Solar Water Heat

Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit

Note: Section 13302 of The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (H.R. 5376) extended the expiration date and modified the phase down of this tax credit. It also made stand-alone energy storage systems eligible for the credit, and biomass heaters ineligible for the credit. Biomass heaters are now eligible for the residential energy efficiency tax credit. The summary below reflects the credit after the enactment of H.R. 5376.

A taxpayer may claim a credit 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

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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

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Solar Access Law

H.B. 5028, enacted in June 2024, declares that any provision within a homeowners' associations agreement that prohibits or has the effect of prohibiting the installation of a solar energy system is invalid and unenforceable as contrary to public policy. The law provides similar protections for the installation of:

  • Clotheslines
  • Air source heat pumps
  • Ground source heat pumps
  • Insulation
  • Rain barrels
  • Reflective roofing
  • Energy efficient appliances
  • Solar water heaters
  • Electric vehicle supply equipment
  • Energy-efficient windows
  • Energy-efficient insulation materials

The bill also directs each homeowners’ association in this state to adopt a written solar energy policy statement. The statement may not

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Local Option - Commercial Property Assessed Capital Expenditure (C-PACE)

S.B. 802 of 2024 authorized the establishment of a statewide Commercial Property Assessed Capital Expenditure (C-PACE) program that local governments may voluntarily join. Eligible properties include commercial, industrial, agricultural, nonprofit, and multifamily residential properties with five or more dwelling units. The bill establishes the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina as the statewide administrator for the program and assigns a variety of tasks to it: 

  • Prepare a C-PACE toolkit, as described in S.B. 802, in consultation with stakeholders and local governments
  • Impose fees to offset the actual and reasonable costs of administering the C-PACE Program, including an application fee not
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Commercial Retro-Commissioning and New Construction Program

Focus on Energy offers a variety of tools and financial incentives to eligible business customers to retro-commission buildings or design and build new buildings to optimize performance. Through Focus on Energy's Energy Design Assistance Program, customers will receive a free, customized, whole-building analysis of energy-saving design options. Focus on Energy prepares multiple design options, each progressively more efficient, so that building owners and design teams can customize dozens of design elements to maximize energy efficiency opportunities while balancing financial considerations. Projects can also receive custom incentives based on estimated energy savings. See program website and contact Focus on Energy for

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Tennessee C-PACER Financing

Note:  In 2010, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), which has authority over mortgage underwriters Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, directed these enterprises against purchasing mortgages of homes with a PACE lien due to its senior status above a mortgage. Most residential PACE activity subsided following this directive; however, some residential PACE programs are now operating with loan loss reserve funds, appropriate disclosures, or other protections meant to address FHFA's concerns. Commercial PACE programs were not directly affected by FHFA’s actions, as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac do not underwrite commercial mortgages. Visit PACENation for more information about PACE financing

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C-PACE: Garden State Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy

Note: In 2010, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), which has authority over mortgage underwriters Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, directed these enterprises against purchasing mortgages of homes with a PACE lien due to its senior status above a mortgage. Most residential PACE activity subsided following this directive; however, some residential PACE programs are now operating with loan loss reserve funds, appropriate disclosures, or other protections meant to address FHFA's concerns. Commercial PACE programs were not directly affected by FHFA’s actions, as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac do not underwrite commercial mortgages. Visit PACENation for more information about PACE financing

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Solar-Ready Zones

This rule applies to new buildings seeking construction permits on or after January 1, 2025.

In 2023, Delaware HB 11 was enacted, adding a provision for "Solar-Ready Zones" to the commercial building code. These rules apply to new commercial buildings with a foundation footprint of 50,000 square feet or more.

Solar-Ready Zones are sections of the building's roof or overhang reserved for future installation(s) of solar photovoltaic or solar thermal energy systems.

Solar-Ready Zones shall be located on the roof of buildings up to 5 stories above grade with low-slope roofs or slanted roofs facing 110 to 270 degrees from

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City of Oakland - Solar Access Ordinance

Current Municipal codes provide some solar access protections to adjacent properties. Mostly in relation to new development proposals.

17.65.080.A.3.B - Maximum Floor Area Ratio

Regards the maximum floor area ratio regulation for the city of Oakland. It specifies the conditions for a conditional use permit for an FAR or up to 3.0 in the HBX-3 and HBX-4 zones. Including that “the additional Floor Area Ratio does not significantly decrease the solar access of existing adjacent single family homes or duplexes to a degree greater than would be created if the facility were built according to the base FAR.”

17.134.050.F.1 –

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Santee Cooper - Commercial Energy Efficiency Rebate Program

Santee Cooper provides rebates to its commercial customers. These rebates are for certified and non-certified retrofit lighting, lighting controls, and underwater LED lighting. Rebate amounts are different for new construction versus retrofits. Contact the utility for more information. 

 

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