Solar Thermal Electric

Energy Project and Equipment Financing

The Virginia Resources Authority (VRA) was created in 1984 and provides financial assistance to local governments in Virginia for a variety of projects, including energy and energy conservation projects. In March 2011, H.B. 2389 added "renewable energy" to the list of eligible projects (though it may have already been technically eligible under the "energy" category). VRA offers a couple financing options, including the Virginia Pooled Financing Program and Revolving Loan Funds. Interested entities can use the contact form available on the VRA web site in order to discuss financing options with VRA staff.

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Roaring Fork Valley - Energy Smart Colorado Energy Efficiency Rebate Program

For details on available rebates, check here

Energy Smart Colorado is the first rural multi-jurisdictional consortium in the U.S. to implement a comprehensive residential energy efficiency program.

Residents of Boulder, Eagle, Gunnison, Lake, Pueblo and surrounding counties, Roaring Fork Valley, Southwest Colorado, Summit, Park, Yampa Valley, Routt, and Moffat counties are eligible for energy efficiency and renewable energy assistance, rebates, and financing through the Energy Smart Colorado program. The program helps homeowners identify, finance, and complete energy improvements in their homes.

In addition to this, the program also offers utility efficiency rebates of varying sizes for customers of City of

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Voluntary Clean Energy Portfolio Standard

In May 2011, Indiana enacted S.B. 251, creating the Clean Energy Portfolio Standard (CPS), also known as the Comprehensive Hoosier Option to Incentivize Cleaner Energy (CHOICE) program. The program sets a voluntary goal of 10% clean energy by 2025, based on the amount of electricity supplied by the utility in 2010. Indiana's participating utilities receive an incentive to increase the amount of renewable energy sources in their portfolio.

Eligible Technologies

Indiana's CPS includes renewable energy technologies, but also conventional energy sources like nuclear, coal, and natural gas. Specifically, there are 21 eligible "clean" energy technologies: solar energy; photovoltaic
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Interconnection Guidelines

In October 2009, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) approved net metering regulations. These rules were finalized and approved by the lieutenant governor in January 2010 and became effective January 15, 2010.  In May 2011, the RCA approved interconnection guidelines.  All utilities subject to Alaska's net metering regulations were required to issue revised tariffs that address interconnection.

The interconnection guidelines state that the utility can require a customer to have liability insurance, if the insurance is easily available at a reasonable cost to the customer.  No external disconnect switch is required; the customer is either given the choice of installing an

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City of Los Angeles - Green Building Retrofit Requirement

In April 2009, Los Angeles enacted Ordinance 180636, known as the Green Building Retrofit Ordinance. This ordinance was later amended by Ordinance 182259. The law requires all city-owned buildings that are either more than 7,500 square feet or built before 1978 to be retrofitted. The goal of the retrofits will be to achieve LEED for Existing Buildings Silver certification or higher. This requirement is subject to the availability of state or federal funds. The Ordinance requires that at least half of the buildings retrofitted are located in high-poverty and high-unemployment areas, and that, to the extent feasible, all construction

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Energy Efficiency Standard for Focus on Energy

In March 2006, Wisconsin enacted Act 141 (2005), which requires the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (WPSC) to revise goals, priorities, and measurable targets for energy efficiency programs every 4 years.  Funding is provided by ratepayers to the utilities' statewide energy efficiency program (Focus on Energy) in order to achieve these goals, with the funding levels increasing each year. Utilities are required to spend 1.2% of annual operating revenues to fund both energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. 

Energy Efficiency Goals 

Energy efficiency goals are through the Quadrennial Planning Process through the WPSC. 

The most recent Quadrennial Planning Process revised the

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Michigan Saves - Business Energy Financing

Michigan Saves Financing

Michigan Saves financing is financial capital made available to customers through a network of lenders that offer favorable terms based on a negotiated contract. This program helps Michigan organizations reduce costs by financing energy-efficient lighting, heating and cooling systems, insulation, appliances, water heaters, and more. Upgrades are made with the help of our authorized contractors and an authorized lending partner.

Rates and Terms

Rates and terms are based on credit and subject to market change. However, commercial customers—which include energy users like for-profit and nonprofit organizations, multifamily properties, publicly owned buildings, and affordable housing—are eligible for minimum
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Michigan Saves - Home Energy Loan Program

Michigan Saves financing is financial capital made available to customers through a network of lenders that offer favorable terms based on a negotiated contract. This program helps Michigan families and households reduce costs by financing air sealing, heating and cooling systems, insulation, appliances, and more. Homeowners make the upgrades with the help of authorized contractors through an authorized lending partner.

Homeowners are eligible for rates ranging from 4.44% to 7.90% APR, though most customers finance at 5.50% APR. Terms are available up to 15 years with loan amounts ranging from $1,000 to $50,000. Actual rates, terms, and loan amounts vary

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City of Phoenix - Renewable Energy Goal

In 2008, the Phoenix City Council approved a renewable energy goal for the city. The city aims for 15% of the electricity used by the city to come from renewable energy sources by 2025. This goal mirrors Arizona's Renewable Energy Standard of 15% of electricity from renewable energy by 2025. The city plans to achieve this goal through renewable energy installations that are either city-owned or city-sponsored, primarily through public-private partnerships. The city council will periodically review progress towards meeting the goal and will set milestones to track progress. The Environmental Quality Commission and Public Works Department collaborated to develop

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Marin Clean Energy - Feed-In Tariff

Assembly Bill 117, passed in 2002, allows communities in California to aggregate their load and to procure electricity from their own preferred sources. Under the authority of this law, California’s first community choice aggregator, Marin Clean Energy (MCE), was launched in May of 2010. The Marin Energy Authority comprises each city and town in Marin as well as the communities of Belvedere, Fairfax, Mill Valley, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Sausalito, Tiburon, and the County of Marin. The original legislation mandated that the customers of each supporting community would automatically be enrolled in Marin Clean Energy unless they chose not to

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