Solar Incentives & Rebates

Everything you need to know about Solar Thermal Incentives

California (Property Tax Exclusion for Solar Energy Systems)

Incentive Type Property Tax Incentive
Eligible Technologies Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Solar Thermal Electric, Solar Thermal Process Heat, Photovoltaics, Solar Mechanical Energy
Applicable Sectors Commercial, Industrial, Residential
Amount100% of system value; 75% of system value exemption for dual-use equipment
Maximum IncentiveNone Listed
Eligible System Size(s)None Listed
Equipment StandardsNone Listed
Installation StandardsNone Listed
Start Date January 1, 1999, and expire December 31, 2016

More Information Contact:

Tax Specialist / BOE California State Board of Equalization P.O. Box 942879 Sacramento, CA 94279-0090 Phone: (800) 400-7115 Web Site: http://www.boe.ca.gov

Colorado – Building Energy Code

Incentive TypeBuilding Energy Code
Eligible TechnologiesSolar Water Heat, Photovoltaics
Applicable SectorsCommercial, Residential
Incentive AmountNone Listed
Maximum IncentiveNone Listed
Eligible System Size(s)None Listed
Equipment StandardsNone Listed
Installation StandardsNone Listed
Start DateNone Listed

More Information Contact:

Rick Hanger Colorado Department of Local Affairs Division of Housing 1313 Sherman Street #321 Denver, CO 80203 Phone: (303) 866-4656 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.coloradoenergy.org Conor Merrigan Colorado Energy Office Commercial Energy Efficiency 1580 Logan Street Suite 100 Denver, CO 80203 Phone: (303) 866-3965 Fax: (303) 866-2930 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site:http://www.colorado.gov/energy  

Colorado(City of Boulder) – Solar Sales and Use Tax Rebate

Incentive TypeSales Tax Incentive
Eligible TechnologiesSolar Water Heat, Photovoltaics, Solar Pool Heating
Applicable SectorsCommercial, Residential
Incentive Amount~15% refund on sales and use tax for the solar installation
Maximum IncentiveNone Listed
Eligible System Size(s)None Listed
Equipment StandardsNone Listed
Installation StandardsNone Listed
Start DateNone Listed

More Information Contact:

Debbie Fox City of Boulder Local Environmental Action Division Solar Rebate Program PO Box 791 Boulder, CO 80306 Phone: (303) 441-1931 E-Mail: [email protected]  

California – Partial Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Agricultural Solar Power Facilities

Incentive Type Sales Tax Incentive
Eligible Technologies Photovoltaics
Applicable Sectors Agricultural
Amount
100% of the taxes levied by the State. Local and district sales taxes will still apply.
Maximum IncentiveNone Listed
Eligible System Size(s)None Listed
Equipment requirementsAt least half of the electricity produced by the system must be used to power agricultural equipment.
Installation StandardsNone Listed
Start Date

More Information Contact:

Taxpayer Information California State Board of Equalization P.O. Box 942879 Sacramento, CA 94279 Phone: (800) 400-7115

Colorado Local Option – Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Systems

Incentive TypeSales Tax Incentive
Eligible TechnologiesSolar Water Heat, Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Geothermal Electric, Other Renewables (not specified)
Applicable SectorsCommercial, Industrial, Residential, General Public/Consumer, Agricultural
Incentive AmountVaries (local option)
Maximum IncentiveVaries (local option)
Eligible System Size(s)None Listed
Equipment StandardsNone Listed
Installation StandardsNone Listed
Start Date
Start Date:8/3/2007
Expiration Date:7/1/2017

More Information Contact:

Colorado Municipal League web site, www.cml.org Colorado Counties, Inc. web site, www.ccionline.org

Colorado(City of Boulder) – Green Points Building Program

Incentive TypeBuilding Energy Code
Eligible TechnologiesPassive Solar Space Heat, Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Photovoltaics
Applicable SectorsCommercial, Residential, Construction, Multi-Family Residential
Incentive AmountNone Listed
Maximum IncentiveNone Listed
Eligible System Size(s)None Listed
Equipment StandardsNone Listed
Installation StandardsNone Listed
Start DateNone Listed

More Information Contact:

Elizabeth Vasatka City of Boulder Boulder, CO 80306 Phone: (303) 441-1964 Phone 2: (303) 441-1880 Fax: (303) 441-4070 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=208&Itemid=489  

Colorado(City of Denver) – Green Building Requirement for City-Owned Buildings

Incentive TypeEnergy Standards for Public Buildings
Eligible TechnologiesPassive Solar Space Heat, Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Wind, Small Hydroelectric
Applicable SectorsLocal Government
Incentive AmountNone-Listed
Maximum IncentiveNone Listed
Eligible System Size(s)None Listed
RequirementAll applicable new City building construction and major renovations will be built and certified to at least the LEED-NC (New Construction) Silver standard, and achieve Energy Star status.
Start DateNone Listed

More Information Contact:

Scott Morrissey Greenprint Denver Office of the Mayor 1437 Bannock Street, Room 350 Denver, CO 80202 Phone: (720) 865-9047 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.greenprintdenver.org  

Colorado – Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Equipment

Incentive TypeSales Tax Incentive
Eligible TechnologiesSolar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Solar Thermal Electric, Solar Thermal Process Heat, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Geothermal Electric, Other Renewables (not specified)
Applicable SectorsCommercial, Industrial, Residential, General Public/Consumer, Nonprofit, Local Government, State Government, Agricultural, Institutional, Retail Supplier
Incentive Amount100%
Maximum IncentiveNone Listed
Eligible System Size(s)None Listed
Equipment StandardsNone Listed
Installation StandardsNone Listed
Start Date
Start Date:7/1/2009
Expiration Date:7/1/2017

More Information Contact:

Taxpayer Service Division Colorado Department of Revenue 1375 Sherman St. Denver, CO 80261 Phone: (303) 238-7378 Web Site: http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/Revenue/REVX/1176842266433

California (California Solar Initiative) – Low-Income Solar Water Heating Rebate Program

Incentive Type State Rebate Program
Eligible Technologies Solar Water Heat
Applicable Sectors Multi-Family Residential, Low-Income Residential
Incentive AmountStep 1 Incentive Rates (contact utility to determine current incentive levels): Single-Family Low-Income: $25.64 per therm displaced Multi-Family Low-Income: $19.23 per therm displaced
Maximum IncentiveSingle-Family Low-Income: $3,750 Multi-Family Low-Income: $500,000
Eligible System Size(s)None Listed
Equipment RequirementsSystems must be used in connection with a natural gas water heater. Systems used in connection with an electric water heater are ineligible. Systems must be SRCC certified.
Installation StandardsSystems must be installed by an appropriately licensed contractor
Start Date 3/29/2012

More Information Contact:

http://www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/

California (City of San Francisco) – GreenFinanceSF

Incentive Type PACE Financing
Eligible Technologies Water Heaters, Furnaces , Boilers, Central Air conditioners, Programmable Thermostats, Caulking/Weather-stripping, Duct/Air sealing, Building Insulation, Windows
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies:Solar Water Heat, Photovoltaics
Applicable Sectors Commercial, Nonprofit, Multi-Family Residential
Program budget$150 million
Maximum IncentiveNone Listed
Eligible System Size(s)None Listed
Equipment StandardsNone Listed
Installation StandardsNone Listed
Start Date 4/12/2010

More Information Contact:

Customer Service GreenFinanceSF Phone: (415) 937-7223 E-Mail: [email protected]