB 6658 which builds on a foundation of prior legislative efforts to bring solar power to more homes, farms, and communities. First, the state provided cost-recovery incentives to people installing solar panels on their homes or other rooftops. Last year, the state endorsed formation of community solar ventures so individuals could pool resources and install solar panels on local public facilities that might have better access to full sunlight. Now, the state has clarified the sorts of business entities that can be used to develop such projects across the State — cooperatives, mutual associations, and LLCs.

“I’m delighted that more and more citizens and businesses in Washington are taking advantage of state and federal incentives for solar projects,” said Rockefeller. “With this community solar bill, the table is set for a major expansion of local solar projects in Kitsap and across the State.”

Community solar cost recovery is one of the principal renewable energy incentives available in Washington. Another is the sales and use tax exemption for machinery and equipment purchased and installed in renewable energy projects including wind, biomass and solar.

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