Associated Press: Homeowners and businesses are tapping a state fund designed to encourage them to install solar panels at a far quicker pace than officials first anticipated. In less than a year, the Commonwealth Solar program granted nearly $15 million in rebates out of an initial $17 million block of funding that was supposed to last until next April. Energy Resources Commissioner Phil Giudice said a second $17 million block of funding has already been approved. He also said the state is …