Vermont and four other New England states are going to be working together to reduce the costs of solar power.
The Vermont Public Service Departments says the state will be working with Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island to reduce non-hardware costs for photovoltaic electricity.
The efforts will be coordinated by a national nonprofit group called the Clean Energy States Alliance. The group works with state and federal agencies, industry leaders, and others to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. It has been awarded $1.5 million under the U.S. Department of Energy's SunShot Initiative Rooftop Solar Challenge II program.
The award will help the states address a range of barriers to the use of solar panels, including permitting, financing and variations in local planning and zoning rules.
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