Middle Income Nutmeggers Have New Solar Power Option

Seen at GreenUpgrader:

On Friday, the Governor M. Jodi Rell, unveiled the Connecticut Solar Lease Program.  The program is run by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF), and it is the first of its kind here in the US.  By pulling together a number of rebates and tax credits, the CCEF is able to lease solar energy systems to CT residence for a relatively low fixed monthly rate. 

To qualify for the program, Connecticut residents must pass a credit check, be below 150% of the areas median income, and install it on a 1-4 family owner occupied structure.   Depending on your homes energy needs and the installation needs, some systems can be as little as $50 a month while others could run over $200.  They estimate that for a typical home with a 15 year lease will pay about $120 a month. 

The website for the program is at ctsolarlease.com, where one can find income eligibility caps and an online application.

I could quibble with the eligibility criteria (e.g., the cap is higher in Fairfield County than in Hartford County), and I notice a certain lack of information on who might be funding any subsidies or guarantees for the program…but really this is a cool idea: getting longer-term, sustainable energy options into the hands of folks who probably could use extra help in doing so.