May 2009 Archives

Renewable Energy-Related Legislation in New York

A renewable portfolio standard (RPS) was adopted by the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) in September 2004 with a target of 19% to 25% increase in the proportion of electricity used by retail consumers in New York State derived from renewable resources by 2013 after scrutinizing public hearings from more than 150 parties. Two distinct approaches were taken to accomplish the goal. Among them a central procurement approach would cause an increase of 24% and a voluntary green market approach would provide the rest 1%. New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) was given the task of monitoring this RPS program. Mainly two tiers of resources were considered eligible under RPS program - a Main Tier and a Customer-Sited Tier. NYSERDA has the authority to procure Main Tier resources by a many means e.g. standard offer contracts, requests of proposal or through auctions also. Under these two tiers RPS also supported incentives programs which were previously supported by System Benefit Charge (SBC). An amount of $45 million was funded for Customer-Sited Tier.

PSC also recommended an Implementation Plan to guide the program through 2013. But an extension was filed by Congress for Production Tax Credit (PTC) allowable for certain renewable facilities with a deadline of December 31, 2005. By the end 22 proposals were submitted and 7 projects were awarded. On April 14, 2005 the Implementation Plan was developed and approved by the Commission which would identify the procedures based on their eligibility and future procurements. On January 26, 2006 NYSERDA was authorized by the Commission to conduct solicitations of Main Tier Resources in 2006 and 2007. NYSERDA approved its Operating Plan for the Customer-Sited Tier on February 12, 2007. On October 28, 2008 PSC issued an order to reallocate funding to the Customer-Sited Tier and subsequently authorized $20.6 million for the solar photovoltaic (PV) category. This program will provide cash incentives for the installation of new Solar Electric or Photovoltaic (PV) systems by eligible Installers. Incentives will be granted till September 2009 on a first-come, first-served basis or until funds are fully committed.

Solar and Fuel Cell Tax Credit

This provision is applicable to taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2006. It acts mainly on expenditures on PV equipments for residential property and equal to 25% of the total cost of PV equipment and installation. Solar Energy equipment is identified as "an arrangement or combination of components utilizing solar radiation, which, when installed in a residence, produces energy designed to provide heating, cooling, hot water or electricity." The PV system size is limited to 25 kW according to the net meeting law expanded by S.B. 7171 on August 2008. SunPower is one company targeting New York solar installations, they have sponsored the creation of these articles here on Solar Power Authority.

Local Option - Solar, Wind & Biomass Energy Systems Exemption

There is a provision for property tax exemption for solar and wind energy systems constructed in NY State under Section 487 of the New York State Real Property Tax Law. Local government is authorized to allow or deny it. Property owners can also enter into a contract for payments in lieu of taxes. Generally the exemption will be equal to the increase in assessed value attributable to the solar, wind or farm-waste energy system.

Solar Sales Tax Exemption

NY State issued this exemption program in July, 2005 on sale and installation of residential solar-energy systems from the state's sales and compensating use taxes. Various systems utilizing solar radiation to produce energy can avail this exemption. No recreation systems are allowed for this exemption. Local Governments can also approve an exemption from local taxes under this law.

NYSERDA - Distributed Generation as Combined Heat and Power (DG-CHP)

This multi-faceted program implemented mainly three initiatives under different categories to achieve its goal which was the advancement of DG-CHP technology within NY State. These three initiatives are new demonstration, existing facility improvement, and technology transfer. A fund of $25 million was granted to invest in one or all of these three aspects of this program.

New York City - Property Tax Abatement for Photovoltaic (PV) Equipment Expenditures

Property tax abatement for photovoltaic (PV) system expenditures was allowed by the NY State in August 2008. Mainly cities with more than 1 million population were eligible. Systems placed in service by December, 2010 can get abatement up to 8.75% against eligible annual expenditures for four consecutive years. Then, systems which were placed in service in between January, 2011 and December, 2012 can apply and avail an abatement of 5.0%. Department of Finance administers this abatement program collaboratively with Department of Buildings.

Rebate Programs

Town of Southampton - Photovoltaic (PV) Rebate Program

Under this rebate program every individual and commercial organization is entitled to a flat rebate of $2,500 for PV systems of 5kW in the Town of Southampton, NY. The installation cost of the applicant must be paid by the applicant and smaller systems are not accepted under this program. Systems must abide by all the applicable state and local laws. Initially an amount of $50,000 was approved sufficient enough for 20 rebates. This program is due to expire on December 31, 2009.

Long Island Power Authority - Energy Efficient Commercial Construction Rebate Program

Long Island Power Authority has been providing full support to its non-residential customers through this Commercial Construction Program. It's a utility rebate program availavle for various technologies like Air conditioners, Heat Pumps, Compressed air, Commercial Kitchen Equipment, Vending Machine Controls etc. In return LIPA will retain the ownership of all rights to existing and future emissions credits. And rebate over $10, 000 will require pre-approval.

Long Island Power Authority - Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program

This utility rebate program will provide an opportunity for residential customers to increase the efficiency of their homes. Air conditioning systems and air-source heat pumps can avail rebates under the Cool Homes Program. Efficiency rating is SEER 14 and EER 12. And the owner should get the units installed by Cool Homes Contractor. Moreover, rebates for new and replacement geothermal heat pumps are also available under the Geothermal Energy Wise Program.

Long Island Power Authority - Solar Rebate Program

To develop clean energy alternatives $32 million was funded under this Solar Pioneer Program in 2000 by LIPA. Later LIPA extended this initiative for another five years with an increase of $5 million in funding. Recently the budgets have been - $44 million in 2007, $48 million in 2008, and $53 million in 2009. In 2009 this program has been expanded again and renamed as Solar Entrepreneur program. Through LIPA rebates a downfall in the costs of PV has been observed. Under this rebate scheme customers can enjoy a rebate for residential systems up to 27.5kW. Till January 2008, rebates have been issued for 1,133 PV systems.

National Grid - Commercial (Electric) Energy Efficiency Incentive Programs

Large commercial and industrial customers can be benefited from this new construction program offering energy statistics, technical assistance and financial incentives. A financial incentive up to 75% of the cost of the energy system can also be availed. This program known as Design 2000plus can pay in between 40% to 50% of the total cost involved in a project.

National Grid - Solar Thermal Rebate Program (Long Island and metro New York)

National Grid customers from Long Island and metro New York using solar thermal technologies can get solar thermal rebate to support various applications like solar hot water heating, solar space heating or high temperature process applications. They can get a rebate of 15% off project costs up to a maximum of $1,500. And commercial users on the other hand can avail a rebate of 50% of the project costs or $100,000 per project.

Santa Clara, California, May 21, 2009 - A new turnkey diode laser system from Coherent (Santa Clara, CA) (Nasdaq: COHR) offers modular flexibility and output power of up to 400W at 976 nm. Specifically, the HB-Diode laser system can be configured with from one to four 100W 200 µm diode modules, and the output from each diode module can then be fiber-delivered individually, or combined into a single, 0.22 NA delivery fiber in order to optimally match the needs of the application. The resulting output is either 100W, 200W, 300W or 400W of power, at fiber diameters of 200 µm, 400 µm, 600 µm or 800 µm respectively. Integration into industrial applications is further enhanced by the laser's 19" rack mount form factor, armored fiber, air-cooling, aiming beam and a comprehensive selection of fiber imaging optics. This new system also achieves industry leading MTTF (mean time to failure) and operating lifetime characteristics through the use of Coherent's proprietary in-house epitaxy and packaging technology.

With its easily customized output, the HB-Diode system can service a variety of industrial processing needs, such as plastics welding for microelectronics, medical and automotive applications, and soldering electronics and solar cell panels. For solar cell assembly, it offers substantial advantages over traditional soldering technologies, such as induction heating. In particular, laser processing improves yields by enabling better control of the heat delivered into the part, thus resulting in lower thermal gradients, less residual stress, and overall reduced breakage. For plastics welding applications, the high power output of the HB-Diode system provides increased throughput over lower power lasers. This can be achieved by using a single beam at a high feed rate, or by using multiple, lower power output beams for parallel processing.

Founded in 1966, Coherent, Inc. is a Russell 2000 Index company and a world leader in providing laser-based solutions to the commercial and scientific research markets. Please direct any questions to Andre McFayden, product line manager, at (408) 64-4676, e-mail andre.mcfayden@coherent.com. For more information about Coherent, including product and financial updates, visit our website at http://www.Coherent.com.

Note, this article was previously published at http://www.solarpowerauthority.com/massachusetts/ that article has been updated and refocused, visit the page to learn more or read on for older resources.

Incentives and Rebates

Statewide
Recently, in November of 2007, Massachusetts passed the Green Communities Act of 2007, which aims to give incentives to private citizens, businesses and corporations, and municipalities to invest in energy-saving technologies like solar-power. Under this bill, the Department of Clean Energy was also created, which was formed to oversee the success and continuation of the ideas set into motion back in 2007.

Property Tax
According to Massachusetts law, citizens who employ solar-energy systems as their main or back-up power system, whether it be to heat their taxable property or to provide any other kind of energy for their taxable property (house, yard, garage, shed etc.), can be exempt from local property tax for a length of twenty years. This Massachusetts state incentive solely applies to the added value to the citizen's property by a specifically eligible system (as set by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources--DOER) http://www.state.ma.us/doer

Sales Tax
State law of Massachusetts also exempts any equipment that directly relates to any solar powered system that is being used for the main or secondary power for the citizen's primary residence in the state--and this includes heating and any other kind of energy that is solar powered--from the Massachusetts sales tax. http://www.state.ma.us/
doer/programs/renew/renew.htm#taxcred

Patent Exemption
The state of Massachusetts also allows citizens who receive income from selling a patent or receive royalty from a patent that the state declares "beneficial for energy conservation or alternative energy development" to deduct these forms of income from their income tax. To see if your patent is eligible for this deduction, contact the Massachusetts commissioner of energy resources. This incentive is different from all of the other incentives because it rewards an intangible idea, or intellectual property, rather than "real" property.  http://www.state.ma.us/doer/programs/renew/renew.htm#taxcred


Corporate
In Massachusetts, corporations are allowed to deduct expenditures due to the purchase or installation of any solar- or wind- powered unit or system, including climate control systems and heating systems, from their net income. This deduction can also include labor expenditures when installing the system. According to DSIRE, the Database of State Initiatives for Renewables and Efficiency, http://www.dsireusa.org , the system or unit must be used exclusively for the business itself, not personal use, and the unit must be located in Massachusetts. This also allows for a tax exemption: "[any] unit that qualifies for this deduction will not be taxed under the tangible property measure of the state's corporate excise tax."

MassSAVE
http://www.masssave.com/about/heat_loan.php
MassSAVE, which deems itself "a residential conservation services program administered by Massachusetts electric companies, gas companies and municipal aggregators," proffers a nice incentive of 0% interest financing to aid private consumers in increasing the energy efficiency of their houses. This HEAT Loan Program is up for grabs to any residential customers who live in a 1-4 family home, who purchase the power for their house from one or more of MassSAVE's participating companies, and who, through the MassSAVE Program, go through a Home Energy Assessment. If customers pass these requirements, they can choose one of two options; either applying for a no interest loan, or receiving various (applicable) MassSAVE Program Rebates for whatever system the customer has installed in their domicile. These loans can range from two to ten thousand dollars up to ten years. The HEAT Loan specifically declares solar hot water systems as eligible, but also addresses these other energy savers as loan-eligible: Attic, Wall, and Basement Insulation, High Efficiency Heating Systems, High Efficiency Domestic Hot Water Systems, Energy Star® Windows, and Energy Star® Thermostats. Finally, these energy-efficient improvements must be at or beyond efficiency standards set forth by the MassSAVE Program, and personal or "DIY" installations of these improvements will not qualify for the loan.

Commonwealth Solar
http://www.masstech.org/solar
Commonwealth Solar began at the beginning of 2008 by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC); it is a four-year, 68 million dollar program that tries to encourage installations of solar or photovoltaic (PV) systems across the state of Massachusetts. Of the 68 million dollars that came jointly from the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust ($40 million) and the Alternative Compliance Payment from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources ($28 million), the program intends to save 16 million dollars to fit Massachusetts public buildings with solar power and at least 8 million dollars is to be saved for photovoltaic installations on homes. Massachusetts predicts a total of 27 megawatts in photovoltaic projects to be completed over the four-year period.

Commonwealth Solar offers rebates "for the installation of grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) systems at residential, commercial, industrial, institutional and public facilities." The size of these rebates depends on the size of the photovoltaic unit or system in question, but other aspects of the individual project may also affect the amount of the rebate. Minimum size of the photovoltaic project is 1 kilowatt (DC). Rebates are limited to 100% of total installed costs or on a max system size of 5 kilowatts (DC) even if the system exceeds that size.
Rebate sizes for residential photovoltaic systems are currently:

• Base incentive: $2.00/watt
• Adder for Massachusetts company components: $0.25/watt
• Adder for moderate home value: $1.25/watt
• Adder for moderate income: $1.00/watt or $2.00/watt, depending on income level

An energy-efficiency audit is strongly suggested when installing these systems.
 
Chicopee Electric Light
http://www.celd.com
With Chicopee Electric Light, customers (residential) who take the initiative to install solar photovoltaic systems on their homes or garages can get rebates for their energy-efficient actions. These residential customers are able to receive rebates at $2.50/watt, maxing at $5,000/installation. Rebates are also capped at the first 15,000 watts that are installed each year. 

National Grid
http://www.thinksmartthinkgreen.com
National Grid (residential) customers who utilize specifically eligible SHW units may submit an application for a rebate that cuts fifteen percent off any solar system project expenses. This rebate maxes at $1,500 for solar water-heating systems. There is one extra requirement: National Grid asks any residential customers who apply for the rebate to disclose their personal water heating usage data for one year for data and survey purposes, if they wish to get the rebate.

Harvard
Harvard campus in Massachusetts has looked toward educating their students on solar-power and other energy alternatives through the Green Campus Initiative. http://www.greencampus.harvard.edu/cre/solarthermal.php The campus has certainly kept its promise to the Green Campus Initiative, and has installed several photovoltaic systems on campus, including

1. HBS Shad Hall PV- 36 kW, 192 panels. Installed in 2003.
2. Harvard Forest PV- 10.2 kW, 60 panels. Installed in 2007.
3. Science Center lamp- 2kWh of electricity per day.
4. Science Center Thin-film PV- 10 kW. Installed in August 2007.

 The Harvard School of Public Health Renewable Energy Commitment has also bought renewable energy alternatives that have offset ONE HALF of the university's electricity use for the third year in a row. http://www.greencampus.harvard.edu/lgci/renewable.php

And to make sure that Harvard ranks #1 among universities buying renewable energy resources, the president of Harvard recently set forth a three hundred thousand dollar Renewable Energy Fund to help the university make leaps and bounds when it comes to decreasing their carbon footprint on the world.

Harvard communities also offers the Harvard Solar Advantage, where people can buy homes from their architect collection--where every home is fitted with solar-energy teachnology. Your Harvard Solar Advantage home will qualify you for a one-time $2,000 federal tax credit. To find out more, visit www.harvardcommunities.com/solaradvantage.php

Businesses
There are many businesses that sell solar energy systems and products in Massachusetts, and we have included several of them below. To add your listing or update information please contact us. This article originally appeared at Solar Power Authority.

Advanced Energy Systems Development, LLC - 617 775-1720
Alternative Energy Store - 877-878-4060
ATC Energy Management - 508 410-1799
Boston Solar Living, Inc. - 617-787-6527
Central New England Solar Store - 508.832.4344
Clean Energy Design - 508-428-5616
Cotuit Solar - 508-428-8442
Enviro-H.V.A.C. - 508-566-1544
Nelson Mechanical Design - 508-696-3120
New England Breeze - 978-567-9463
New England Solar Electric Inc. - 413-238-5974
New England Solar Hot Water - 781-536-8633
NexGen Energy Solutions, LLC - 978-688-2700
PowerBees, Inc. - 617-852-3888
Practical Solar, Inc. - 617-464-1770
Real Time Conservation - 508-743-9778
Renewable Energy Systems LLC - 781-545-3320
Solar Works, Inc now Altaris - 800-339-7804
SolarFlair Energy, Inc. - 508-293-4293
Solar Innovations - 978-394-3555
Solar Tech Solutions - 617-264-4479
Sun Energy of the Berkshires - 413-447-7658
Sun Tech Solar Service - 413-665-4100
Sunshine Solar Technologies - 631-615-4440
Vaughn Manufacturing Corporation - 978-462-6683
Village Plumbing - 508-636-9080

Education

• The University of Massachusetts at Amherst offers courses in solar energy in the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department. www.ecs.umass.edu/mie
• The University of Massachusetts at Lowell also offers courses in solar energy in their Mechanical Engineering Department. http://energy.caeds.eng.uml.edu/
  

Note, this article was previously published at http://solarpowerauthority.com/nevada/ that article has been updated and refocused, visit the page to learn more or read on for older resources.

Incentives and Rebates

Nevada's Energy Portfolio Standard declares that by 2015, state's total energy should be 20% derived from renewable sources, and in it 5% must come from solar energy. This declaration came with an incentive for power companies; Government will approve their application for credit. This credit will be calculated from the total number of renewable kilowatts they will generate. Government has shown enormous interest in solar energy by keeping the largest credit for Solar Power, $2.4/KW precisely.

Property Tax Abatement

The Nevada's law has gone through some amendments to encourage people to use renewable energy sources including solar power. To summaries the matter, Database of State  Incentive for Renewable & Efficiency (DSIRE) puts it here "In the special session of June 2005, Nevada passed Assembly Bill number 3, which included provisions for a partial abatement of property taxes for property that has a building or structure that meets or exceeds the United States Green Building Council's LEED Silver rating system. The partial abatement was for duration of not more than 10 years and was not to exceed 50% of the property taxes due." The Buildings categorized as Silver Level can receive 25%, Gold Level 30% and Platinum Level 35 % abatement of tax. All this proved to be a very successful measure, as of June 2007 around 63 million square feet had applied for tax abatement.

Net Metering

It is a method related to measuring the energy generated and consumed at a private building.  Sometimes it happens that a consumer who is generating power is left with surplus electricity, than Net-metering ensures the calculated meter backward movement, depending on the state's rules. In a way it is the crediting of excessive electricity to the consumer's account. Nevada's Net Metering rules are described by DSIRE as "Systems up to one megawatt (MW) in capacity that generate electricity using solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and certain types of hydropower are generally eligible, although systems greater than 100 kilowatts (kW) in capacity may be subject to certain costs at the utility's discretion."

ACCIONA's Nevada Solar One™

Nevada Solar One is the third largest concentrated solar power plant in the world. With approximate development cost of more than US$260 million it became operational in June 2007. It successfully demonstrates that solar power generation is feasible on a commercial scale. It generates electricity without almost emitting any CO2. And it proudly makes Nevada the largest per-capita solar energy generator in U.S. Under Power purchase agreements (PPAs), Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power Company have purchased the entire electricity generated by the plant. The PPAs make sure that electricity is produced in reasonable rates. Some informative videos can be appreciated on the web here.

ACCIONA's Nevada Solar One plant.

Nellis Air Force Base

It is the renowned installation of the Air Combat Command (ACC) located in Nellis, Nevada; it trains U.S. and foreigner aircrews. It is spread across over an area of 11,300 acres and has many photovoltaic plants; the largest Nellis Solar Star is of 140 acre. 72,000 solar panels produce Zero-CO2 emission which is equivalent to removing 185,000 cars from the city. The plant is owned by MMA Renewable Ventures, and generates 14 megawatts of electricity thus demonstrates how much abundant resources U.S. have of renewable energy.

Solatron Technologies, Inc

Apart from state's rebate, Solatron Technologies, Inc offers customer an additional U.S $400 rebate per PTC (PV USA Test Conditions) rated kilowatt. It has introduced programs like SolarGreenBacks, which offers additional cash rebate from U.S. $150 to $400, depending upon the option chosen by the customer.
 
NV Energy

NV Energy is a well known company that has served customers in northern Nevada and northeastern California for over 150 years, and southern Nevada since 1906. It offers many deals for renewable energy and for solar energy it has SolarGenerations that offers rebates to customers for using photovoltaic systems on their houses, businesses, buildings, churches and schools.

The amounts of rebate are summarized on its page
 

• Rebates for residential customers will be $2.30 per watt, up to 5,000 watts. The maximum rebate available is $11,500.
• Small business customer rebates will be $2.30 per watt, up to 30,000 watts. The maximum rebate available is $69,000.
• Schools and public buildings rebates are $4.60 per watt."
  

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) 

UNLV offers courses so that students eager to know about renewable energy may get clear idea about its importance. There are many projects that the university is participating in, offering new dimensions to renewable energy. This original article originally appeared here.

Amonix Integrated High-Concentration Photovoltaic (IHCPV) System
The project features five modular panels, each rated at 5KW making it 25-Kw ICHCPV. A live image of the system can be seen here, which is updated every 30 seconds. The exclusiveness of this project can be truly appreciated by going through this passage published on their web. "The efficiency of any solar-electric system increases if the sun is tracked (in order to absorb the most direct normal light), and this system additionally performs sun tracking. The Amonix system is an example of a "concentrator" system. It uses a tracking (not stationary) concentration scheme by use of a proprietary hydraulically-driven tracker and by "integrating" the lens, solar cell, and solar receiver plate into a single unit"

Clark Station

Zero Energy Home (ZEH)

Nevada Southwest Energy Partnership (NSWEP), Pinnacle Homes, NREL, and the Center for Energy Research have gone with a joint venture with ConSol and Nevada Power and they came across with an idea of a home that generates as much electricity as it consumes. The project is explained on the web as "The house will face north/south with the front north to the street. On the south side of the roof of the home a 5.0kW photovoltaic system will be installed. These are integrated solar panels that blend in with the roof tiles. These are a source of power throughout the year. In cool months this PV system will be able to produce more power than the home uses and put the power not used in the power grid, but in the summer months the home will use more than the PV system can produce. At the end of the fiscal year the home will have used as much power as it produced all year. This home will also save energy in the water heating. On the south side of the roof close to the ridge there will be a 50 gallon solar water heater. This water heater will supply the whole home with hot water. For the days when the weather is not warm enough there is a tank less electric water heater which will turn on automatically."

Sample Zero Energy House

Map of Solar projects

There are many projects going on in Nevada involving solar energy, there is a map that clearly depicts the location of these currently running projects. By going through the map it can easily be realized that Nevada is fully utilizing the potential it posses in the solar energy area.

School Reconstruction Policy

All the districts in Nevada are required to use renewable energy sources including solar energy whenever they are about to reconstruct the schools. Take an example of Clark County School District that has used all the renewable and innovative technologies including solar energy which has turned it into one model school of its district. The web offers all the details about its ongoing projects.

Business

There are many companies offering products and services about solar energy in Nevada. A few important companies are listed below.

Silicon Solar Inc 888-SOLAR-11
Sierra Solar Systems 775-33-SOLAR
Ben's Discount Supply Co. Inc. 800-771-7702
SolarGenerations Program 866-PV-NEVADA
American Solar Energy Society - Southern Nevada Chapter 702-285-6842
Mehrten Jim Carpentry 775-883-5770
Nevada Solar Living 702-433-6815
Aqua Sun International 775-783-8566
R V Options 866-787-8833
Alternative Energy Solutions 866-491-SOLR
Independent Power Corporation 775-331-0228
The Power Company 775-677-0999
United Solar Energy Inc. 702-451-1000

Note, this article was previously published at http://solarpowerauthority.com/florida/ that article has been updated and refocused, visit the page to learn more or read on for older resources.

Incentives and Rebates

State Wide
In December 2005, Governor Jeb Bush put Florida on board for new laws regarding renewable energy and solar power.  The Act was signed after collaboration of energy experts, environmental activists, and industry leaders.  The Act became officially active in 2006, and it is known as the 2006 Florida Energy Plan.  Attempting to give Florida residents a better reason to contribute to an environmental movement, the Act provides home owners with tax incentives for refunds and advantages for using better energy efficient techniques.

Solar energy and tax rebates provide two comprehensive incentives for home owners who convert standard energy sources to solar domestic hot water and solar electric systems.  The Florida Renewable Energy Association lists the federal and state wide incentives for tax payers to take advantage of the new laws and provisions made for environmentally friendly home owners.

The Florida Solar Rebate program provides up to a $500.00 rebate program for home owners who install solar hot water systems in the home.  In addition to home owners, there are also rebates and incentives for business and nonprofit organizations.

The Federal Government also provides a range of incentives to conserve energy and help reform environment degradation.  The Energy Act of 2005 gives tax payers up to a 30% rebate incentive on installation and equipment for solar electric or solar domestic hot water system.  The incentive does not allow in excess of $2,000.00.
 
In July of 2008, the state had approved the construction of the largest solar power facility in the United States.  The move was made to push Florida into the recent "go green" initiatives throughout the country.  Three large solar plants will be constructed in the middle of the state in Martin County.

Miami
Miami has put forth an initiative to become more energy efficient.  The big city has instituted some rebates for home owners to attempt to lower emissions and inefficient energy use.  Home owners who install a High-Efficiency Clothes Washer are eligible for up to $150 rebate from the city.
 
In 2005, Miami also enacted an incentive for city builders to install energy efficient solar power panels in new buildings. This article originally appeared on Solar Power Authority. The incentive is for contractors who apply for permits for building improvements.  The city promises to expedite permits submitted for commercial or residential improvements that are environmentally friendly.

To keep up with growing trends, the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area just opened its first solar power commercial building in January 2009.  The solar powered building was constructed with the idea that taking advantage of tax rebates could save the owners up to $100,000 per year or $4 per kilowatt of energy.

Tampa
Tampa has derived incentives through the city electric company, Tampa Electric.  The company has provided rebates up to $30.00 per ton or $0.0025 per Btu.  The incentive is for any home owner who decides to install equipment that meets Tampa Electric's energy efficient standards.

Tampa Electric also offers incentives for businesses that install commercial units that lower energy usage during peak hours through their Commercial Load Management Program.

Orlando
OUC has a variety of rebates and incentives for home improvements that create a better energy efficient home.   Incentives include up to $100.00 in rebates to install better installation in attics.  Solar panels are also given incentives for rebates up to $75.00.  The highest rebate also gives back $300 for home owners who install more energy efficient heat pumps.

In addition to rebates, the Orlando Utilities Commission also offers loans for home owners who wish to install solar panels.  Depending on the system, customers may borrow amounts up to $15,000 to improve home energy usage through solar power.

The Orlando Utilities Commission has also introduced the Pilot Solar Program that offers to buy back credits from consumers who have installed solar panels.  Incentive payments are equal to $0.05/kWh for PV and $0.03/kWh for solar water heating (SWH) systems.  The payment credits show on customer utility statements monthly.

Jacksonville
Jacksonville's energy supplier also offers businesses a way to receive energy rebates that help businesses better their community energy usage.   Incentives are better for customers who use local vendors.  Home owners can receive up to $800 in rebates using a local vendor, and businesses can gain up to 30% of the cost to install solar heating but no more than $5,000.00.

Jacksonville also offers owners of broken water heaters to upgrade to better efficient heaters and restore currently broken units.  Owners of broken units can save up to $500 in rebates for repairs.

Solar energy brings high incentive rewards for Jacksonville residents.  The city offers up to $800 to install solar power heating systems in the home.  This offer is in addition to the thirty percent break from the federal government.  Jacksonville has also analyzed cost and found that use of solar power products pay for themselves in five years after installation.

Tallahassee
The City of Tallahassee Utilities also offers a wide range of incentives.  The city offers rebates for home owners who purchase Energy-Star plug-in appliances.  Large appliances such as refrigerators, freezers and clothes washers that meet energy efficient standards and have been purchases after February 20, 2008 can be reimbursed up to $100 depending on the unit.
The city also offers a huge savings to those who decide to install more efficient insulation.  Several standards are required depending on the nature of heating.  Each standard offers rebates if installation meets city requirements.

For those who need financing for solar energy products, Tallahassee offers small loans with as low as 5% rates.  The city provides consumers with loans of up to $20,000 to help finance more energy efficient systems in the home.  They provide consumers with a loan handbook for all products that are eligible for these incentives.

Education

The Florida Energy Education Center offers programs to help consumers learn about the importance of energy efficiency.  It hosts events and courses for helping the environment and providing users with the knowledge of solar power.

Magazines focusing on solar power and more efficient energy ideas can be found at http://www.homepower.com/home.

Businesses

Several businesses provide solar power installations and education for home owners who are interested in converting their energy units.  Below is a list of providers who can help home owners decide which unit is best for each individual home.

• Ev Track
• Solar Do It Yourself
• Technology Solar Solutions
• Sunergy Direct LLC
• The Energy Outlet
• Sunshine Solar Services
• Solar Tech America
• Silicon Solar
• Brandon Electric
• Fla Solar
• Florida Solar
• Solar Fit
• Solar Energy Systems
• Tryon Pool Heating