Residential

Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit

Note: The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, signed in February 2018, reinstated the tax credit for fuel cells, small wind, and geothermal heat pumps. The tax credit for all technologies now features a gradual step down in the credit value. 

A taxpayer may claim a credit of 30% of qualified expenditures for a system that serves a dwelling unit located in the United States that is owned and used as a residence by the taxpayer. Expenditures with respect to the equipment are treated as made when the installation is completed. If the installation is at a new home, the "placed

Energy-Efficient Mortgages

Homeowners can take advantage of energy efficient mortgages (EEM) to either finance energy efficiency improvements to existing homes, including renewable energy technologies, or to increase their home buying power with the purchase of a new energy efficient home. The U.S. federal government supports these loans by insuring them through Federal Housing Authority (FHA) or Veterans Affairs (VA) programs. This allows borrowers who might otherwise be denied loans to pursue energy efficiency, and it secures lenders against loan default.

FHA Energy Efficient Mortgages
The FHA allows lenders to add up to 100% of energy efficiency improvements to an existing mortgage loan

Solar Rights

Wyoming’s Solar Rights Act (1981), states that the “beneficial use of solar energy is a property right”. Solar rights -- a landowner's right against interference with sunlight for the purposes of solar energy -- are thus property rights. 

The Act states that these rights are only valid from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. Outside of these hours, the solar right may be infringed without compensation to the owner of the solar collector. The Act delegates responsibility of enforcement to local governments by requiring local governments to establish a permit system for the use of solar energy. A

Lakeland Electric - Residential Energy Efficiency Loan Program

Lakeland Electric offers a zero-interest loan program to its customers who wish to make energy efficiency upgrades. Eligible measures include windows, HVAC, heat pump water heaters, air sealing and insulation, solar PV, geothermal heat pumps, and solar water heater systems. The minimum loan amount is $500 and the maximum is $5,000. There is also a one-time filing fee that will be applied to a customer's utility bill. For a $5,000 loan, this fee has been around $90.50. Loans are repaid monthly after the project has been completed.

Brainerd Public Utilities - Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program

Brainerd Public Utilites (BPU) offers a variety of rebates to residential customers. Additionally, through a partnership with Energy Insight, Inc., commercial customers can set up a consultation for potential rebates. Interested commercial customers should contact Mike Swanson at ms@energyinsightinc.com or 952-767-7469.

Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program

The Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program provides per-kWh incentives to solar PV projects up to 5 MW. The program is capped at an aggregate of 1,600 MW, and incentives are available in Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil territories. 

Between 20% and 35% of total program capacity is required to be reserved for projects of 25 kW or less. Program capacity is divided into 80 MW blocks, with incentive amounts declining with each block.

Incentive Amount

The value of the incentive payment is equal to the following for standalone solar projects: 

(Base compensation rate + compensation rate adders - greenfield

Marin County Residential Rebate Program

The County of Marin is offering rebates to single family property owners for the replacement of natural gas appliances with efficient all-electric units, including water heaters, furnaces, ranges and cooktops. Replacing natural gas appliances with electric models will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve indoor air quality, and make your home a safer environment.

NYSERDA Retail Energy Storage Incentive Program

NOTE: The Block 1 of 100 MWh of energy storage capacity has been fully subscribed. The incentives is now offered at Block 2 level at $250/kWh for total Block of 125 MWh. 

In December 2018, the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) adopted 1,500 MW energy storage target by 2025, and a 3,000 MW target by 2030. As a part of the order, the PSC directed NYSERDA to develop incentive designed to meet the statewide energy storage goals. 

The Retail Energy Storage Incentive program offers financial incentives for new energy storage projects smaller than 5 MW (AC) that are i) connected