California sets new feed-in tariff for solar power

California is heating up its push for clean energy, as Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger approved today a new subsidy for solar power and joined forces with the federal government to fast-track renewable energy projects. California's new solar program guarantees that utilities will pay owners of commercial solar systems -- up to 3 megawatts in size -- a higher price for solar electricity, a subsidy meant to spur development of solar rooftop systems. Currently, if utilities want to charge more than the retail price for such systems they have to ask for permission from regulators. Now the California Public Utilities Commission will set the price. the tariff could be between 15 and 17 cents per kilowatt hour and could help drive as much as 500 MW worth of new commercial rooftop systems in 2010. Schwarzenegger also signed an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Interior on Monday to speed development of up to 7,000 megawatts of large-scale renewable energy projects. California and Ontario lead clean energies development in North America!

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