Energy Rebate Programs Step Back

ST. GEORGE, UTAH -- Rebates for energy efficiency improvements have become increasingly popular in recent months, as people try to save a few bucks in the economic recession, but according to a recent report, the rebates may have been alittle too popular.

The City of St. George Energy Services Department, which blew through the $50,000 it had for an energy efficiency rebate program this year in about six weeks, will lower the rates offered for insulation installation, from 25 cents per square foot to 20 or 30 cents per square foot, as soon as it has the funds to start the program up again.

The move follows on the heels of a similar move by Questar Gas, which announced last week a reduction in insulation rebate rates available through its Thermawise energy efficiency program. Other utilities plan to implement similar reductions.

"Paying attention to what (Questar) had presented, they had some good documentation that supports the argument to lower the rates," said rene Fleming, conservation coordinator for the St. George Energy Services Depeartment.

The program was meant to inspire better energy conservation, and help the city lower its electrical load, especially during the peak months of summer when much of the city uses air conditioning. Instead, people would stack the city rebates on top of the Questar rebates, and sometimes get paid for making the changes.

April 8, 2009 TheSpectrum.com Southern Utah's #1 Source for News and Information

2009-2010 Stimulus Package to include Rebates?

There have been Congress and Senate debates regarding whether rebate programs should be included in the 2009-2010 stimulus package. We will provide updates, so please come back often for further information.

Consumer Energy Tax Incentives

What the Economic Stabilization Bill Means to You

The recently passed Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-343) included, extended and/or amended many consumer tax incentives originally introduced in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT). The bill also included tax incentives for business, utilities, and government.

About Tax Credits

A tax credit is generally more valuable than an equivalent tax deduction because a tax credit reduces tax dollar-for-dollar, while a deduction only removes a percentage of the tax that is owed. Consumers can itemize purchases on their federal income tax form, which will lower the total amount of tax they owe the government.
Fuel-efficient vehicles and energy-efficient appliances and products provide many benefits such as better gas mileage – meaning lower gasoline costs, fewer emissions, lower energy bills, increased indoor comfort, and reduced air pollution.
In addition to federal tax incentives, some consumers will also be eligible for utility or state rebates, as well as state tax incentives for energy-efficient homes, vehicles and equipment. Each state’s energy office web site may have more information on specific state tax information.
Below is a summary of many of the tax credits available to consumers.

Home Energy Efficiency Improvement Tax CreditsConsumers who purchase and install specific products, such as energy-efficient windows, insulation, doors, roofs, and heating and cooling equipment in the home can receive a tax credit of up to $500 for improvements "placed in service" starting January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009.

Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credits

Consumers who install solar electric systems can receive a 30% tax credit for systems placed in service from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2016; the previous tax credit cap of $2,000 no longer applies. In addition, consumers who install small wind systems can receive a tax credit up to $4,000. Geothermal heat pumps also qualify for tax credits up to $2,000.

Automobile Tax Credits

Individuals and businesses who buy or lease a new hybrid gas-electric car or truck are eligible for an income tax credit for vehicles “placed in service” after January 1, 2006 and purchased on or before December 31, 2010. The amount of the credit depends on the fuel economy, the weight of the vehicle, and whether the tax credit has been or is being phased out. Hybrid vehicles that use less gasoline than the average vehicle of similar weight and that meet an emissions standard qualify for the credit. There is a similar credit for alternative-fuel, diesel, and fuel-cell vehicles.
This tax credit will be phased out for each manufacturer once that company has sold 60,000 eligible vehicles. At that point, the tax credit for each company’s vehicles will be gradually reduced over the course of another year.
If individuals and businesses buy more than one vehicle, they are eligible to receive a tax credit for each. If a tax-exempt organization buys such a vehicle, the retailer is also eligible to receive another credit. Companies that buy heavy-duty hybrid trucks are also eligible for a larger tax credit.
Consumers who purchase plug-in electric drive vehicles can also receive a tax credit. The credit for passenger vehicles and light trucks ranges from $2,500 to $7,500 based on the tax code formula.
Taxpayers may claim the full amount of the allowable credit up to the end of the first calendar quarter after the quarter in which the total number of qualified plug-in electric drive vehicles sold in the U.S. exceeds 250,000.

SOURCE: EnergyStar.gov

http://www.energy.gov/taxbreaks.htm

Virginia's [Lack Of] Solar Incentives

Currently, the Commonwealth of Virginia offers little to home and business owners in terms of tax credits or rebates for the purchase and installation of solar energy systems – including solar water/space heating, solar air conditioning and PV systems. When compared with incentives offered neighboring states such as North Carolina and Delaware, Virginia is way behind the curve. North Carolina has one of the most attractive incentive programs in the U.S. offering a 35% corporate tax credit ($2.5 million max) for all commercial PV, solar water heating and solar space heating applications. Similarly, Delaware offers a 50% rebate on all commercial solar water heating, space heating and PV applications.
According to MDV-SEIA (Maryland, DC, and Virginia Solar Energy Industries Association), the Energy Bill (SB-232) passed earlier this year contains a grant program with approximately $300,000 allocated for the program.

Sen. Frank Wagner has been a key proponent of a comprehensive solar energy incentive bill. The Wagner Energy Plan introduced included tax credits for both PV systems and domestic solar water heating systems but failed to pass in the current session. It will once again be proposed in the coming session. Stay tuned for further updates.

Please click here to take action now!

www.solarpanelsplus.com/blog/2007/11/20/virginias-lack-of-solar-incentives

Thank You

I would like to say THANK YOU to solarpowerrocks.com for all their useful information regarding energy tax credits and rebates for all the states in the U.S. I encourage you all to check our their website to gain more knowledge.

http://solarpowerrocks.com/

Wyoming

Solar Legislator Score: *

With the Grand Teton mountains, a corner of Yellowstone park, and lots of wide-open cowboy country, Wyoming has great natural resources that could use some protection. With millions of years of history fossilized in its mountains and prairies, and a phenomenal Native American culture, the state has to stop relying on coal. Making the switch to clean, renewable, solar energy would be the easy choice when it comes to safeguarding the West for future generations. Here’s what the Wyoming legislature has done so far to promote solar power in the state.

STATE LEGISLATION
Well, the Wyoming legislature isn’t really sure what that thing up in the sky is (not the clouds, the other bright shiny thing). Aside from a sales tax rebate for the purchase of commercial or industrial renewable energy generation equipment, and a meager rebate for residential solar systems, Wyoming has missed the boat on clean power. Worse yet, the Wyoming legislature only convenes every 2 years, so there’ll be no action before 2009 – time to start voting for new lawmakers. Oh, and call for a special session of the legislature to get crackin’ on some solar power initiatives.

NET-METERING
Wyoming started its net-metering program in 2001. Under this program, any renewable energy generation system up to 25kW in size is eligible. Each month in which your solar system generates more power than you use earns you a credit toward next month’s bill. At the end of a year-long billing cycle, the utility company will buy any left-over power you’ve generated at their wholesale rate.

STATE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, UTILITY REBATES, UTILITY LOANS, AND UTILITY INCENTIVES
Homeowners can take advantage of a small incentive program for installing a solar electricity system. This rebate is limited to $3,000, or 50% of the system cost.

EXAMPLE 3KW SYSTEM – HOME INSTALLATION COST
Time to install a solar electric system in your Cheyenne home? It’ll cost you about $49,500 (but don’t forget the $3,000 state rebate and the $2,000 federal tax credit – that will lower your bill to $44,500). With a state solar rating of Great, and average usage of 1,300kWh/month at $0.1023/kWh, your system will pay for itself in just 4 to 16 years. Even better, you’ll save about $1,168 to $2,385 each year on your electric bill. Your savings will rise too, since within the next 25 years, your conventional electricity rate is estimated to go up to $0.145/kWh. Still not enough to get you excited? Here are some more important thoughts to keep in mind:
550 square feet of roof area required
Estimated utility savings over 25 years of $29,205 to $59,633
$13,920 to $28,423 estimated property value increase
You’ll be keeping 341 tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere – that’s equal to planting 1001 trees or taking 60 cars off the road!

CONSENSUS
Well, what do you expect from a state whose governor, Dave Freudenthal, said at the World Energy Congress , “One thing that struck me was the extent to which Europe and the U.S. have invested a fair amount of government subsidies into particularly the wind resource as an alternative fuel, yet they have not made the similar commitment on the baseload fuels which turn out to be primarily coal and nuclear power.” Doesn’t Governor Freudenthal realize that the great plains used to be an inland sea? If he keeps promoting coal and nuclear energy, we all may get to experience what that Jurassic ocean was like. In short, Wyoming has a dismal record when it comes to solar power. Now’s the time to make a change; let’s brighten up the Wyoming renewable energy market.

http://www.solarpowerrocks.com/wyoming/

Wisconsin

Solar Legislator Score: ****

To be eligible for these incentives and grants, your home, business or organization must purchase electricity or natural gas from a Wisconsin utility participating in the Focus on Energy Program. Eligibility information is available on the Web site at focusonenergy.com, or by calling the Information Center at 800.762.7077.

Site Assessment Programs
Site assessments are designed to give business owners site-specific information about how solar electric, solar thermal or wind electric systems can help meet their energy needs. A facility site assessment typically costs $400 to $600 for one technology. Businesses located in the Focus on Energy territory can receive 50 percent off a commercial site assessment.
A residential renewable energy site assessment typically costs $300 to $400. Homeowners located in the Focus on Energy territory can receive this service by paying just 40 percent of the cost; Focus on Energy pays the remaining 60 percent.

REBATES
Rebates or “Cash-Back Rewards” as Wisconsin likes to call them are available for installing or expanding commercially available renewable energy systems. Rewards vary by renewable energy system type, size and by the amount of energy the system is expected to produce.
Solar electric (PV) systems: Rewards for systems with a capacity of 20 kW or less can fund up to 25 percent of the project cost, with a maximum reward of $35,000. Incentives for nonprofit or local government projects may be approved for up to 35 percent, with a maximum reward of $50,000.
Solar hot water systems: Rewards can fund up to 25 percent of the project cost, with a maximum reward of $2,500 for small systems and a maximum reward of $35,000 for systems that produce over 250 therms per year. Incentives for nonprofit or local government projects may be approved for up to 35 percent, with a maximum reward of $50,000.
Wind energy systems: Rewards for systems with a capacity of 20 kW or less can fund up to 25 percent of the project cost, with a maximum reward of $35,000.
Non-residential biomass combustion systems: Rewards can fund up to 25 percent of the project cost, with a maximum reward of $10,000.
Solar bonus for homes: Owners of Wisconsin ENERGY STAR®Homes and existing homes that have participated in the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program are eligible for a $500 bonus toward the cost of their solar electric or solar hot water system.

GRANTS
Businesses and organizations are eligible for Focus Grants if they purchase natural gas or electricity from a participating Wisconsin utility.

Business & Marketing Grant
These grants provide financial support to organizations and businesses that provide renewable energy services for developing their business plans and marketing materials. Focus on Energy can fund up to 50 percent of these project costs, up to a maximum of $10,000.

Feasibility Study Grant
These grants provide financial support for feasibility studies to determine whether renewable energy systems will work for you. The grant is intended to increase the ability of businesses and organizations to make informed decisions about using renewable energy systems by understanding and solving technical uncertainties. Focus on Energy can fund up to 50 percent of these project costs, up to a maximum of $10,000.

Implementation Grant
These grants provide financial support for developing large renewable energy systems with a capacity greater than 20 kW or 5,000 therms per year. The chart below summarizes the qualifying systems.

Development Grant
These grants provide financial support for large projects that are not eligible for Implementation Grants. These grants co-fund complex feasibility studies, environmental permitting, financing and other developmental activities. Focus on Energy can fund up to 50 percent of the project
costs, up to a maximum of $50,000.

Grant applications are due at noon on the last Wednesday of every month. If your application is received after noon, it will be considered the following month. Grant applications may be submitted to the Renewable Energy Grant Committee by email to renewableapplications@focusonenergy.com, by fax to 608.249.0339, or by mail to Focus on Energy, 431 Charmany Drive, Madison, WI 53719.

http://www.solarpowerrocks.com/wisconsin/