§ 8–1774.09. Renewable energy incentive program.
(a) There is established a rebate program that shall provide funding to the owners of the following new renewable energy generation systems in the District of Columbia:
(1) Solar photovoltaic;
(2) Solar thermal;
(3) Geothermal;
(4) Wind;
(5) Biomass; and
(6) Methane or waste-gas capture.
(b) The program shall provide funding in the following amounts:
(1) The amount of $3 for each of the first 3,000 installed watts or watt-equivalents of capacity;
(2) The amount of $2 for each of the next 7,000 installed watts or watt-equivalents of capacity; and
(3) The amount of $1 for each of the next 10,000 installed watts or watt-equivalents of capacity.
(c) The program shall be administered by DOEE and shall operate until the end of fiscal year 2012.
(d) The program shall receive funding from the SETF as set forth in § 8-1774.10.
(e) DOEE shall allocate 1/2 of the funds available annually every 6 months.
(f) DOEE shall only fund systems installed in the District of Columbia.
(g) Applications shall be considered and approved or rejected in the order in which they are received. Rebate payments shall be awarded immediately upon receipt by DOEE of the invoice for the purchase of the renewable energy generating equipment.
(h)(1) An owner shall have 6 months from the date of the approval of its rebate application to complete the installation.
(2) DOEE shall visit each project site to verify the completion of each project upon the earlier of 14 days of notification by the owner of the completion of the project or 6 months after DOEE approves the project for funding. If the project has not been completed, the DOEE may, in its discretion, allow the owner up to an additional 6 months to complete the installation. If the owner fails to complete the installation within the period allowed under paragraph (1) of this subsection, it shall return the amount of the rebate within 30 days after the expiration of such period. If the owner fails to return the rebate money within 30 days after the expiration of such period, this subsection shall constitute a lien on all of the property, real or personal, of the owner to secure repayment of the rebate.
(i) Within 90 days after October 22, 2008, the DOEE shall post, and update monthly, on the website required by § 8-1774.06, information about the rebate program, including:
(1) The date that funds shall be made available;
(2) A printable copy of the rebate application determined by DOEE;
(3) The amount of rebate funds remaining to be awarded; and
(4) The amount of rebate funds awarded.
(j) The application form for the rebate shall be substantially the same as the application for the analogous program in use in Maryland as of the date of the program.
(k) Within 90 days after October 22, 2008, the DOEE shall define a method for converting the heating and cooling capacity of solar thermal and geothermal systems to kilowatt equivalents to permit such systems to qualify for rebates under this program.
(l) Subject to the limitations in subsection (b) of this section, the Mayor may issue guidelines that adjust the rebate amounts of the incentive program to reflect market conditions and the prevailing prices of renewable energy systems.
(m) DOEE may pay for the installation of monitoring and communications systems, for collecting generation data from renewable energy systems funded by the rebate program and transmitting it to a designated web site; provided, that the system owner shall permit the DOEE to make the data publicly accessible on the DOEE website.