Ten Million Solar Roofs Bill Moves Forward in Senate

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders’ Ten Million Solar Roofs bill was approved this week by the Senate Energy Committee and now can move forward to a full Senate vote.   With the Committee’s approval, Sen. Sanders has asked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to include the bill in the comprehensive energy legislation that Sen Reid is trying to get passed this summer.

The Sanders bill would give rebates for smaller solar projects – under two megawatts in capacity.    It’s designed to push individual and smaller localized solar power, create jobs, reduce the cost of solar power technology, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  The bill proposes rebates for these smaller solar projects, in the amount of $1.75 per watt in 2010 and 2011, with lower rebates going forward.   The rebates would cover about half of the project costs that would remain after current federal and local incentives are taken into account.