Solar Water Heat

USDA - High Energy Cost Grant Program

NOTE: The most recent solicitation for this program closed February 28, 2025. Please check the program website for information on future solicitations.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers an ongoing grant program for the improvement of energy generation, transmission, and distribution facilities in rural communities. This program began in 2000. Eligibility is limited to projects in communities that have average home energy costs at least 275% above the national average. Retail power suppliers serving rural areas are eligible to apply for grant funding, including non-profits (cooperatives and limited dividend or mutual associations), commercial entities, state and local governments entities

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Mohave Electric Cooperative - Renewable Energy Incentive Program

Mohave Electric Cooperative provides incentives for its customers to install renewable energy systems on their homes and businesses. Mohave Electric Cooperative will provide rebates for residential and small commercial photovoltaic (PV) and wind systems. Rebates for solar water heating are available only for residential systems. Customers must meet all the applicable terms and conditions and submit the appropriate forms provided at the website listed above.

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Baltimore County - Property Tax Credit for High Performance Buildings and Homes

The state of Maryland permits local governments (Md Code: Property Tax § 9-242) to offer property tax credits for high performance buildings if they choose to do so. Baltimore County exercised this option in 2006 by creating property tax credits for new and existing multi-family residential (50+ units) and commercial buildings that meet certain high performance building standards. In 2008, the county also adopted a similar provision creating property tax credits for newly constructed high performance homes, and in 2010 added provisions for energy efficiency improvements in existing homes.

The credit is formulated as a percentage (%) reduction in

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Owatanna Public Utilities - Solar Rebate Program

Owatanna Public Utilities provides incentives for their residential and commercial customers to install photovoltaic (PV) and solar water heating systems. Qualifying PV systems can earn a flat rebate of $500; eligible solar water heating systems can earn $15 per square foot of collector area.

In order to obtain eligibility, customers must agree to a net-metering and interconnection contract with Owatanna Public Utilities. An energy audit must be performed prior to system installation and results shared with OPU.

Rebates are offered in conjunction with a 30% federal tax credit and are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. OPU obtains the right

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Austin Utilities - Solar Rebate Program

Austin Utilities provides incentives for their residential and commercial customers to install photovoltaic (PV) and solar water heating systems. Qualifying PV systems can earn flat rebate of $500; eligible solar water heating systems can earn $15 per square foot of collector area. Incentives are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Austin Utilities obtains the right to withdraw the program at any time without notice.

In order to obtain eligibility, customers must agree to a net-metering and interconnection contract with Austin Utilities. An energy audit must be performed prior to system installation and results shared with Austin Utilities.

Application forms with

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Valley Electric Association - Solar Water Heating Program

Valley Electric Association (VEA), a nonprofit member owned cooperative, developed the domestic solar water heating program to encourage energy efficiency at the request of the membership. VEA partnered with Great Basin College to train and certify installers, creating jobs in the community, and also with Rheem Manufacturing and a local licensed contractor to install the units. A site visit is performed to determine the best installation and system design for each member. Contact VEA for additional details. This program is currently only offered to those members in VEA’s service territory.

 

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Illinois Solar and Wind Rights

Illinois law prohibits homeowners' associations, common interest community associations and condominium unit owners' associations from preventing homeowners from using or installing solar energy systems. These associations may not deny homeowners permission to install solar energy systems, but they may specify the location of the solar energy system, as long as such specifications do not "impair the effective operation" of the system. In July 2011, the legislature enacted a bill (Public Act 97-0105) which added a provision for wind energy. A homeowner's association or similar entity may restrict wind energy devices altogether.

The law stipulates that associations must adopt an energy

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Ocala Utility Services - Solar Hot Water Heating Rebate Program

The Solar Water Heater Rebate Program is offered to residential retail electric customers by the City of Ocala Utility Services. Interested customers must complete an application and receive approval from the Ocala Utility Services before installing equipment. The application can be found on the program website. The system must be installed by a licensed Florida contractor on the customer's premises, which must be located within the Utility service territory. The system must be new and take the place of an electric hot water heater. Solar pool heating systems and other solar thermal technologies are ineligible. Solar pool heating systems of all

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United Power - Renewable Energy Rebate Program

United Power is providing rebates to their customers for the purchase of photovoltaic (PV), wind, and solar water heating systems. These incentives are separate from the rebates provided by the Colorado Governor's Energy Office and require separate applications. PV and wind systems must be grid-connected. Systems up to 25 kW in capacity may be installed, but United Power will only provide a rebate for the first 3 kW. Systems installed as part of new construction or residential development properties are not eligible for this program.

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Solar Contractor Licensing

NOTE: SB 447 requires that by February 1, 2015 licensed contractors must be in compliance with the Louisiana State Board of Licensing to legally install solar panels. Contractors without solar PV Installer or Solar Heating Installer certifications issued the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) will at a minimum be required to take a written exam to demonstrate competency.

In June of 2014, SB 447 mandated that the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors develop new rules for solar contractors no later than January 1, 2015. Licensed contractors must be in compliance with the new rules no later than

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