Virgin Islands Solar Rebates And Incentives

The Virgin Islands Energy Office currently offers rebates to residents and small businesses for purchasing a wide variety of energy efficiency and renewable energy products. Rebates are available for air purifiers, ceiling fans, clothes dryers, clothes washers, commercial and residential dishwashers, commercial and residential freezers, computers, dehumidifiers, doors, gas tankless water heaters, heat pump water heaters, imaging equipment, light fixtures, outdoor solar lighting, portable power stations with solar panels, refrigerators, roof coating, skylights, smart thermostats, solar water heaters, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), ventilation fans, water coolers, windows, and more.

 

Eligibility and Availability

As of June 2017, the 15 MW aggregate capacity limit for net metering in the Virgin Islands was reached, and the program was closed to new applicants. The prior net metering rules were later replaced by Net Energy Billing. While Title 12 of the Virgin Islands Code provided the basis for the prior net metering rules, the current Net Energy Billing rules are not codified in the Code. But it is generally understood that the Net Energy Billing rules apply to the same types of systems addressed in Title 12 of the Virgin Islands Code, namely systems

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The primary goal of the NEB program is to provide access to the energy-saving benefits of Distributed Energy Resources to grid-connected customers while ensuring VIWAPA maintains cost recovery for its fixed assets across the grid. While the original NEM program provided an opportunity to establish a solar market in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the rate structure of the program provided incentives that were ultimately deemed overly generous to the consumer. As an alternative, The new NEB program was developed as a balanced compromise between the Utility and individuals who are interested in installing Distributed Energy Resources (such as

Eligible Technologies

Photovoltaic Energy, wind energy, hydroelectric energy, landfill gas, biomass, ocean and microturbine systems.

Requirements

In July 2009, the Virgin Islands (USVI) passed Act 7075. Among other provisions, the legislation establishes that the "peak demanded generating capacity" of the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority* must be from renewables according to the following schedule:

• 20% by January 1, 2015
• 25% by January 1, 2020
• 30% by January 1, 2025

It further establishes that a "majority" of this generating capacity must come from renewables or alternative technologies beyond 2025. Joint rulemaking is to be undertaken by the Virgin Islands Energy

In the U.S. Virgin Islands, the owner of a solar or wind-energy system is permitted to negotiate for assurance of continued access to the system’s energy source. "Solar or wind-energy system" is defined as "any system that converts, stores, collects, protects or distributes the kinetic energy of the sun or wind into mechanical, chemical or electrical energy to provide power generation for the heating of water, the heating and cooling of buildings or other structures, and other similar purposes."

Furthermore, any covenant, condition or restriction contained in any deed, contract, mortgage, security instrument or other instrument pertaining to a conveyance

In July 2009 the U.S. Virgin Islands enacted legislation creating Act 7075. This legislation requires that all new developments and substantial building modifications install energy efficient solar water heaters to provide at least 70% of the building's water heating needs. This is for all building types: residential, commercial and governmental.

The Department of Planning and Natural Resources may provide a waiver if a significant cost burden is shown. The Department will verify compliance with this requirement at the time development, construction and/or building permits are reviewed.

 

 

AB 7586 establishes that renewable energy system must be counted as personal/chattel property instead of real property for tax purposes. Renewable energy systems do, however, count as real property for insurance purposes.