Rebates

In Washington State, there are sales tax exemptions for the sale of equipment used to generate electricity, as well as for the sale of "hog fuel," defined as wood waste and other wood residuals including forest-derived biomass. It does not include firewood or wood pellets. Hog fuel must be used to produce electricity, steam, heat, or biofuel. Hog fuel is fully exempt from sales tax, though the buyer must provide the seller a completed sales tax exemption certificate and must complete an annual tax incentive survey. The exemption was originally set to expire June 30, 2024, but was extended to

Section 73 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code allows a property tax exclusion for certain types of solar energy systems installed between January 1, 1999, and June 30, 2026. This section was amended by AB 1451 in September 2008 to include the construction of an active solar energy system incorporated by an owner-builder in the initial construction of a new building that the owner-builder does not intend to occupy or use. This only applies if the owner-builder did not already receive an exclusion for the same active solar energy system and only if the initial purchaser purchased the new

Note: This credit expired on December 31, 2014, and is not allowed for devices installed on or after January 1, 2015. However, wind energy systems whose construction began prior to January 1, 2015 and were completed by January 1, 2017 are eligible for this credit.

North Dakota offers a corporate income tax credit for the cost of acquiring and installing a geothermal, solar, biomass, or wind energy system in a building or on a property owned or leased by a North Dakota taxpayer. For systems installed after December 31, 2000, and before January 1, 2015, the credit is equal to

Austin Energy offers its residential, commercial, and municipal customers either an up-front rebate or a low-interest loan for the purchase and installation of solar hot water heaters. Because the program is in part designed to help Austin Energy reduce peak electricity demand, only systems that preheat water for a permanently installed electric hot water heater are eligible to receive the incentive. Rebate levels vary by customer class.

Rebates

• Residential (new construction): $1,500
• Residential (existing homes): $2,000 or low interest loan (see below)
• Commercial: Custom, determined on a case-by-case basis

Loans option details (existing homes)

• Home improvement loans: 0% interest rate

Hawaii Energy, a third-party administered public benefits fund, provides incentives for energy efficiency and conservation to customers of the Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) and its subsidiaries, Maui Electric Company (MECO) and Hawaii Electric Light Company (HELCO). This incentive is available for installations on the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Lanai and Molokai.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission created the Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) in its final order of the PECO Energy electric utility restructuring proceeding. The Reinvestment Fund, Inc. (TRF), which was formed in 1985 to build wealth and opportunity for low-wealth communities and low- and moderate-income individuals, administers the SDF. The SDF later received additional funding and responsibilities as a result of the PECO Energy/Unicom merger settlement. That settlement added funding for new wind development, for solar photovoltaics and for renewable energy education, as well as a lump-sum payment and an increase in SDF's core fund. In total, the fund has

According to § 20 ILCS 687/6-4, the statute this trust is under will be repealed on December 31, 2021. 

Illinois's 1997 electric-industry restructuring legislation created separate public benefits funds that support renewable energy and residential energy efficiency. The Renewable Energy Resources Trust Fund (RERTF) supports renewables through grants, loans and other incentives administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The funding mechanism was established for 10 years in January 1998. In August 2007, funding was extended through December 12, 2015.

Renewable-energy projects eligible for RERTF support include wind energy, solar-thermal energy, photovoltaics, dedicated crops

All active solar space-heating and water-heating systems that are sold, offered for sale, or installed on residential and commercial buildings in Minnesota must meet Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) standards. Specifically, the rule references SRCC's "Operating Guidelines" pertaining to collector certification and system certification: OG-100 and OG-300, respectively. Local building officials may issue permits for the installation of solar water-heating systems and solar space-heating systems after these systems have been certified by the SRCC. 

The administrative rules specifically state that that the law does not apply to systems designed to produce electric power.

Rhode Island Renewable Energy Fund

Rhode Island's Public Utilities Restructuring Act of 1996 created the nation's first public benefits fund for renewable energy and demand-side management (DSM). The Rhode Island Renewable Energy Fund's renewable-energy component is administered by the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation (Commerce RI) formerly known as the Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC), and the fund's DSM programs are administered by the state's electric and gas distribution companies, subject to review by the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (RIPUC).

Funding and Budget

CommerceRI’s Renewable Energy Fund is supported by a surcharge on electric and gas customers' bills. Initially, the surcharge

Montana established the Universal System Benefits Program (USBP) in 1997 as part of its restructuring legislation. The USBP supports cost-effective energy conservation, low-income customer weatherization, renewable-energy projects and applications, research and development programs related to energy conservation and renewables, market transformation designed to encourage competitive markets for public purpose programs, and low-income energy assistance.

Beginning January 1, 1999, all electric utilities -- including electric cooperatives -- were required to contribute revenue generated from a surcharge on customers' electricity use. In 1997, the surcharge was set through electricity restructuring legislation and was based on 2.4% of electric utilities' 1995 revenues. This