Solar - Passive

New Mexico Solar Easements & Rights Laws

New Mexico's Solar Rights Act (1977) and Solar Recordation Act (1983) allow property owners to create solar easements for the purpose of protecting and maintaining proper access to sunlight. The Solar Rights Act established the right to use solar energy as a property right. The solar right prevents neighboring property owners from constructing new buildings or planting new trees which would block their access to the sun.

The Solar Recordation Act describes the procedures for filing a solar right through the County Clerk's Office. The property owner seeking the solar right must give advanced notice to the adjacent property owners

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City of Gainesville - Public Facilities Landscaping Ordinances

The City of Gainesville requires the design process for buildings within its public services and operations (PS) district to take into consideration current and future solar access. In addition, trees that are required by landscaping ordinances may be relocated if they conflict with planned solar energy generation. Other regulated trees may be removed if they prevent reasonable development of the site, including the installation of solar energy equipment.

 

 

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Colorado Solar/Wind Easements and Rights Law

Colorado's solar access laws, which date back to 1979, render void any covenants, restrictions, or conditions that prohibit “renewable energy generation devices” or “energy efficiency measures”. Renewable energy generation devices include solar energy devices and wind-electric generators that meet the state’s interconnection standards. Energy efficiency measures include awnings, attic fans, energy efficient lighting, and clotheslines, among other technologies. Some exceptions are made for both renewable energy devices and energy efficiency measures for safety requirements and aesthetic purposes that do not significantly increase the cost of the device or decrease its performance. 
Colorado also allows property owners to agree voluntarily to
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Indiana Solar Easements & Rights Laws

Indiana state law includes both covenant restrictions and solar easement provisions. The state's covenant restrictions prevent planning and zoning authorities from prohibiting or unreasonably restricting the use of solar energy. Indiana's solar easement provisions are similar to those in many other states. Although they do not create an automatic right to sunlight they allow parties to voluntarily enter into solar easement contracts which are enforceable by law. Passive solar structures are explicitly included in the type of solar-collection equipment that may be protected by solar easements.

In March 2022, Indiana adopted a bill, H.B. 1196, preventing homeowners' associations from

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City of Portland - Green Building Policy and LEED Certification

In 2001, the City of Portland adopted a Green Building Policy requiring new construction and major renovations of all city facilities to meet the Certified level of LEED. This policy was amended on April 27, 2005 by Resolution Number 36310, which was adopted by the Portland City Council. At that time, the Green Building Policy was changed to require new buildings to meet the LEED Gold standard. Additionally, the 2005 changes required LEED EBOM Silver for existing buildings. This policy was further amended in April 2009, with the passage of Resolution Number 36700. This resolution includes measures to incorporate the

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Renewable Energy Systems Tax Credit (Corporate)

Utah's individual income tax credit for renewable energy systems includes provisions for both residential and commercial applications. The Utah Office of Energy Development administers the tax credit and has responsibility for revising the tax credit rules and certifying systems as eligible for the credit. Legislation (section 5) enacted in 2007 extended these tax credits through at least 2012. On or before this time, and every five years thereafter, the Utah Tax Review Commission must review the tax credit and make recommendations as to whether the tax credit should be continued, modified, or repealed. 

Residential Systems:

The individual income tax credit

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Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Systems

Connecticut provides a property tax exemption for "Class I" renewable energy systems* and hydropower facilities** that generate electricity for private residential use. The exemption is available for systems installed on or after October 1, 2007, that serve farms, single-family homes or multi-family dwellings limited to four units. In addition, "any passive or active solar water or space heating system or geothermal energy resource" is exempt from property taxes, regardless of the type of facility the system serves. Public Act No. 22-25 added electric vehicle charging stations, refueling equipment for fuel cell vehicles, and zero-emission school buses as eligible technologies beginning

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Small-Scale Energy Loan Program

Note: This program is currently insolvent and has been on hiatus since 2015. The insolvency is a result of the default of high-risk loans that occurred between 2007 and 2012 and the lack of new loan origination since 2015. The program will require General Fund support to meet bond debt service payments in 2022 and 2023. The 2021 Legislature in SB 5506 (2021) appropriated $3.5 million General Fund to ODOE to pay SELP bond debt service through the 2021-23 biennium. As of July 2025, SELP is not currently accepting new loan applications.

The Oregon Small-Scale Energy Loan Program (SELP) was

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Energy Loan Program

Note: FY2025 - Loan Applications are Currently Closed as of July 29, 2025.

The Missouri Energy Loan Program, administered by the Division of Energy in the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED), is available for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for public and governmental buildings and structures. Eligible recipients include public schools (K-12), public/private colleges and universities, city/county governments, public water and wastewater treatment facilities, and public/private non-profit hospitals.

Loan amounts are based on projected energy savings from energy efficiency upgrades, which result in monetary savings that are used to repay the loan. For Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 financing

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Alternative Energy and Energy Conservation Patent Income Tax Deduction (Personal)

Massachusetts offers a personal income tax deduction for (1) any income -- including royalty income -- received from the sale or lease of a U.S. patent deemed beneficial for energy conservation or alternative energy development by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, and (2) any income received from the sale or lease of personal or real property or materials manufactured in Massachusetts and subject to the approved patent. The deduction is effective for up to five years from the date of issuance of the U.S. patent or the date of approval by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, whichever expires
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