Missouri Solar Rebates and Incentives
Missouri has plenty of famous landmarks, from the St. Louis Arch to the lush Ozarks. So why not make the state famous for leading the way toward clean energy in the southern United States, as well? While some programs have been set up to help guide Missouri to increased solar power usage, the state still has a ways to go to catch up with some of its neighbors. By 2020, 11 percent of Missouri’s energy needs are to be met by renewable sources, but the legislature has not determined which sources will count toward this goal.
Net metering has recently become available for homeowners with solar panels, and applies to any photovoltaic system 100 kW or less. The energy you generate pays off as credits on the following month’s energy bill, but unfortunately, excess credits are donated to the utility company at the end of the year. Additionally, Missouri offers personal tax deductions for homeowners, loans for schools and institutions, and rebate programs for using solar energy equipment through some utilities companies.
Solar Rebate and Incentive Programs
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AmerenUE Photovoltaic Rebate Program
Program Type Rebate Technologies Photovoltaics Amount $2.00 per watt Required Documentation Receipts for equipment Official Web Site http://www.ameren.com/sites/aue/source/Renewable/Pages/ADC_AmerenUERenewable
AmerenUE, along with some other Missouri utilities companies, offer rebate programs for using photovoltaic energy. If you have a solar energy system generating less than 100 kW, you can receive $2.00 for each watt of direct current your system generates, for rebates of up to $50,000 per year. This program is open to any AmerenUE customer in good standing with the company.
Your solar energy system must consist of new equipment permanently installed on your property, and the equipment must have been put in after Jan. 1, 2010. Your module and inverter components must have warranties of at least 10 years, and all equipment must conform to federal, state, and local guidelines, as well as being certified of being operated for at least 10 years.
Unlike some of Missouri’s net metering programs, you retain all solar renewable energy certificates generated under this program. Check out the web site and Missouri’s 2008 Proposition C, the legislation that made this program available, for more information.
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Energy Loan Program
Program Type State Loan Program Technologies Many, including Photovoltaics and Passive Solar Heating Amount Up to $1 million Required Documentation Loan application available through the Missouri Department of Revenue Official Web Site http://www.dnr.mo.gov/energy/financial/loan.htm While homeowners cannot enjoy the loans available through this program, you can encourage your child’s school or your local government to apply for a loan through the Missouri Energy Loan Program. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources offers loans of up to $1 million to public institutions to install energy efficient and renewable energy equipment. These loans have 0 percent interest, and only a 1 percent loan origination fee, so they could be a great way to make your community greener. The repayment schedule varies for each project, but must be within 10 years of the loan origination.
Generally, $10 million in loans are available each year, and the application period runs between July 1 and October 15. If the loans are not exhausted by the end of the review period, loans larger than $1 million will be considered. Contact your city government and express your interest in this program, along with the state legislature to make these helpful programs available to individual residents.
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Tax Deduction for Energy Efficiency Improvements
Program Type Personal Tax Deduction Technologies Specific technologies not specified, but includes energy audits and equipment installed on
the recommendation of these audits
Amount 100 percent, up to $1,000 per return, $2,000 total Required Documentation Missouri Department of Revenue Form MO-HEA, available on website Official Web Site http://www.dnr.mo.gov/energy/residential/homeenergyaudits.htm Until Dec. 31, 2013, Missouri homeowners can take advantage of a generous tax deduction that covers both energy efficiency audits and any equipment installed based on the recommendation of these audits. Since the exact equipment covered by this deduction is not specifically stated, most improvements could apply, including many appliances, but fortunately for green energy fans, photovoltaic cells and passive solar heating equipment can fall under this deduction as well.
The MO-HEA form required to take advantage of this offer is on the Missouri Department of Revenue website, and you will need to have documentation of both the energy audit you undertook and the equipment that you installed. Audits must be performed by a home energy auditor certified by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and please note that if you already received a state or utility company rebate for your PV/solar equipment, you cannot claim this deduction.
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Missouri Solar Power Financial Incentives
Financial Incentives
Corporate Tax Credit
Personal Deduction
Sales Tax Exemption
State Loan Program
Utility Loan Program
Utility Rebate Program
- AmerenUE - Natural Gas Equipment Rebates
- City Utilities of Springfield - Commercial Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
- City Utilities of Springfield - Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
- Columbia Water & Light - Commercial Lighting Rebate Program
- Columbia Water & Light - Home Performance with Energy Star Rebates
- Columbia Water & Light - New Home Energy Star Rebate
- Columbia Water & Light - Solar & Efficiency Rebates
- Co-Mo Electric Cooperative - Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
- Empire Distric Electric - Commercial and Industrial Efficiency Rebates
- Empire District Electric - Low Income New Homes Program
- Empire District Electric - Residential High Efficiency Air Conditioner Rebate
- Independence Power and Light - Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate
- Intercounty Electric Cooperative - Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
- Kansas City Power & Light - Commercial/Industrial Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
- Kansas City Power & Light - Cool Homes Residential Rebate Program
- Kansas City Power & Light - Energy Optimizer Programmable Thermostat Program
- Kansas City Power & Light - Home Performance with Energy Star
- Kirkwood Electric - Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
- Laclede Gas Company - Energy Efficient Appliance and HVAC Equipment Rebate Program
- Missouri Gas Energy (MGE) - Natural Gas Efficiency Rebates
- Ozark Border Electric Cooperative - Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
- Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative - Residential Energy Efficiency Rebates
Rules, Regulations & Policies
Building Energy Code
Energy Standards for Public Buildings
Interconnection
Net Metering
Renewables Portfolio Standard
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.
