The Connecticut Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (CEFIA) has launched the second round of project solicitations for its Commercial Solar Hot Water Program.
The program, which has a budget of $2 million, will support approximately 45 solar hot water projects on schools, restaurants, apartments, hospitals and other establishments that use a significant amount of hot water.
The program is designed to facilitate the transition between CEFIA's federally funded Solar Thermal Rebate Program, which ended in April, and a more sustainable long-term program based solely on financing from Connecticut's ratepayers, CEFIA explains.
The program is competitive, so winning projects will be those that use CEFIA's ratepayer funds most efficiently, with priority given to requests for financing, as opposed to outright grants. Projects approved for incentives in the first round, which closed on June 1, included two schools, an industrial plant, a food market and a waterfront resort.
Following this second round of applications, which closes on Aug. 24, there will be two more solicitations, which are expected to close in October and late November. Currently, $450,000 is available for round two, $900,000 has been allocated for round three and $575,000 has been set aside for round four. All projects under this program must be completed by June 30, 2013.
