In 2008, Governor John Lynch signed HB1628 into law, giving a one-time incentive payment to residential RE-electric projects. Under the new law, photovoltaic, wind, and microhydro systems will qualify for $3 per watt or 50% of system costs, whichever is less, with a payment cap of $6,000. To qualify, systems must be operational after July 1, 2008, less than 5 kW in size, and located on the owner’s property. The Public Utilities Commission is expected to begin distributing payments in July 2009 on a first-come, first-served basis. The fund is established by payments from utilities as an alternative to meeting the state’s renewable energy portfolio laws.
