Solar Incentives & Rebates

Everything you need to know about Solar Thermal Incentives

Kentucky – Mountain Association for Community Economic Development – Energy Efficient Enterprise Loan Program

Incentive Type Local Loan Program
Eligible Technologies Solar Water Heat, Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Wind, Daylighting, Small Hydroelectric, Renewable Fuels, Ethanol, Methanol, Biodiesel
Applicable Sectors Commercial, Industrial, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, Installer/Contractor, Institutional
Incentive Amount Micro loans: up to $10,000 at 5% interest Small loans: up to $35,000 Large loans: up to $300,000 to qualified borrowers
Maximum IncentiveAll MACED Loans: $500,000
Eligible System Size(s)None Listed
Equipment StandardsNone Listed
Installation StandardsNone Listed
Start Date None Listed

More Information Contact:

Elizabeth Graves Mountain Association for Community Economic Development Energy Efficient Enterprises 433 Chestnut Street Berea, KY 40403 Phone: (859) 986-2373 Fax: (859) 986-1299 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.maced.org/loanproducts.htm

Maryland – Local Option – Property Tax Credit for High Performance Buildings

Incentive Type Property Tax Incentive
Eligible Technologies Passive Solar Space Heat, Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Daylighting, Small Hydroelectric
Applicable Sectors Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Multi-Family Residential
Incentive Amount Varies
Maximum IncentiveVaries
Eligible System Size(s)Specifically requires LEED Silver rating (all structures) or NGBS Silver rating (residential only), but other comparable systems or state approved green building guidelines are permitted
Equipment StandardsNone Listed
Installation StandardsNone Listed
Start Date Property tax years beginning after 06/30/2004

More Information Contact:

Montgomery County, Howard County, Baltimore County,  Anne Arundel County, and  Carroll County Please visit for tax credit information on the incentives available in each sounty.  

Tennessee – Sales and Use Tax Credit for Emerging Clean Energy Industry

Incentive Type Industry Recruitment/Support
Eligible Technologies Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Solar Thermal Electric, Solar Thermal Process Heat, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Hydrogen, "Clean Energy Technology", Solar Pool Heating, Anaerobic Digestion, Small Hydroelectric, Other Distributed Generation Technologies
Applicable Sectors Commercial, Industrial
Incentive Amount Tax rate reduced to 0.5%
TermsTaxpayer must make $100 million investment (minimum) and create 50 full-time jobs at 150% rate of Tennessee's average occupational wage.
Eligible System Size(s)None Listed
Equipment StandardsNone Listed
Installation StandardsNone Listed
Start Date 07/01/2009

More Information Contact:

Department of Revenue Information Tennessee Department of Revenue Andrew Jackson Building, Room 1200 Nashville, TN 37242-1099 Phone: (615) 741-2461 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.tennessee.gov/revenue/

North Carolina – Piedmont EMC – Solar Water Heating Rebate Program

Incentive Type Utility Rebate Program
Eligible Technologies Solar Water Heat
Applicable Sectors Residential
Incentive Amount $500
Maximum IncentiveNone Listed
Eligible System Size(s)None Listed
Equipment StandardsNone Listed
Installation StandardsNone Listed
Start Date None Listed

More Information Contact:

Jay Berry Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation Post Office Drawer 1179 Hillsborough, NC 27278-1179 Phone: (919) 732-2123 Phone 2: (800) 222-3107 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.pemc.org/

Kentucky – Mountain Association for Community Economic Development – Solar Water Heater Loan Program

Incentive Type Local Loan Program
Eligible Technologies Solar Water Heat
Applicable Sectors Commercial, Residential
Incentive Amount 100% of equipment and installation cost
Maximum IncentiveNone Listed
Eligible System Size(s)None Listed
Equipment StandardsNone Listed
Installation StandardsNone Listed
Start Date None Listed

More Information Contact:

SWH Information Kentucky Solar Partnership ATTN: SWH Loan Program 2235 Gregory Woods Road Frankfort, KY 40601 Phone: (888) 576-6527 Fax: (606) 256-2779 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.kysolar.org/  

Maryland -Local Option – Property Tax Credit for Renewables and Energy Conservation Devices

Incentive Type Property Tax Incentive
Eligible Technologies Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Solar Thermal Electric, Solar Thermal Process Heat, Photovoltaics, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Solar Space Cooling
Applicable Sectors Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Multi-Family Residential, Low-Income Residential, Agricultural
Incentive Amount Varies by jurisdiction; credit may be available for up to 3 years.
Maximum IncentiveVaries by jurisdiction.
Eligible System Size(s)None Listed
Equipment StandardsNone Listed
Installation StandardsNone Listed
Start Date None Listed

More Information Contact:

 

North Carolina – Renewable Energy Tax Credit (Corporate)

Incentive Type Corporate Tax Credit
Eligible Technologies Passive Solar Space Heat, Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Solar Thermal Electric, Solar Thermal Process Heat, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Heat Pumps, CHP/Cogeneration, Spent pulping liquor, Solar Pool Heating, Daylighting, Anaerobic Digestion, Small Hydroelectric, Ethanol, Methanol, Biodiesel, Geothermal Direct-Use
Applicable Sectors Commercial, Industrial, Agricultural
Incentive Amount 35%
Maximum Incentive$2.5 million per installation*
Eligible System Size(s)No stated size limits for systems. Maximum of 50 kWh battery storage capacity per kW of hydro generator capacity (DC rated); maximum of 35 kWh battery storage capacity per kW for other technologies
Equipment StandardsSystem must be new and in compliance with all applicable performance and safety standards. Specific equipment and installation requirements vary by technology.
Carryover ProvisionsCredit must be taken in five equal installments; allowable credit may not exceed 50% of a taxpayer's state tax liability for the year, reduced by the sum of all other state tax credits.
Start Date
Expiration Date:12/31/2015

More Information Contact:

Public Information Department of Revenue Post Office Box 25000 Raleigh, NC 27640-0640 Phone: (877) 252-3052 Phone 2: (877) 308-9103 Web Site: http://www.dornc.com/

North Carolina – South River EMC – Solar Water Heating Rebate Program

Incentive Type Utility Rebate Program
Eligible Technologies Solar Water Heat, Solar Pool Heating
Applicable Sectors Residential
Incentive Amount $400
Maximum Incentive$400
Eligible System Size(s)None Listed
Equipment StandardsSolar Collectors: SRCC OG-100 certification Solar Water Heating Systems: SRCC OG-300 certification
Installation StandardsSystem must be installed by a contractor currently certified to install solar water heaters by the SRCC and has all required NC licenses and certifications.
Start Date None Listed

More Information Contact:

Solar Water Heating Rebate Program South River EMC PO Box 931 17494 US 421 S. Dunn, NC 28335 Phone: (910) 230-2982 Phone 2: (800) 338-5530 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.sremc.com

Kentucky – Renewable Energy Tax Credit (Personal)

Incentive Type Personal Tax Credit
Eligible Technologies Passive Solar Space Heat, Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Photovoltaics, Wind, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Combination Active Solar Space-Heating and Water Heating System
Applicable Sectors Residential, Multi-Family Residential
Incentive Amount PV: $3/W DC All other systems: 30% of eligible costs
Maximum Incentive$500 for solar and wind installations; $250 for geothermal installations.
Eligible System Size(s)None Listed
Equipment StandardsSolar water heaters must use OG-100 SRCC certified collectors with minimum 5-year warranty. PV systems must meet the requirements of Article 690 of the National Electrical Code, and use solar photovoltaic panels and inverters that are rated and listed by Underwriters Laboratories. Wind turbines must meet AWEA's wind industry consensus standards. Closed loop geothermal heat pumps must have EER of 14.1 and COP of 3.6 Open loop geothermal heat pump must have EER of 16.2 and COP of 3.5 DX geothermal heat pump must have EER of 15 and COP of 3.5.
Installation StandardsSolar hot water, active solar space heating, and PV systems must be installed by a NABCEP-certified installer.
Start Date
Start Date:1/1/2009
Expiration Date:12/31/2015

More Information Contact:

Taxpayer Services Kentucky Department of Revenue 501 High Street Frankfort, KY 40620 Phone: (502) 564-4581 Fax: (502) 564-3875 Web Site: http://revenue.ky.gov/

Maryland(Montgomery County) – High Performance Building Property Tax Credit

Incentive Type Property Tax Incentive
Eligible Technologies Passive Solar Space Heat, Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Daylighting, Small Hydroelectric
Applicable Sectors Commercial, Industrial, Multi-Family Residential
Incentive Amount 10% to 75% credit from property taxes owed on building for 3-5 years; varies by building type and building rating
Maximum IncentiveTotal: $5 million per fiscal year limit for all buildings Silver rating: $1.5 million per fiscal year Gold rating: $2.5 million per fiscal year
Eligible System Size(s)Building must meet minimum LEED standards (CS, NC, or EB) or equivalent to qualify
Equipment StandardsNone Listed
Installation StandardsNone Listed
Start Date 03/17/2008

More Information Contact:

High Performance Building Property Tax Information - Montgomery County Montgomery County Department of Finance Division of Treasury 255 Rockville Pike, Suite L-15 Rockville , MD 20850 Phone: (240) 777-8965 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/govtmpl.asp?url=/content/finance/index.asp