McCoy’s bill encourages solar power for hot-water heaters

Bill targets retail customers of light, power, and gas companies

February 13, 2009

OLYMPIA – Starting this coming August, smart energy shoppers might just find at least a little extra cash in their wallets and purses.
Sponsored by a Snohomish County lawmaker, legislation just introduced here directs that a light and power business or a gas company could provide rebates to its retail customers who install a solar-powered system to operate hot-water heaters in their homes or businesses.
The solar-powered system for running a hot-water heater would need to have a solar-rating certification no older than Aug. 1, 2009.
State Rep. John McCoy, D-Tulalip, said his measure (House Bill 2185) reflects the fact that these systems can provide as much as 50 percent of the hot water for use in an average home.
“The solar systems reduce the amount of electricity and natural gas that ends up being used,” McCoy explained. “In solar power, what we’re talking about is free and renewable energy. The use of solar power is a huge and untapped source of savings in the use of electricity and natural gas.”
Terms of the measure direct that the amount of the rebate cannot exceed 75 percent of total costs the customer pays to install a solar hot-water heating system. A light and power business or gas company would need to set a tiered amount based on the efficiency of the system of using solar power to operate a hot-water heater.
Other terms of McCoy’s bill direct that no individual, household, business, or local government would be eligible for rebates of more than $5,000 a year.
Light and power businesses and gas companies could also establish a grant program to assist their retail customers with the installation of the solar systems.
“Our state’s growing population is putting a severe strain on energy supplies,” said McCoy. “We need to face the fact that we can’t meet our goals for dealing with climate change unless we implement programs such as the one laid out in this legislation.
“We’ve got to reduce demand and utilize energy more efficiently – it’s that simple,” he added.
Today in the state of Washington, water heating for domestic and industrial use relies almost totally on electricity and natural gas. It accounts for a big part of the state’s electrical and natural-gas consumption.
The legislation is awaiting consideration in the House Technology, Energy & Communications Committee, which is chaired by McCoy.