FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Jonathan Lewis
President, Seraphim Electric Company
26 Creek Lane
Goldendale, WA 98620
office: 509-773-3806
cell: 509-261-0213
The news has been full of stories about big wind farms, gas generators and even nuclear plants on the horizon to deal with our nation’s energy crisis. Recently the Washington State legislators passed two bills that could make energy—renewable energy—much more accessible and economical for Washingtonians.
On May 10, 2005, Governor Gregoire signed into law two bills which renewable energy representatives have been working to put together for several years. The first bill will give homeowners and businesses 15 cents per KWH for power produced by solar or wind, up to $2000.00 per year for nine years. So, you install a solar or small wind generating system at your home, the power produced offsets or eliminates your electrical bill and at the end of the year you send the power company a bill for all of the power you produced. The bill will work for both grid connected and off grid facilities and is one of the most progressive incentives in the country. This kind of incentive is called “performance based”. Rather than simply paying people a rebate for installing a system (KPUD’s $400.00 dollars per Kilowatt rebate will still be in effect) a performance based system actually looks at how well the renewable energy installation is doing and pays the customer based on output. With this kind of incentive it is important to have your system designed and installed well. HB 5101 will be administered by WSU energy extension and local utilities, who receive a tax write-off for money they pay toward the program. Off grid systems are already eligible but a clause was squeezed into the bill requiring 80% of utilities in the state to agree an interconnect policy before the bill becomes effective. Residents and businesses are encouraged to contact their local utility to find out what is being done to get this contingency resolved as quickly as possible.
The second bill has to do with bringing renewable energy jobs to Washington. It offers substantial tax incentive to businesses making solar cells or wind turbine blades in the state. The two bills are also linked together in such a way that by using Renewable Energy products manufactured in Washington you add a multiplier to your 15 cents per KWH. If your entire system is made in Washington, the multiplier can give you as much as 54 cents per KWH. Renewable Energy is on a strong growth pattern world wide and these bills make Washington much more attractive as Renewable Energy manufacturers think about where to start up or expand. Klickitat County should do everything in its power to be on the top of the list for all of these manufactures. We have the sun, the wind, the trained labor force and near by silica and aluminum that are used so heavily in making renewable energy products.
There are two events for the coming in Klickitat County to help educate and empower residents to take advantage of this new legislation. The first is an energy summit sponsored by KPUD, County Economical Development and the City of Goldendale. It will be held at the KPUD meeting room around the 20th of July. The second is a renewable energy seminar sponsored by WSU learning center, KPUD and others, featuring presenters Jonathan Lewis of Seraphim Electric Company and Ed Kennell of WSU energy extension. This will also be held at KPUD on Aug. 13.
For further reading and information:
House Bill 5101 that deals with RE installation in Washington:
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bills/Session%20Law%202005/5101-S.SL.htm
House Bill 5111 deals with RE manufacturing incentives:
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bills/Session%20Law%202005/5111-S2.SL.htm
Renewable Energy Access has an article summing up the new legislation:
Washington State Passes Progressive Renewable Energy Legislation - Great article at RenewableEnergyAccess.com