Solar Photovoltaics

Energy Standards for State Buildings

In May 2013, Oklahoma enacted H.B. 1990, repealing the high-performance building certification program.

The State is still required by statute to adopt planning and construction standards for state buildings that conserve energy and optimize the energy performance of new buildings. The standards must reduce dependence on imported sources of energy through energy efficiency and local and renewable energy sources.

The standards must also authorize the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to pursue ENERGY STAR designation to demonstrate energy efficiency in public buildings. 

Last Update

Energy Standards for Public Buildings

Note: As of July 2023, Missouri state facilities under construction or renovation, and commercial buildings purchased or leased by state agencies, must comply with the 2015 IECC, pursuant to the Section 8.812 requirement that standards be at least as stringent as the latest version of the IECC.

Energy Conservation Goals

In April 2009 Missouri’s Governor issued Executive Order No. 09-18, requiring all state agencies whose building management falls under the Office of Administration to adopt policies designed to reduce energy consumption by 2% each year for the next 10 years.

Building Construction and Renovation Requirements

Life-Cycle Analysis

Life-cycle cost analysis

Last Update

Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Design in New School Construction

The Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) administers funds appropriated by the Ohio General Assembly for the construction of new schools and renovations of existing schools. In September 2007 the OSFC approved a resolution (Resolution 07-124) requiring that all new school construction projects not already in the design phase achieve LEED for Schools Silver certification, with a goal of achieving LEED for Schools Gold certification. Credits under LEED Energy and Atmosphere Category are considered to be "preferred" investments, although the regulation sets no specific standard for this category outside of the existing certification prerequisites.

The overall program is expected

Last Update

GMP Solar Power

Green Mountain Power, an investor-owned electric utility operating in Vermont, offers a credit to customers with net-metered photovoltaic (PV) systems. In addition to the benefits of net metering, Green Mountain Power customers with a PV system less than 15 kilowatts (kW) receive a credit of $0.053 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity generated by the system. PV installations larger than 15 kW receive a credit of $0.043 per kWh. This credit is available to all customers of Green Mountain Power. The incentive does not have a specified duration or expiration date.

In order to net meter, customers must first apply for

Last Update

High Performance Building Standards in New State Construction

In January 2008, New Jersey enacted legislation mandating the use of high performance green building standards in new state construction. The standard requires that new buildings larger than 15,000 square feet constructed for the sole use of state entities should be designed and managed to meet high performance green building standards. The law allows for exceptions from specific requirements in cases of practical difficulty. These exceptions only apply to the specific requirement in question and do not extend to all requirements. With some exceptions the state is also required to purchase Energy Star products when available, a provision adopted in

Last Update

High-Performance Building Requirements for State Buildings

In March 2008, South Dakota enacted legislation mandating the use of high-performance building standards in new state construction and renovations. The law was updated in 2021, lessening the previous standards and removing the requirements for renovations. The policy now requires that new state buildings achieve the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED certified rating (decreased from silver rating), a two-globe rating under the Green Building Initiative's (GBI) Green Globe rating system, or a comparable numeric rating from another accredited sustainable building certification program. The law applies to all new construction projects by state agencies, departments, or institutions that has a cost

Last Update

City of Plano - Green Building Policy for Municipal Buildings

In January 2007, the City of Plano adopted a policy to "finance, plan, design, construct, manage, renovate, and maintain its facilities and buildings to be sustainable." This policy applies to new construction and major renovations. Return on investment will be considered when determining feasibility of implementing green features. 

Design elements will be prioritized based on their ability to provide future energy savings, water conservation, waste reduction, and improved indoor air quality. Key factors to consider incorporating into the design include:
1. Use of passive solar energy
2. Natural lighting (day lighting) and adjustable lighting systems
3. Highly reflective roof and

Last Update

Massachusetts Green Power Purchasing Commitment

Clean Energy Standard (CES) and CES-E: The CES sets a minimum percentage of electricity sales that retail electricity suppliers must procure from new clean energy sources beyond the RPS requirements. The CES began in 2018 at 16% and increases 2% annually to 80% in 2050. The CES-E applies to clean generating resources that pre-existed the RPS and is 20% for 2021.

Solar Carve-Out (SCO) & Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART):  As part of the RPS, the SCO program, initiated in 2010 and expanded in 2014, requires electricity suppliers to meet a portion of the RPS obligation through solar energy

Last Update

Farm and Aquaculture Alternative Energy Loan

HB 2261, enacted in July 2008,  created a loan program for agriculture and aquaculture renewable energy projects. Farmers and aquaculturists may receive loans for projects involving photovoltaic (PV) energy, hydroelectric power, wind power generation, methane generation, bio-diesel and ethanol production. Loans may provide up to 85% of the project cost (up to a maximum of $1,500,000) for a term of up to forty years. To be eligible, the applicant must be a qualified farmer or aquaculturist with a sound credit rating and the ability to repay the loan, as determined by the Department of Agriculture.

These renewable energy loans fall

Last Update

Property Tax Assessment for Renewable Energy Equipment

For the purpose of determining property tax, renewable energy and storage equipment owned by utilities and other entities operating in Arizona is assessed at 20% of the "taxable original cost" after deducting depreciation. "Renewable energy equipment" is defined as "electric generation facilities, electric transmission, electric distribution, gas distribution or combination gas and electric transmission and distribution and transmission and distribution cooperative property that is located in this state, that is used or useful for the generation, storage, transmission or distribution of electric power, energy or fuel derived from solar, wind or other nonpetroleum renewable sources not intended for self-consumption, including

Last Update