Rebates

The Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative (GVEC) offers rebates to its member customers for the installation of photovoltaic (PV) systems, solar water heaters and solar water wells  within its service territory. Rebate amounts and limitations vary by technology.

In order to qualify for a rebate, systems must be new and meet a variety of equipment, warranty, and installation requirements that vary by technology. All units must be installed by a program approved contractor according to the manufacturer's specified procedures and codes.

Grid-connected renewable electricity systems must meet the standards of the National Electric Code (NEC) as well as the GVEC's own

GreyStone Power, an electricity cooperative serving 103,000 customers in Georgia, introduced a solar water heating rebate in March 2009. This $500 rebate is available to customers regardless of their current method of heating water. A list of preferred contractors is provided by GreyStone.

GreyStone will install monitoring equipment with the system to monitor system output and performance and will share this information with the customer. Contact Greystone for more information, inlcuding program requirements.

The Home Improvement Program (HIP) in Hamilton County, Ohio, originally opened in 2002, and was reinstated in May 2008. The HIP loan allows homeowners in Hamilton County communities to borrow money to repair or remodel homes or rental property at interest rates 3% below the lowest rate a bank would normally offer. The following banks participate: Fifth Third Bank, U.S. Bank, KeyBank, North Side Bank and First Safety Bank. The HIP loan is usually structured as a home equity loan, secured by a second mortgage on the property. Credit requirements apply.

Eligible residential (one- or two-family homes) and commercial properties

The mayor and city council of Chandler, AZ adopted Resolution 4199 in June 2008, establishing a requirement for all new occupied city buildings larger than 5,000 square feet to be designed and built to achieve the Silver level of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program, and to strive for higher levels of certification whenever project resources and conditions permit. To maintain cost control, city building projects may be exempt from the requirement if the payback period necessary to recover the initial costs is more than ten years. If a project is deemed infeasible, the project shall

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. Montgomery County has exercised this option by offering property tax credits on new or extensively modified multi-family residential and commercial buildings that meet certain high performance building standards. An "extensive modification" is defined as a structural modification that alters 50% or more of the building's square footage.

The tax credit generally uses the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED rating system as a metric for determining how "green"' a building is

Wisconsin has two sales tax exemptions that apply to renewable energy. Legislation enacted in 1979 exempts wood sold as a fuel for residential use from the state sales and use tax (Wis. Stat. § 77.54(30)). Residential use means use in a structure or portion of a structure which is the person's permanent residence. A clause was added in 2007 expanding the exemption to include sales of all biomass -- as defined in Wis. Stat. § 196.378 (1) (ar) -- used as fuel for residential use. This definition includes wood, energy crops, biological wastes, biomass residues, and landfill gas.

The original

In 2006, Michigan enacted legislation allowing for the creation of Renewable Energy Renaissance Zones (RERZ). Renaissance zones offer significant tax benefits to facilities located within their boundaries. Facilities within a renaissance zone do not pay the Michigan Business Tax*, state education tax, personal and real property taxes, or local income taxes (where applicable). These taxes may be abated for up to 15 years, with the abatements being phased out in 25% increments over the last three years of the zone designation. For residents of renaissance zones designated before 2012, taxpayers are exempt from paying certain income taxes, if they

Durham County adopted a resolution in October 2008 that requires new non-school public buildings and facilities to meet high-performance standards. New construction of public buildings and facilities greater than 10,000 square feet must achieve a minimum rating of LEED Gold or any comparable performance criteria. Buildings between 4,000 and up to 10,000 square feet must achieve a minimum rating of LEED Silver or any comparable performance criteria.

Additionally, renovations of non-school public buildings in excess of 25% of the building and comprising upgrades or replacements of two of the three major systems (HVAC, lighting and plumbing) must be able to

In an effort to promote environmentally sensitive design and construction, the Miami-Dade County Commissioners passed an ordinance in June 2005 to expedite the permitting process for “green” buildings certified by a recognized environmental rating agency. Commercial, industrial, and residential projects are all eligible as long as they are located in unincorporated Miami-Dade County and the City of West Miami. Additionally, solar water heating and solar photovoltaic projects are included in the "fast track" for permitting review.

 Project must meet the following criteria:

1. Limited to new construction of residential, commercial and industrial projects.

2. Additions, alterations, repairs and the new

State Green Building Standards
Illinois requires that all new state-funded construction or major renovations are required to seek LEED, Green Globes, or equivalent certification. The Green Buildings Act (July 2009) defines major renovations as projects with a budget of at least 40% of a building's replacement cost and makes the following requirements based on the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system:

• New buildings and major renovations of less than 10,000 square feet must meet the highest LEED standard (or equivalent standard) that is practical. Certification is not required.
• New buildings and renovations of