Solar Incentives & Rebates

Everything you need to know about Solar Thermal Incentives

Connecticut – Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Systems

Incentive Type Property Tax Incentive
Eligible Technologies Passive Solar Space Heat, Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Tidal Energy, Wave Energy, Ocean Thermal, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels, Geothermal Direct-Use
Applicable Sectors Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Multi-Family Residential, Agricultural, (Note: exemption for Class I resources applies only to residential dwelling with four or fewer units and farms)
Incentive Amount 100% exemption for renewable energy property
Maximum IncentiveNone Listed
Eligible System Size(s)None Listed
Equipment StandardsNone Listed
Installation StandardsNone Listed
Start Date None Listed

More Information Contact:

Public Information Connecticut Office of Policy and Management Policy Development and Planning Division 450 Capitol Avenue Hartford, CT 06106-1379 Phone: (860) 418-6200 Phone 2: (800) 286-2214 Fax: (860) 418-6487 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.opm.state.ct.us

Pennsylvania – Sustainable Energy Fund (SEF) Loan Program (PPL Territory)

Incentive Type Local Loan Program
Eligible Technologies Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Fuel Cells, Geothermal Heat Pumps, CHP/Cogeneration, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels, Other Distributed Generation Technologies
Applicable Sectors Commercial, Industrial, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Agricultural, Eastern PJM, including PA and parts of NJ
Incentive Amount Varies by project; may provide up to 100% of financing needs Minimum $35,000 direct or $10,000 through an Energy Services Provider (ESP)
Maximum Incentive$1 million
TermsVary by project
Equipment StandardsNone Listed
Installation StandardsNone Listed
Start Date None Listed

More Information Contact:

Public Information Sustainable Energy Fund Financing Programs 1005 Brookside Road, Suite 210 Allentown, PA 18106 Phone: (610) 264-4440 Fax: (610) 264-4949 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.TheSEF.org

District of Columbia – Renewable Energy Incentive Program

Incentive Type State Rebate Program
Eligible Technologies Solar Water Heat, Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics
Applicable Sectors Commercial, Residential, Nonprofit, Multi-Family Residential, Private Schools
Incentive Amount Solar PV: $1.50/W DC for first 3 kW installed capacity; Solar PV: $1.00/W DC for next 7 kW; Solar PV: $0.50/W DC for next 10 kW Solar Thermal Residential: 20% of installed cost Solar Thermal Non-residential: 15% of installed cost
Maximum IncentiveSolar PV: $16,500 per site per program year Solar Thermal (residential): $5,000 per system per program year Solar Thermal (non-residential): $7,000 per system per program year
Eligible System Size(s)1 kW DC minimum; system must be sized not to exceed on-site consumption
Equipment StandardsSolar PV System: must be new and have a performance meter; larger systems (100 kW+) must have a performance meter with remote communications capability; system must carry a one-year warranty; meter must carry a five-year warranty and solar panels must carry a ten-year warranty. Solar Thermal System (<10,000 kWh/year):Collectors shall be rated and certified OG-100 by the SRCC, and the actual energy output shall be determined by an onsite energy meter that meets performance standards established by OIML. System must carry a one-year warranty; meter must carry a five-year warranty and solar panels must carry a ten-year warranty. Solar Thermal System (>10,000 kWh/year): Systems shall be rated and certified by the SRCC, and the energy output shall be determined by the SRCC OG-300 annual systems performance rating protocol; or the SRCC OG-100 solar collector rating protocol; or an onsite energy meter that measures the actual energy output and meets performance standards established by OIML. System must carry a one-year warranty; meter must carry a five-year warranty and solar panels must carry a ten-year warranty.
Installation StandardsPV systems must be grid-connected; both solar PV and solar thermal systems must be installed by a licensed contractor (self-installations not permitted); one-year warranty on installation required; automatic freeze protection is required on solar thermal hot water systems.
Start Date None Listed

More Information Contact:

Green Energy DC District Department of the Environment 1200 1st St. NE, 5th Floor Washington, DC 20002 Phone: (202) 535-2600 Phone 2: (202) 673-6750 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://ddoe.dc.gov/node/9342  

Oregon – Salem Electric – Low-Interest Loan Program

Incentive Type Utility Loan Program
Eligible Technologies Solar Water Heat, Photovoltaics
Applicable Sectors Commercial, Residential, Nonprofit, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government
Incentive Amount $500 - $10,000
Maximum Incentive$10,000
TermsRate: 5% Repayment: up to 60 months
Equipment StandardsNone Listed
Installation StandardsNone Listed
Start Date None Listed

More Information Contact:

 
Customer Service - Salem Electric Salem Electric 633 7th Street NW PO Box 5588 Salem, OR 97304 Phone: (503) 362-3601 Fax: (503) 371-2956 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site:http://www.salemelectric.com

Pennsylvania – West Penn Power SEF Commercial Loan Program

Incentive Type Local Loan Program
Eligible Technologies Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Solar Thermal Electric, Solar Thermal Process Heat, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells, CHP/Cogeneration, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels, Other Distributed Generation Technologies
Applicable Sectors Commercial, Industrial, (West Penn Power Service Territory Only)
Incentive Amount Varies according to project
TermsVary according to project
Eligible System Size(s)None Listed
Equipment StandardsNone Listed
Installation StandardsNone Listed
Start Date

More Information Contact:

Joel Morrison The EMS Energy Institute Pennsylvania State University C-211 CUL University Park, PA 16802-2323 Phone: (814) 865-4802 Fax: (814) 863-7432 E-Mail: [email protected]  

Maryland – Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs)

Incentive Type Performance-Based Incentive
Eligible Technologies Solar Water Heat, Photovoltaic
Applicable Sectors Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Agricultural, Institutional
Incentive Amount Varies based on market conditions; as of June 2012 Maryland-sourced SRECs traded at approximately $190 - $280/MWh ($0.19 - $0.28/kWh) during 2012 based on data reported by PJM-GATS
Maximum IncentiveTheoretical maximum of $400/MWh (the 2012 Solar Alternative Compliance Payment, or SACP) or $0.40/kWh for SRECs used for compliance under the MD RPS*
Eligible System Size(s)No specific size limit; but systems generally must be connected to the distribution system serving the state in order to qualify; residential solar water heating systems are limited to producing 5 SRECs annually
Equipment StandardsNone Listed
Installation StandardsSolar water heating facilities may not be used for the solar purpose of heating a pool or hot tub and must use SRCC OG-100 certified collectors
Start Date None Listed

More Information Contact:

Jim Boone Maryland Public Service Commission 6 St. Paul Street Baltimore, MD 21202 Phone: (410) 767-8114 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://webapp.psc.state.md.us/Intranet/home.cfm Ude l. Ude Maryland Public Service Commission 6 St. Paul Street Baltimore, MD 21202 Phone: (410) 767-8510 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://webapp.psc.state.md.us/Intranet/home.cfm  

Connecticut – Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Solar and Geothermal Systems

Incentive Type Sales Tax Incentive
Eligible Technologies Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Photovoltaics, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Other Distributed Generation Technologies, Geothermal Direct-Use
Applicable Sectors Commercial, Residential, General Public/Consumer, Installer/Contractor
Incentive Amount 100% exemption
Maximum IncentiveNone Listed
Eligible System Size(s)None Listed
Equipment StandardsNone Listed
Installation StandardsNone Listed
Start Date 7/1/2007

More Information Contact:

Public Information Connecticut Department of Revenue Services Taxpayer Services Division 25 Sigourney Street Hartford, CT 06106-5032 Phone: (860) 297-5962 Web Site: http://www.ct.gov/DRS  

Pennsylvania – High Performance Building Incentives Program

Incentive Type State Grant Program
Eligible Technologies Passive Solar Space Heat, Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Bio-gas, Daylighting, Small Hydroelectric
Applicable Sectors Commercial, Residential
Incentive Amount Vary by project, but program generally requires matching funds at least equivalent to DCED funding
Maximum IncentiveResidential loans/loan guarantees: $100,000 Commercial loans/loan guarantees: $2 million Grants: Lesser of 10% of project costs or $500,000
Eligible System Size(s)None Listed
Equipment StandardsProjects must achieve minimum certification under LEED, Green Globes, or the National Green Building standard (e.g., Gold under LEED NC); projects must also meet additional requirements in certain categories.
Installation StandardsNone Listed
Start Date
Start Date:April 2009
Expiration Date:None

More Information Contact:

Program Information - DCED High Performance Building Program Department of Community and Economic Development Center for Business Financing - Site Development Division Commonwealth Keystone Building 400 North Street, 4th Floor Harrisburg , PA 17120-0225 Phone: (717) 783-5046 Fax: (717) 787-0879 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.newpa.com/  

Oregon – Ashland Electric Utility – Bright Way to Heat Water Rebate

Incentive Type Utility Rebate Program
Eligible Technologies Solar Water Heat
Applicable Sectors Residential
Incentive Amount $0.40/annual kWh saved (on average $800 to $1,000)
Maximum Incentive$1,000
Eligible System Size(s)None Listed
Equipment StandardsNone Listed
Installation StandardsNone Listed
Start Date None Listed

More Information Contact:

 
Larry Giardina Ashland Electric Utilities Department 20 East Main Street Ashland, OR 97520 Phone: (541) 552-2065 Phone 2: (541) 552-2436 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.ashland.or.us/SectionIndex.asp?SectionID=423

Pennsylvania – High Performance Green Schools Planning Grants

Incentive Type State Grant Program
Eligible Technologies Passive Solar Space Heat, Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Daylighting, Small Hydroelectric
Applicable Sectors Schools
Incentive Amount Determined on a case-by-case basis
Maximum IncentiveNone Listed
Eligible System Size(s)None Listed
Equipment StandardsSchools must achieve at least LEED for Schools Silver certification
Installation StandardsNone Listed
Start Date None Listed

More Information Contact:

DEP Grants Center - HPGS Governor's Green Government Council Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market Street, 15th Floor P.O. Box 8776 Harrisburg, PA 17105-8776 Phone: (717) 783-8411 Fax: (717) 783-2703 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.gggc.state.pa.us/ PlanCon Pennsylvania Department of Education Division of School Facilities 333 Market Street Harrisburg, PA 17126 Phone: (717) 787-5480 Web Site: http://www.pde.state.pa.us/