While a feed-in tariff is a radically simpler way to provide renewable energy generation incentives, Washington State has recently increased their state-based incentives for solar electricity generation from solar PV. The base incentive has been doubled to 30 cents per kilo-watt hour (kWh) – on top of net metering – and 25% of their incentive program is set aside for "community solar," defined as "solar energy systems owned by local entities and placed on local government property."
The payment program does not guaranteed interconnection or a power sales contract (since it uses net metering) and the payments only last for 11 years, but the increased focus on community ownership and local panel production recognize that locally owned renewable energy systems create more jobs and generate greater economic impact than absentee owned projects.
