Sec. 4. 35-A MRSA §3211-A, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 624, §4, is amended to read:

5. Conservation program and solar incentive fund. The commission shall establish a conservation program fund to be used solely for conservation programs and the promotion and installation of qualified solar energy systems in homes and businesses.

A. The commission shall deposit all assessments collected pursuant to this section, other than funds deposited in the administration fund, into the program fund.

B. Any interest earned on funds in the program fund must be credited to the program fund.

C. Funds not spent in any fiscal year remain in the program fund to be used for conservation programs and the promotion and installation of qualified solar energy systems in homes and businesses.

D. The commission may apply for and receive grants from state, federal and private sources for deposit in the program fund and also may deposit in the program fund any grants or other funds received by or from any entity with which the commission has an agreement or contract pursuant to this section if the commission determines that receipt of those funds would be consistent with the purposes of this section. If the commission receives any funds pursuant to this paragraph, it shall establish a separate account within the program fund to receive the funds and shall keep those funds and any interest earned on those funds segregated from other funds in the program fund.

Sec. 5. 35-A MRSA §3211-A, sub-§5-B is enacted to read:

5-B.__Solar energy rebate program.__An owner or tenant of residential or commercial property located in the State who installs a qualified solar energy system that will be connected to the electrical grid is entitled to a rebate, to the extent that funds are available.__Funding for the solar energy rebate is from the program fund in an amount up to $500,000 per year.

A.__A solar photovoltaic system, as defined in subsection 1, paragraph I, subparagraph (1), that is installed by a master