Rebates

The Solar Energy Program (SEP) program offers financial assistance as loans to eligible applicants to promote manufacturing, research and development, and generation of solar energy in the state.  The program is administered jointly by the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) under direction of the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA). 

Eligibility

The following applicants are eligible for loans:

1. A Business – a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, limited liability company, business trust, or other commercial entity approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority. The term shall include venture capital firms, solar energy and solar thermal

The State of Alabama provides abatement of property tax for qualifying renewable energy facilities in the state. Only the noneducational portion of the property tax can be abated. 

Eligibility:

The Renewable Energy Facility is defined as any plant, property, or property that either produces electricity from biofuels, or from renewable energy resources, including wind, biomass, black liquor, tidal or ocean current, geothermal, solar energy, small irrigation, municipal solid waste, and hydrogen when derived or produced from some other renewable energy resource. Hydropower is exempted from the definition of an eligible resource. 

Program Description:

The abatement of the property taxes is

State of Alabama provides the option for local governments to provide exemptions or abatement for sales and use tax for qualifying renewable energy facilities in the State.  The state has a general sales tax of 4%, however, the renewable energy facilities qualify for 1.5% rate provision that is set for manufacturing and farm machinery. In addition to State sales tax, the local governments may also impose an additional sales or use tax. 

The exemption or abatement for both state and local sales/use tax are provided by the local granting authority. The local granting authority could be a city, county, or

Solar Installation plans, specifications and other data shall be submitted for permit to the Building Official. The fees for solar installation are as follows, $40 for two or less site inspection for final approval and $15 for each additional site inspection. The Energy Advisory Board acts as a board of appeals for the solar installation process. Specific certificates and licenses are required to install, repair, replace and alter solar energy systems and it is unlawful to do so without a certificate or license.

2023 Update

Wichita-Sedgwick County government is currently reviewing the permitting process for Solar Energy Systems. The current

Seattle has created a guide to help home and business owners install a solar electric system. The guide gives advice and outlines important steps to take to install a solar PV (photovoltaic) system.

The guide includes electrical, building, land use, and set-back yard permit requirements. Any solar electric project must obtain an electrical permit secured by an electrical contractor. An electrical permit fee is approximately $239 (3/4 base + $65.65 admin fee) if you system size is less than 7.7 kW.

A building permit is not required under the following conditions:

• The solar electric (photovoltaic) system is designed and proposed

Pima County has outlined its solar and wind permitting standards. The general requirements include a site plan and cut sheets for all system equipment. For solar photovoltaic (PV) systems a one line diagram with conductor and conduit sizes and types must be included. Click here for more information on solar PV system requirements. Solar hot water systems require a solar hot water schematic which includes the temperature relief valve. Wind energy systems are allowed one tower per residential lot.

It should be noted that depending on the project scope, your application may require prior approval from Regional Flood Control District

The City of Tucson has several permits that are needed for the authorization of solar farms. This table provides the information about regulations that will most likely be needed in order to develop a large solar facility.

Examples of permits include a groundwater / surface water management permit, a site plan / development plan review, a engineering preconstruction, and an electrical permit. Permits can last 1 day or 14 months depending on the individual permit.

It should be noted that some permits on this table will not be needed, and many can be approved during the processing of other permits

The City of Phoenix offers permitting plans for solar PV. The specifics of the permitting plans can be found in the city’s application found here. For all the options below the existing electric service is to remain and the installer must be present for the inspection.

• Option A - Over-the-Counter Review : $600 Plan Review and 3 Inspections
• Option B - Over-the-Counter Review : $450 Plan Review and 2 Inspections
  
• Option C - No Plan Review : $375 Administrative Fee and 2 Inspections
  
• Option D - Over-the-Counter Review : $300 Plan Review and 1 Inspection
  

Further, the City of

Under Miami-Dade's current permitting process PV projects may be permitted by submitting required documents through the Miami-Dade Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources Plan Status and Application Submittal Portal.

Applicants seeking a permit for a solar PV system in Miami-Dade are required to submit the following items at the time of permit application:

• A completed Building Permit Application signed and notarized by the property owner and contractor.
• A completed Electrical Fee sheet signed by the contractor with the Electrical Category 34- Solar Photovoltaic information completed.
• Plans which contain all drawings and supporting documents in PDF format based on the

The Land Development Code for Hillsborough County outlines the appropriate uses and guidelines for the operation of a solar energy production facility and a wind energy conversion system (WECS).

For a solar facility in an agricultural zone, the proposed lot size shall be a minimum of five (5) acres. There should be a setback of 50 feet from all boundaries of the site. The solar panels should be ground mounted and have a maximum height of 15 feet.

Ground-mounted facilities must be enclosed with a fence. On-site power lines and interconnections shall be placed underground. Facilities will be considered abandoned