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• Introduced by Sen. Phil Rockefeller, (D-Kitsap County) (D) on January 20, 2010, limits the eligibility of community solar projects for cost recovery incentives to projects with a maximum instantaneous output of 2 megawatts of electricity or less.. An LLC owning a community solar project may submit one incentive application on behalf of each member of the company. Each member of the LLC is eligible for an incentive payment up to $5,000 per year.
  • Referred to the Senate Environment, Water & Energy Committee on January 20, 2010.
    • Substitute offered in the Senate on February 4, 2010, to require community solar projects with multiple owners to delegate one owner as a single point of contact when applying for a cost recovery incentive. Requires all renewable projects participating in the cost recovery program to be located in Washington. Lowers the maximum size of an eligible community solar project from 2 MW to 100 kW. Clarifies that co- owners of a community solar project are only entitled to incentive payments in proportion to each ownership share. The substitute passed in the Senate by voice vote on February 4, 2010.
  • Referred to the Senate Rules Committee on February 4, 2010.
    • Amendment offered by Sen. Phil Rockefeller, (D-Kitsap County) (D) on February 16, 2010, making changes to references for solar systems. The amendment passed in the Senate by voice vote on February 16, 2010.
• Passed in the Senate (48 to 0) on February 16, 2010, to rpovide that only community solar projects with a maximum instantaneous output of 100 kW electricity or less are eligible to receive cost-recovery incentive payments; however, community solar projects that have received all required government permits and begin construction by December 31, 2010, may have a capacity greater than 100 kW. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the House on February 17, 2010.
  • Referred to the House Technology, Energy, and Communications Committee on February 17, 2010.
    • Amendment offered in the House on February 22, 2010, increases the maximum instantaneous output of a community solar project from 100 kilowatts to one megawatt. The amendment removes provisions that specify that a community solar project owned by a LLC may have a maximum instantaneous output of more than 100 kilowatts of electricity, if the project has received all required government permits and approvals and begins construction by December 31, 2010. The bill specifies that a LLC is eligible for only one incentive payment up to $5,000 per year rather than each member of a LLC receiving a payment up to $5,000 per year. The bill also makes changes to the net metering law that includes increasing the electricity generating capacity of a net metering system from 100 kilowatts to one megawatt and providing for virtual net metering. The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on February 22, 2010.
  • Referred to the House Rules Committee on February 24, 2010.