Today, California’s Governor Schwarzenegger approved a bill creating a state-wide feed in tariff (FIT) for small commercial/industrial solar installations (1.5-3 MW). The FIT’s rate of $0.15-17/kWh is hardly on par with rates from other FIT programs, both internationally and domestically (VT, MI). Still, as Dow Jones news reports,

Supporters of the legislation, including the California Solar Energy Industries Association, said the bill’s feed-in tariff will be high enough for schools, local governments, farms, warehouses and other low-cost property owners to take advantage of it.

California electric utilities will now be required to purchase the energy generated by these small systems at the FIT rates.