Idaho Solar Rebates and Incentives
Solar Rebate and Incentive Programs
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Idaho Rebates and Incentives Summary
While Idaho usually isn’t associated with a warm climate, it does have plenty of sunshine. The amount of sunny days most Idaho cities have is above the national average, making it an ideal place to set up solar panels for your home. Idaho has been given a rating of “Great” for having enough sunlight to make home solar energy systems pay for themselves in a reasonable amount of time; generally, most systems generating at least 3 kilowatt-hours of electricity can pay for themselves in about 20 years.
To promote the use of solar power, Idaho offers personal tax exemptions, as well as sales tax rebates and rebates on site assessments for solar energy systems. When combined with federal tax incentives, you can reduce the costs of installation by about 40 percent, and have your solar energy system completely paid for within two decades.
In order to take advantage of the tax deductions and rebates offered by Idaho, you will need around 550 square feet of rooftop space for the solar panels, and most people installing these systems have seen property-value increases of several thousand dollars.
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Residential Alternative Energy Tax Deduction
The Residential Alternative Energy Tax Deduction is offered for a variety of green technologies, including solar power. This allows you to deduct 40 percent of the cost of a home solar energy system from your taxes the first year, and 20 percent the following years, for up to three years. You can claim a maximum deduction of $5000 in any given year, for a total maximum of $20,000. You or your contractor will have to compile documentation to be eligible for the deduction.Program Type Personal Tax Deduction Technologies Photovoltaics, Solar Space Heat, Passive Solar Space Heat, Solar Hot Water Heating Amount 40 percent for the first year, and 20 percent per year for the following three years Required Documentation Dependent on method of installation (either you or your contractor) Official Web Site http://legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/Title63/T63CH30SECT63-3022C.htm One of the best things about this tax deduction is that it can be combined with federal alternative energy tax breaks that can allow you deductions of up to 30 percent of the cost of the system, with no limit on the amount; so even if your solar panel system exceeds $20,000, you can still enjoy federal tax deductions.
This particular deduction is claimed on the Idaho Supplemental Schedule, Form 39R, and you can contact the Idaho State Tax Commission at http://tax.idaho.gov for more details.
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Renewable Energy Sales Tax Refund
Program Type Sales Tax Incentive Technologies Photovoltaics, Solar Thermal Electric Amount 100 Percent Required Documentation Mail-in rebate request Official Web Site http://www3.state.id.us/cgi-bin/newidst?sctid=630360022QQ.K This sales tax incentive allows Idaho residents to completely deduct the sales tax value of solar energy equipment, although in order to qualify, the equipment must be capable of generating 25 kilowatts (kW) of energy, meaning that while it may be practical for some businesses, some residential solar power systems may not qualify.
This rebate requires that you pay sales tax for the purchase of the equipment, and you must also provide documentation that the solar power system generates at least 25 kW of electricity. This documentation must come from a public utilities company, a cooperative utility, a municipal utility, or the Idaho Public Utilities Commission. After that, you can file a request with the Idaho State Tax Commission to receive a refund, as long as it is within three years of when you installed the equipment.
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Solar Electric System Site Assessment Program
Program Type Rebate Technologies Photovoltaics, Solar Thermal Electric Amount $175 Required Documentation Mail-in Rebate Request Official Web Site www.idahosolar.org This program allows you to get a rebate of up to $175 for having a qualified solar power installer assess your home for the cost of installing a solar energy system. This rebate is a great (and free) way to see if solar power is right for you.
The website http://www.idahosolar.org contains a list of installers that are covered by this rebate. Since part of the goal of the rebate program is to encourage the installation of 5,000 new solar energy systems in Idaho homes by the end of the year, assessments on existing systems will not qualify you for the rebate.
For more information on the program, contact the Idaho Energy Division at (208) 287-4898.
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Idaho Solar Power Financial Incentives
Financial Incentives
Personal Deduction
Private Grant Program
Production Incentive
Property Tax Exemption
Sales Tax Refund
State Bond Program
State Loan Program
Utility Loan Program
- Idaho Falls Power - Commercial Energy Conservation Program
- Idaho Falls Power - Zero Interest Loan Programs
Utility Rebate Program
- Avista Utilities - Commercial HVAC Variable Frequency Drive Initiative
- Avista Utilities - Commercial Lighting Energy Efficiency Program
- Avista Utilities - LED Traffic Signal Incentive Program
- Avista Utilities - LEED (NC or EB) Certification Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
- Avista Utilities - Power Management for Personal Computer (PC) Networks
- Avista Utilities - Premium Efficiency Motors Program
- Avista Utilities - Residential Home Improvement and New Home Construction Energy Efficiency Incentives
- Avista Utilities - Supermarket and Grocery Store Refrigeration Rebates
- Idaho Power - Building Efficiency for Commercial Construction Rebate Program
- Idaho Power - Commercial Custom Efficiency Rebate Program
- Idaho Power - Easy Upgrades for Simple Retrofits Rebate Program
- Idaho Power - Irrigation Efficiency Rewards Rebate Program
- Idaho Power - Rebate Advantage for New Manufactured Homes
- Idaho Power - Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Programs
- Intermountain Gas Company (IGC) - Gas Heating Rebate Program
- Kootenai Electric Cooperative - Residential Efficiency Rebate Program
- Rocky Mountain Power - FinAnswer Express
- Rocky Mountain Power - Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
Rules, Regulations & Policies
Building Energy Code
Energy Standards for Public Buildings
Net Metering
Solar Access Law/Guideline
Related Programs & Initiatives
Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center
The U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center (AFDC) provides a wide range of information and resources to enable the use of alternative fuels and other petroleum-reduction options, such as advanced vehicles, fuel blends, idle reduction and fuel economy. The AFDC site offers a database of state and federal laws and incentives related to alternative fuels and vehicles, air quality, fuel efficiency, and other transportation-related topics.
The U.S. Department of Energy's Green Power Network provides news and information on green power markets and activities, including opportunities to buy green power. This site provides state-by-state information on green power marketing and utility green power programs. In addition, the site lists marketers of renewable energy credits (RECs), also known as green tags or renewable energy certificates, which represent the environmental attributes of the power produced from renewable energy projects.
Weatherization Assistance Program
The U.S. Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) enables low-income families to reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy-efficient. Through this program, weatherization service providers install energy-efficiency measures in the homes of qualifying homeowners free of charge. The WAP program web site offers a state-by-state map of opportunities, projects and activities.
The U.S. Department of Energy's Wind Powering America site provides state-by-state information on wind projects and activities, including wind working groups, validated wind maps, anemometer loan programs, small wind guides, state-specific news, wind for schools, workshops and web casts.
