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

Minnesota cooperatives and municipals in Minnkota Power Cooperative’s service territory are providing incentives for their residential customers to improve the energy efficiency of their homes through the Value of Electricity campaign. Cooperatives and participating municipals can offer incentives for the installation of qualifying electric heating, water heating and vehicle charging equipment on the off-peak program. Each utility can implement the incentive with its own requirements. Some restrictions apply. Please check with your utility if you are interested in applying for these rebates. See website above for further details on the program.

H.B 8200 enacted in June, 2014 requires all ancillary non-electrical renewable energy work such as advertising, distribution and installation be performed by a person, firm or corporation holding a Renewable Energy Professional (REP) Certificate . All the renewable energy electrical work, including installation, connecting, testing, mounting of modules and inverters are to be performed by a licensed electrician.  Except for electrical work, the contractors require REP certification for installation, mechanical fastening and conjoining of listed solar sheathing system that are 10 kW or less. REP certification is also required for to any person, firm or corporation who is engaged in

In 2014, H.B. 7727 created the Renewable Energy Growth (REG) program with the goal to promote installation of grid connected renewable energy within the load zones of electric distribution companies at a reasonable cost. This tariff-based incentive program is designed to finance the development, construction, and operation of renewable energy distributed generation projects through competitive bidding processes over five years to achieve specific megawatt (MW) targets. This program is implemented by the utilities under supervision and review of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

Program Goal

The REG program originally had a target install total of 160 MW of distributed renewable

Oklahoma enacted S.B. 1787 in 2010, which states that access to the airspace is tied to the ownership of the land and any wind or solar leasing arrangements associated with the airspace must be made with the landowner that owns the land below the air: “No interest in any resource located on a tract of land and solely associated with the production or potential production of wind or solar-generated energy on the tract of land may be severed from the surface estate except that such rights may be leased for a definite term pursuant to the provisions of this act,”

The Agricultural Energy Loan Program (AELP), created through Act 87 in 2013, is administered by the Vermont Agricultural Credit Corporation (VACC). The AELP provides loans to agriculture- or forest-product-based companies for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. 

The maximum loan amount is $5,000,000, and the percentage of the project funded by VACC is negotiable. Loans are provided at variable rates, although fixed rates may be available in some circumstances; current rates can be found here. Loan terms are determined on a case-by-case basis.

Fees associated with AELP loans include a 1% commitment fee ($5,000 maximum and $250 minimum); a $30

The Commercial Energy Loan Program (CELP), created by Act 87 in 2013, is administered by the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA). The CELP provides loans to businesses for larger renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.

The maximum loan amount is $6,000,000 for the variable option and $500,000 for the fixed rate option, and VEDA is generally limited to 60% of the project cost; and in some cases up to 90% of cost financing (up to $500,000). Loans are provided at variable rates, which are adjusted on a quarterly basis; current rates can be found here. Loan terms are determined on a

The Small Business Energy Loan Program (SBELP), created by Act 87 in 2013, is administered by the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA). The SBELP provides loans to businesses for smaller renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. 

The maximum loan amount is $500,000, and VEDA will fund up to 60% of the project. However, in certain cases, VEDA may provide loans under $50,000 that cover up to 75% of project costs. Loans are provided at fixed rates; current rates can be found here . Loan terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, but the maximum loan term is generally 10 years with a

S.B. 1189 of 2014 established a voluntary Distributed Energy Resource Program. The legislation allows participating utilities to recover costs connected to meeting a 2021 target of 2% aggregate generation capacity from renewable energy sources. Facilities sized between 1 MW and 10 MW will make up 1% of aggregate generation (50% of the total target) while facilities sized under 1 MW will make up another 1% (another 50% of the total target). Twenty five percent of facilities under 1 MW must also be under 20 kW (12.5% of the total target). Renewable energy resources include solar PV, solar thermal, wind, hydroelectric

In April of 2014 H.B. 864 mandated that the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority provide financing for wind and solar projects to small businesses and nonprofits.