Rebates

Hawaii Energy is a public benefits fund (PBF) funded by a surcharge on utility bills that is based on a percentage of total utility revenue. The PBF pays for a number of clean energy incentive, rebate, and exchange programs. For more information on specific programs, visit the Hawaii Energy website.

The percentage of total utility revenue is used to establish a target budget for the PBF. The surcharge is set on a cents per kilowatt-hour ($/kWh) basis to meet the target budget. The surcharge is determined by dividing the target budget (based on a percentage of total utility sales)

In September 2009, the Honolulu City Council unanimously passed Bill 58 to create a real property tax exemption for alternative energy improvements. This bill became effective October 1, 2009. Honolulu later amended it. 

The renewable energy property installed on a building, property, or land is exempt from real property taxes. Additionally, the portions of land actually used for the active production or storage of renewable energy is exempt from 80% of its value for tax purposes if the energy is primarily for use, distribution, or sale to public utilities or for public consumption under a power purchase agreement or power

The Energy Conversation for Ohioans (ECO-Link) program offers Ohio homeowners reduced rate financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy home upgrades. Administered by the Ohio Treasury, qualifying homeowners are eligible for a 3% loan rate reduction through participating banks.*

Qualifying Technology
A wide range of energy-efficiency upgrades and certain renewable-energy systems may be undertaken, including:

• Appliances (must meet established efficiency standards)
Battery Chargers, Clothes Washers, Dehumidifiers, Dishwashers, Refrigerators, Freezers, Room Air Conditioners, Room Air Cleaners
• Water Heaters (must meet established efficiency standards)
Gas Condensing, Heat Pump, High-Efficiency Gas Storage, Solar Water Heaters, Whole-Home Gas Tankless
• Heating & Cooling
Air-source

North Carolina enacted legislation (H.B. 1389) in August 2009 that authorizes cities and counties to establish revolving loan programs to finance renewable energy and energy efficiency projects that are permanently affixed to residential, commercial or other real property. A revolving loan program generally refers to a loan fund, where the loan repayments and interest are fed back into the fund. In this way, the loan can, in theory, continue indefinitely. HB 1389 allows cities and counties to fund their loan programs through Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants from the federal government and the city's or county's unrestricted

Fort Pierce Utilities Authority offers a variety of incentives for their residential customers to save energy in their homes. Rebates are available for room A/C units, insulation upgrades, central A/C, refrigerators, and clothes dryers. All of the equipment must meet certain energy efficiency standards listed on the program web site. Applications for the various rebates are located on the program web site. Once application forms are received and processed, rebates will be paid in the form of a credit on one or more of the customer’s monthly electric consumption bills.

Beaches Energy Services offers rebates to residential customers as an incentive to install qualifying energy-efficient equipment and measures in existing homes. New construction does not qualify for any of the rebates. Rebates are available for air conditioners, heat pumps, programmable thermostats, window film/solar screens, heat pump water heaters and ceiling insulation upgrades.. Equipment must meet certain energy efficiency standards listed on the program web site. The rebate applications can be downloaded from the program web site, and applications must be submitted within 60 days or project completion. Contact Beaches Energy Services for more information on this offering.

In July 2008, Pennsylvania enacted a broad $650 million alternative energy bill designed to provide support for a variety of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. Included in this legislation was a provision authorizing the creation of a $25 million grant and loan program for high performance buildings. The program is jointly administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), under the direction of Commonwealth Finance Authority (CFA). Program guidelines were issued in April 2009 and revised in November 2009. Incentives are available to both in-state small businesses (100 or fewer

Note: H.B. 2528, enacted in May 2017, repeals these tax incentives beginning in 2018.

S.B. 1403, signed in July of 2009, created tax incentives intended to draw renewable energy product manufacturers to Arizona. Specifically, income tax credits and property tax incentives are available for companies choosing to establish or expand their manufacturing facilities and corporate headquarters in Arizona. To be eligible, the business must meet certain minimum requirements for the quantity and quality of new jobs created. Some of these requirements were amended in May 2010 by S.B. 1201. Different incentive levels are available depending on how many

The Illinois Finance Authority (IFA) is a state conduit issuer of tax-exempt bonds and credit enhancement for projects in Illinois. IFA funding is available to commercial and non-profit entities as long as those entities meet strict eligibility criteria. In 2012, the legislature also added schools and community colleges to the list of eligible entities for energy conservation funding. Entities seeking funding must demonstrate that their projects provide a significant public benefit for the citizens of Illinois. In 2009, the IFA was authorized by legislation (S.B. 1906 and S.B. 390) to provide funding via issuance of tax-exempt bonds for renewable energy

Note:  In 2010, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), which has authority over mortgage underwriters Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, directed these enterprises against purchasing mortgages of homes with a PACE lien due to its senior status above a mortgage. Most residential PACE activity subsided following this directive; however, some residential PACE programs are now operating with loan loss reserve funds, appropriate disclosures, or other protections meant to address FHFA's concerns. Commercial PACE programs were not directly affected by FHFA’s actions, as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac do not underwrite commercial mortgages. Visit PACENation for more information about PACE financing