Rebates

The City of Boulder enacted an ordinance in 1982 to guarantee access to sunlight for homeowners and renters.

Solar Access

Solar access is guaranteed setting limits on the amount of permitted shading by new construction. The degree of solar access protection is defined by either a 12 foot or 25 foot hypothetical "solar fence" on the property lines of the protected buildings. The ordinance is designed to protect access for a 4-hour period on December 21st. Under most circumstances, new structures will not be allowed to shade adjacent lots to a greater extent than the applicable solar fence.

There are

Utah's Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing requires installers of solar energy systems to be licensed contractors. General electrical contractors carrying an S200 or an S201 license are authorized to install solar photovoltaic systems. The Division has also established solar-specific license classifications. License classification S202 is for Solar Photovoltaic Contractors, and S215 is for Solar Thermal Systems Contractors. A Solar Photovoltaic Contractor is licensed for the fabrication, construction, installation, and replacement of photovoltaic cell panels and related components including battery storage systems, distribution panels, switch gear, electrical wires, inverters, and other electrical apparatus for solar photovoltaic systems. A Solar Thermal

Madison, Wisconsin, has established several local laws to facilitate the planning and permitting of solar and wind systems. The planning guidelines are specific to solar, while the permitting laws and procedures include wind as well.

Planning
To facilitate solar access, Madison’s land subdivision regulations require streets to be "oriented in an east-west direction to the maximum extent possible or to within 20 degrees of such orientation." There are some exceptions based on topography, property size and shape, existing street patterns, and other considerations. In addition, subdivision lots should be oriented to maximize solar access for buildings, and open space lots

Building Codes

The City of Aspen and Pitkin County have adopted both the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)—with some amendments—and an Efficient Building Code.

The Efficient Building ordinance was adopted in 2003 with the intent to encourage cost-effective and sustainable building methods that, among other goals, conserve energy. The code applies to new, remodeled, or additions to one- and two-family dwellings and multiple family dwellings not more than 3 stories in height. These dwellings are required to earn a specific number of points by completing sustainable building practices that can include energy efficiency measures, including installing ENERGY STAR appliances

The City of Ashland offers residential and commercial electric customers installing photovoltaic systems a rebate. Before January 1, 2023, cash incentives for interconnected solar electric systems were $0.25 per watt up to a maximum of $5,000 per system. Beginning January 1, 2023, solar electric installations that pass their electric inspections can receive incentive payments of $600.

To qualify, the owner of the system must be a tenant of the facility where the system is installed. The system must be interconnected with the electric service at the facility and be net-metered. Systems must have at least 2,500 W of panels with

On August 8th, 2022, Mayor Lightfoot announced an agreement to purchase 100% clean, renewable energy starting in 2025. They also have implemented the Chicago Climate Action Plan with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

History

In June 2001, the City of Chicago signed an agreement with Commonwealth Edison and the Environmental Resources Trust to purchase 20% of its electricity from clean, renewable resources by the end of 2005. Chicago reached this goal in 2008 with a purchase of 215 million kWh of wind and biomass energy from MidAmerican Energy.  The city's plan is to maintain that 20% level for the

As of October 1, 2014, the City of Boulder has 2,084 kilowatts of solar photovoltaics (PV) installed at city facilities with an additional 1 megawatt (MW) being developed. In addition to the PV, each of the three city-owned recreation center pools is partially heated with solar thermal systems generating 32,000 therms annually. For more information visit the city website.

Note: As of September 2015, Aspen obtains 100% of its electricity from renewable sources (46% hydroelectric, 53% wind, 1% landfill gas).

In 2005, the City of Aspen set a renewable portfolio goal that has since been increased to 100% renewable energy by 2015. In 2013, 75% of Aspen’s electricity was generated using renewable resources, predominantly hydro and wind.

Approximately 27% of the electricity used by the City of Aspen comes from wind turbines located in Kimball, Nebraska. An additional 45% of the City's electricity comes from hydroelectric plants.  

Electric Program Investment Charge Program 

California's 1996 electric industry restructuring legislation (AB 1890) directed the state’s three major investor-owned utilities (Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, and San Diego Gas & Electric) to collect a "public goods charge" (PGC) on ratepayer electricity use from 1998 through 2001 to create public benefits funds for renewable energy, energy efficiency, and research, development & demonstration (RD&D). 

California's public benefits fund, the Electric Program Investment Charge Program (EPIC), was established in 2011 to help meet the state's climate goals by decarbonizing the electricity sector. The program invests more than $130

Holy Cross Energy's WE CARE (With Efficiency, Conservation And Renewable Energy) Program offers an incentive for customers who install renewable energy generation for net metering at their premises. Eligible renewable energy technologies include wind, hydroelectric, photovoltaic, biomass, and geothermal sources.

Incentive

The incentive offered varies by the size of the renewable energy system as follows:

• $250 per kW for the first 6 kW of a system, and
• $100 per kW for the next 19 kW of a system.

For example, a 15 kW system is eligible for a $2,400 (= ($250 * 6 kW) + ($100 * 9 kW)) incentive