Ohio

Solar Legislator Score: ***

Update 4/5/08 : “The Governor of Ohio, Ted Strickland, has ended the Residential renewable energy grant, which has virtually pulled the rug out from under us. The cost of Solar/Wind is prohibitive without a rebate. We are concentrating our efforts to commercial businesses, farms and small rural businesses for now.” I will update this state page soon. I am very busy.
On August 29, 2007, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland announced his Energy, Jobs and Progress Plan, an initiative which includes an “Advanced Energy Portfolio Standard” requiring at least 25 percent of the electricity sold in Ohio to be generated from renewable and advanced energy technologies by 2025. No less than half of that energy will come from renewable sources, including biomass, wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, and hydro power. Unfortunately, there were no specific numbers allocated to solar power sources. State Bill 221 is working its way through the state’s legislative system; the Senate’s version of the bill was unveiled on October 26, 2007, and seems to be moving closer to becoming state law. There is good news favoring the bill’s passage from a commissioned analysis by ICF International released in July 2007. The study concludes that requiring Ohio utility companies to meet the new standards (which are similar to those in neighboring Pennsylvania) will result in a negligible increase in wholesale electrical prices.

STATE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, UTILITY REBATES, UTILITY LOANS, AND UTILITY INCENTIVESSince 1978, the Ohio Department of Development has offered 100% property and sales tax exemptions to businesses who utilize solar and other renewable energy technologies. Through a grant program described at http://www.odod.state.oh.us/cdd/oee/elfgrant.htm, the ODOD subsidizes Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Photovoltaics, and a variety of other alternative energy solutions for just about every type of user, including residential. Awards can be up to $3.50 per watt with a maximum grant award of $25,000 per residence. Incentive funds are limited, and a number of conditions apply, including the requirement that service must be provided by one of the four following investor-owned utilities: American Electric Power, Duke Energy, Dayton Power & Light, and First Energy.

CONSENSUS
Ohio’s pending Advanced Energy Portfolio Standard is a move in the right direction to reducing the state’s dependency on fossil fuels, but of little direct benefit to homeowners. The primary incentive for residential conversion to renewable energy sources will be the state’s Energy Loan Fund (ELF) grants, which can provide a significant benefit to homeowners planning solar installations – up to $25,000. Wouldn’t it be nice, though, if owners of solar-powered residences were rewarded with property tax relief? This and sales tax relief have been available to businesses for decades.

http://www.solarpowerrocks.com/ohio/