DTE Picks Projects For Another Megawatt Of Solar Power
DETROIT (WWJ) -- DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE) has selected another 122 solar energy projects in the third expansion of the SolarCurrents customer-owned pilot program.
SolarCurrents set two rounds of 1 megawatt each of new solar projects to be completed by Dec. 31. In the first round, for 1 megawatt, a random drawing became necessary after DTE customers submitted 219 applications representing nearly 1.7 megawatts.
Projects that lost out this time can reapply for the next 1-megawatt offering, which starts June 23, with a July 23 application deadline.
SolarCurrents offers customers a more affordable way to install solar photovoltaic systems on their homes and businesses. DTE offers financial incentives under the program in exchange for receiving the solar energy tax credits homeowners and business owners would receive for installing solar. For residential units, the incentive is 20 cents a watt for installation, and 3 cents a kilowatt-hour for all power generated by the system. For commercial units, the numbers are 13 cents a watt and 2 cents a kilowatt-hour.
Offering 3 incentives were awarded to 103 residential projects, representing 753 kilowatts (kW) and ranging in size from 1 to 20 kW. Those projects will be built in 11 counties in Southeastern Michigan.
In addition, 19 small business projects, representing 261 kW, will be built in eight counties in Southeastern Michigan. Those projects range in size from 2 to 20 kW.
In the first phase of the SolarCurrents program, which was fully subscribed in 2011, nearly 600 solar energy projects were built that represented a total of 5 megawatts of capacity.
The first three offerings of SolarCurrents Phase 2 bring DTE Energy within 500 kW of the program goal of 2 MW of additional solar by the end of 2015.
See www.dteenergy.com/solar for more information.
