Energy Office Funds Still Available for Solar Water Heaters

Residents interested in getting financial help to buy a solar hot water heater should do so now, while the V.I. Energy Office still has money left in its Sun Power loan/rebate program.

“There’s no money upfront. That’s how you get in the door,” Energy Office spokesman Don Buchanan said.

The no-money-down loans of up to $3,500 are financed through the Economic Development Authority at a 1 percent fixed interest rate over five years and are repaid through borrowers' V.I. Water and Power Authority bills. Rebates of up to $2,500 are available in conjunction with the loan program.

The program has helped 626 residents across the territory, Buchanan said.

While he didn’t have a figure for the money left in the program, he said there’s enough to fund about 100 applications on St. Croix and another 100 on St. Thomas/St. John.

There is currently no program that gives rebates alone for solar hot water heaters, Buchanan said. Residents must buy them under the Sun Power loan/rebate program.

While the current funding is running out, Buchanan said the Energy Office hopes to replenish the fund.

The Energy Office has other programs to help residents. Buchanan said that a program to help residents replace their appliances with those that are energy efficient helps them purchase refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, air-conditioners, and heat pumps.