States Set for Stimulation

Photo credit: Sky Power

Stimulus money is getting ready to pull out to hungry states, and we’re beginning to see where a good deal of that money is going to go. We know that the money is designed for general arenas like energy efficiency, renewable energy, infrastructure, etc. But until recently states and renewable energy advocates had largely been playing the waiting game as the great economic driver — as the stimulus is touted to be — rolled into motion.

At last we are getting some real dollar amounts at the federal and state level, including over $467 million in direct federal funding for solar and geothermal research and development. Stateside, action plans are forming in several states, with an oft heavy focus on solar power. Following are some quick examples (with links to follow) of how some states are handling the influx of energy funding:

Colorado – Nearly $21 million is due to be wired to the Colorado division of the Bureau of Land Management for 103 improvement projects in Rocky Mountain State. The bulk of the funding will go to capital improvement projects, including several solar power installations. The rest will go to land maintenance, habitat rehabilitation, and clean up at abandoned mines.

Virginia – Virginia will receive $70 million in stimulus money from the Department of Energy for funding energy programs. More than half of that sum will go to funding the development of solar and wind energy systems. Of the $39 million for renewable energy, one-third will go to schools and government, another third to state-owned buildings (universities, prisons), and the final third to fund rebates for homeowners and businesses who install solar or wind systems.

Tennessee – Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen has a two-fold plan for spending his state’s $62 million allotment of stimulus funds. The plan includes the new Tennessee Solar Institute, which will focus on solar energy research and development. Second comes a new 5 MW solar PV plant along Interstate 40 — a rather high profile spot. The new plant would be largest of its kind in Tennessee to date.

Minnesota – It’s a “solar energy revolution in Minnesota” said state Senator Ellen Anderson as her state kicked off new solar incentives for homes, businesses, schools, and government agencies. At least $25 million in stimulus funds will help finance the aggressive changes to the state’s solar policies.

Ohio – A Perrysburg solar panel manufacturer, Willard & Kelsey Solar Group, will get $10 million of Ohio’s allotment of solar funding as the thin-film maker begins plans to expand its manufacturing lines. The expansion could create up 3,500 high-paying jobs in Ohio.

Posted on June 12th in Solar Funding by Dan.