Live in another state? See all our Solar Incentives by
State
All of New Jersey can take advantage of the 26%
Federal Tax Credit, which will allow you to recoup 26% of
your equipment AND installation costs for an unlimited amount.
There may still be other local rebates from your city, county, or utility. Check below!
New Jersey Solar PV Rebates & Incentives
Data from DSIRE. Last updated: 05/25/2022
Name | Administrator | Budget | Last Updated | End Date | DSIRE ID | Summary | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solar Energy Sales Tax Exemption | New Jersey Division of Taxation | 03/10/21 | 05/25/22 | 219 | New Jersey offers a full exemption from the state's sales tax for all solar energy equipment. This exemption is available to all taxpayers. All major types solar energy equipment, including equipment for passive solar design, are considered eligible for the exemption as described by the New Jersey Division of Taxation Publication S&U-6 (Sales Tax Exemption Administration). According to S&U-6, the exemption includes all solar energy "devices or systems specifically approved by the Board of Public Utilities, Division of Energy and designed to provide heating or cooling or electrical or mechanical power by converting solar energy to some other usable energy source, including devices for storing solar-generated energy." The exemption does not apply to devices that would be required regardless of the energy source being utilized. In order to claim the exemption, the purchaser must fill out and submit Form ST-4 (Exempt Use Certificate) to the seller instead of paying sales tax. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Business Energy Investment Tax Credit (ITC) | U.S. Internal Revenue Service | 02/24/21 | 05/25/22 | 658 | Note: The Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020, signed in December 2020, extended the phase out of this tax credit for certain technologies. The bill also provides a 30% tax credit for offshore wind facilities in inland navigable waters or coastal waters of the United States for which construction commences prior to 2026. The federal Business Energy Investment Tax Credit (ITC) has been amended a number of times, most recently in December 2020. The table below shows the value of the investment tax credit for each technology by year. The dates are based on when construction begins.
In general, the original use of the equipment must begin with the taxpayer, or the system must be constructed by the taxpayer. The equipment must also meet any performance and quality standards in effect at the time the equipment is acquired. The energy property must be operational in the year in which the credit is first taken. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential Energy Conservation Subsidy Exclusion (Personal) | U.S. Internal Revenue Service | 05/16/18 | 05/25/22 | 666 | According to Section 136 of the U.S. Code, energy conservation subsidies provided (directly or indirectly) to customers by public utilities* are non-taxable. This exclusion does not apply to electricity-generating systems registered as "qualifying facilities" under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA). If a taxpayer claims federal tax credits or deductions for the energy conservation property, the investment basis for the purpose of claiming the deduction or tax credit must be reduced by the value of the energy conservation subsidy (i.e., a taxpayer may not claim a tax credit for an expense that the taxpayer ultimately did not pay). The term "energy conservation measure" includes installations or modifications primarily designed to reduce consumption of electricity or natural gas, or to improve the management of energy demand. Eligible dwelling units include houses, apartments, condominiums, mobile homes, boats and similar properties. If a building or structure contains both dwelling units and other units, any subsidy must be properly allocated. The definition of "energy conservation measure" implies that utility rebates for residential solar-thermal projects and photovoltaic (PV) systems may be non-taxable. However, the IRS has not ruled definitively on this issue. Taxpayers considering using this provision for a renewable energy system should discuss the details of the project with a tax professional. Other types of utility subsidies that may come in the form of credits or reduced rates might also be non-taxable, according to IRS Publication 525. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Modified Accelerated Cost-Recovery System (MACRS) | U.S. Internal Revenue Service | 08/21/18 | 05/25/22 | 676 | Note: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 increased bonus depreciation to 100% for qualified property acquired and placed in service after September 27, 2017 and before January 1, 2023. Under the federal Modified Accelerated Cost-Recovery System (MACRS), businesses may recover investments in certain property through depreciation deductions. The MACRS establishes a set of class lives for various types of property, ranging from three to 50 years, over which the property may be depreciated. A number of renewable energy technologies are classified as five-year property (26 USC § 168(e)(3)(B)(vi)) under the MACRS, which refers to 26 USC § 48(a)(3)(A), often known as the energy investment tax credit or ITC to define eligible property. Such property currently includes*:
In addition, for certain other types of renewable energy property, such as biomass or marine and hydrokinetic property, the MACRS property class life is seven years. Eligible biomass property generally includes assets used in the conversion of biomass to heat or to a solid, liquid or gaseous fuel, and to equipment and structures used to receive, handle, collect and process biomass in a waterwall, combustion system, or refuse-derived fuel system to create hot water, gas, steam and electricity. Marine and hydrokinetic property includes facilities that utilize waves, tides, currents, free-flowing water, or differentials in ocean temperature to generate energy. It does not include traditional hydropower that uses dams, diversionary structures, or impoundments.
Bonus Depreciation Bonus Depreciation History
The 50% first-year bonus depreciation provision enacted in 2008 was extended (retroactively for the entire 2009 tax year) under the same terms by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (H.R. 1), enacted in February 2009. It was renewed again in September 2010 (retroactively for the entire 2010 tax year) by the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (H.R. 5297). In December 2010 the provision for bonus depreciation was amended and extended yet again by the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4853). Under these amendments, eligible property placed in service after September 8, 2010 and before January 1, 2012 was permitted to qualify for 100% first-year bonus depreciation. The December 2010 amendments also permitted bonus depreciation to be claimed for property placed in service during 2012, but reverted the allowable amount from 100% to 50% of the eligible basis. The 50% first-year bonus depreciation allowance was further extended for property placed in service during 2013 by the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (H.R. 8, Sec. 331) in January 2013. The Tax Increase Prevention Act Of 2014 (H.R. 5771, Sec. 125), extended these provisions through to December 31, 2014, and thus retroactively for the 2014 tax year. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential Energy Conservation Subsidy Exclusion (Corporate) | U.S. Internal Revenue Service | 05/16/18 | 05/25/22 | 727 | According to Section 136 of the U.S. Code, energy conservation subsidies provided (directly or indirectly) to customers by public utilities* are non-taxable. This exclusion does not apply to electricity-generating systems registered as "qualifying facilities" under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA). If a taxpayer claims federal tax credits or deductions for the energy conservation property, the investment basis for the purpose of claiming the deduction or tax credit must be reduced by the value of the energy conservation subsidy (i.e., a taxpayer may not claim a tax credit for an expense that the taxpayer ultimately did not pay). The term "energy conservation measure" includes installations or modifications primarily designed to reduce consumption of electricity or natural gas, or to improve the management of energy demand. Eligible dwelling units include houses, apartments, condominiums, mobile homes, boats and similar properties. If a building or structure contains both dwelling units and other units, any subsidy must be properly allocated. The definition of "energy conservation measure" implies that utility rebates for residential solar-thermal projects and photovoltaic (PV) systems may be non-taxable. However, the IRS has not ruled definitively on this issue. Taxpayers considering using this provision for a renewable energy system should discuss the details of the project with a tax professional. Other types of utility subsidies that may come in the form of credits or reduced rates might also be non-taxable, according to IRS Publication 525. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Renewable Electricity Production Tax Credit (PTC) | U.S. Internal Revenue Service | 01/27/21 | 05/25/22 | 734 | Note: The Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020, signed in December 2020, extended the deadline for eligible systems to qualify for this tax credit. Wind projects started in either 2020 or 2021 will qualify for a production tax credit at 60% of the full rate on the electrical output for 10 years. Tax credits for other technologies may be claimed at the full rate. The federal renewable electricity production tax credit (PTC) is an inflation-adjusted per-kilowatt-hour (kWh) tax credit for electricity generated by qualified energy resources and sold by the taxpayer to an unrelated person during the taxable year. The duration of the credit is 10 years after the date the facility is placed in service for all facilities placed in service. Originally enacted in 1992, the PTC has been renewed and expanded numerous times, most recently by the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Relief Act of 2020. Amount The tax credit amount is $0.015 per kWh in 1993 dollars for some technologies and half of that amount for others. The amount is adjusted for inflation by multiplying the tax credit amount by the inflation adjustment factor for the calendar year in which the sale occurs, rounded to the nearest 0.1 cents. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) publishes the inflation adjustment factor no later than April 1 each year in the Federal Register. For 2020, the inflation adjustment factor used by the IRS is 1.6687. Earlier legislation introduced a step down of the credit amount for wind, while phasing out the credit for other technologies. Subsequent legislation has pushed back the stepdown for wind and the phase out for other technologies. As such, the credit today includes a 40% step-down in the credit amount for wind, but other technologies can receive the full credit amount. Applying the inflation-adjustment factor for the 2020 calendar year, and the 40% step-down for wind, the production tax credit amount is as follows:
Duration The duration of the credit is 10 years after the date the facility is placed in service. Two exceptions applied to facilities placed in service more than a decade ago:
Investment Tax Credit in Lieu of Claiming the PTC Renewable energy facilities placed in service after 2008 and commencing construction prior to 2018 (or 2020 for wind facilities) may elect to make an irrevocable election to claim the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) in lieu of the PTC. Wind facilities making such an election will have the ITC amount reduced by the same phase-down specified above for facilities commencing construction in 2017, 2018, or 2019. Process for Claiming The credit is claimed by completing Form 8835, "Renewable Electricity Production Credit," and Form 3800, "General Business Credit." For more information, contact IRS Telephone Assistance for Businesses at 1-800-829-4933. Determination of Commencing Construction To claim the PTC, construction on an eligible project must have “commenced construction” prior to January 1, 2015. The IRS has issued guidance on how it will evaluate whether construction has commenced in IRS Notices 2013-29, 2013-60, 2014-46, 2015-25, and 2016-31 (please see the full text of these notices for complete information on determining the commencing of construction). The guidelines establish two methods—a “physical work” test and a 5% safe harbor (see sections below for details)—to determine when construction has begun on a qualified facility. Meeting the criteria of either method is sufficient to demonstrate that construction has commenced. Both methods require that a taxpayer make continuous progress towards completion once construction has begun by meeting the Continuous Construction Test (to satisfy the Physical Work Test) or the Continuous Efforts Test (to satisfy Safe Harbor). If a taxpayer places a facility in service during a calendar year that is no more than four calendar years after the calendar year during which construction of the facility began, the facility will be considered to satisfy the Continuity Safe Harbor Physical Work Test The physical work test provides that a taxpayer may establish the beginning of construction by beginning "physical work of a significant nature.” The physical work test is based on the nature of the work performed rather than the cost of the work; if the work performed is of a significant nature, then “there is no fixed minimum amount of work or monetary or percentage threshold required to satisfy the Physical Work Test” (Notice 2014-46). Notice 2013-29 provides several examples of actions that constitute work of a significant nature, including:
Safe Harbor Safe Harbor with respect to a facility is demonstrated by showing that 5% or more of the total cost of the facility was paid or incurred. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Energy-Efficient Mortgages | 08/05/20 | 05/25/22 | 742 |
Homeowners can take advantage of energy efficient mortgages (EEM) to either finance energy efficiency improvements to existing homes, including renewable energy technologies, or to increase their home buying power with the purchase of a new energy efficient home. The U.S. federal government supports these loans by insuring them through Federal Housing Authority (FHA) or Veterans Affairs (VA) programs. This allows borrowers who might otherwise be denied loans to pursue energy efficiency, and it secures lenders against loan default.
Loan amounts may not exceed the projected savings of the energy efficiency improvements. These loans may be combined with FHA 203 (h) mortgages available to victims of presidentially-declared disasters and with financing offered through the FHA 203 (k) rehabilitation program. FHA loan limits do not apply to the EEM. Borrowers must obtain a home energy assessment by a qualified energy rater, assessor, or auditor using whole-assessment standards, protocols, and procedures.
ENERGY STAR Partnership for Lenders | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
USDA - Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Grants | U.S. Department of Agriculture | $600 million for FY 2018 | 08/21/18 | 05/25/22 | 917 | Note: The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development issues periodic Notices of Solicitation of Applications for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) in the Federal Register. The FY 2018 solicitation for the REAP program includes a total budget of approximately $800 million. The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides financial assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses in America to purchase, install, and construct renewable energy systems, make energy efficiency improvements to non-residential buildings and facilities, use renewable technologies that reduce energy consumption, and participate in energy audits and renewable energy development assistance. Renewable energy projects for the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loan and Grant Program include wind, solar, biomass and geothermal, and hydrogen derived from biomass or water using wind, solar, or geothermal energy sources. These grants are limited to 25% of a proposed project's cost, and a loan guarantee may not exceed $25 million. The combined amount of a grant and loan guarantee must be at least $5,000 (with the grant portion at least $1,500) and may not exceed 75% of the project’s cost. In general, a minimum of 20% of the funds available for these incentives will be dedicated to grants of $20,000 or less. For more information on grant, loan guarantees, loan financing, and opportunities for combinations thereof, visit the USDA website. Application due dates are published annually in the Notice of Funding Availability. Eligibility Grants and Guaranteed Loans are generally available to small businesses and agricultural producers and other entities as determined by USDA. To be eligible for REAP grants and guaranteed loans, applicants must demonstrate sufficient revenue to cover any operations and maintenance expense as well as any applicable debt service of the project for the duration of the guaranteed loan or grant. Rural small businesses must be located in rural areas, but agricultural producers may be located in non-rural areas. Eligible project costs include purchasing energy efficiency improvements or a renewable energy system, energy audits or assessments, permitting and licensing fees, and business plans and retrofitting. For new construction the replacement of older equipment with more efficient equipment may be eligible as a project cost only when a new facility is planned to be more efficient and similarly sized than the older facility. Working capital and land acquisition are only eligible for loan guarantees. For more information regarding applicant and project eligibility for loans and grants, visit the USDA REAP eligibility webpage, read the eligibility requirements in the most recent Solicitation of Applications for REAP funding in the Federal Registry, and/or contact your state rural energy coordinator. Regional rural energy coordinators provide loan and grant applications upon request. History
The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (H.R. 2419), enacted by Congress in May 2008, converted the federal Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program,* into the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Similar to its predecessor, the REAP promotes energy efficiency and renewable energy for agricultural producers and rural small businesses through the use of (1) grants and loan guarantees for energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems, and (2) grants for energy audits and renewable energy development assistance. Congress has allocated funding for the new program in the following amounts: $55 million for FY 2009, $60 million for FY 2010, $70 million for FY 2011, and $70 million for FY 2012. REAP is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In addition to these mandatory funding levels, up to $25 million in discretionary funding may be issued each year. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (H.R. 8) extended discretionary funding for FY 2013. The 2014 Farm Bill reauthorized the USDA to offer these programs and removed the mandate to offer grants for feasibility studies. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs - Funding Opportunities | U.S. Department of Energy | 02/26/20 | 05/25/22 | 918 | The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs promotes tribal energy sufficiency, economic growth, and employment on tribal lands through the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. The program provides financial assistance, technical assistance, and education and training to tribes for the evaluation and development of renewable energy resources and energy efficiency measures. DOE's program offerings consist of program management through DOE headquarters, program implementation and project management through DOE's field offices, and technical support through DOE laboratories. Program management is carried out by DOE's Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program, which provides programmatic direction and funding to DOE field offices for program implementation. DOE's Golden Field Office solicits, awards, administers, and manages financial assistance agreements. Program funding is awarded through a competitive process. Click here to view current program funding opportunities, and here to apply for technical assistance. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit | U.S. Internal Revenue Service | 03/15/21 | 12/31/23 | 1235 | Note: The Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020, signed in December 2020, extended the phase out of this tax credit. A taxpayer may claim a credit for a system that serves a dwelling unit located in the United States that is owned and used as a residence by the taxpayer. Expenditures with respect to the equipment are treated as made when the installation is completed. If the installation is at a new home, the "placed in service" date is the date of occupancy by the homeowner. Expenditures include labor costs for on-site preparation, assembly or original system installation, and for piping or wiring to interconnect a system to the home. If the federal tax credit exceeds tax liability, the excess amount may be carried forward to the succeeding taxable year. The maximum allowable credit, equipment requirements and other details vary by technology, as outlined below. Solar-electric property
Solar water-heating property
Fuel cell property
Small wind-energy property
Geothermal heat pumps
Biomass Heaters
Significantly, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 repealed a previous limitation on the use of the credit for eligible projects also supported by "subsidized energy financing." For projects placed in service after December 31, 2008, this limitation no longer applies. Energy Storage The federal tax code does not explicitly reference energy storage, so stand-alone energy storage systems do not qualify for the tax credit. However, the IRS issued Private Letter Rulings in 2013 and 2018, which address energy storage paired with PV systems. In both cases, the IRS ruled that the energy storage equipment when paired with PV met the statutory definition of a "qualified solar electric property expenditure," as was eligible for the tax credit. It is important to note that Private Letter Rulings only apply to the taxpayer who requested it, and do not establish precedent. Any taxpayer considering the purchase of an energy storage system should consult their accountant or other tax professional before claiming a tax credit. History Established by The Energy Policy Act of 2005, the federal tax credit for residential energy property initially applied to solar-electric systems, solar water heating systems and fuel cells. The Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 extended the tax credit to small wind-energy systems and geothermal heat pumps, effective January 1, 2008. Other key revisions included an eight-year extension of the credit to December 31, 2016; the ability to take the credit against the alternative minimum tax; and the removal of the $2,000 credit limit for solar-electric systems beginning in 2009. The credit was further enhanced in February 2009 by The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which removed the maximum credit amount for all eligible technologies (except fuel cells) placed in service after 2008. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs) | U.S. Internal Revenue Service | 08/15/18 | 05/25/22 | 2510 | Note: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 repealed section 54C of the Internal Revenue Code, which authorized the use of New CREBs. IRS Notice 2018-15 announced that the IRS will no longer process applications for or issue allocations of New CREBs. The summary below describes CREBs before they were repealed, and is here for historical purposes only.
Clean renewable energy bonds (CREBs) may be used by certain entities -- primarily in the public sector -- to finance renewable energy projects. The list of qualifying technologies is generally the same as that used for the federal renewable energy production tax credit (PTC). CREBs may be issued by electric cooperatives, government entities (states, cities, counties, territories, Indian tribal governments or any political subdivision thereof), and by certain lenders. The bondholder receives federal tax credits in lieu of a portion of the traditional bond interest, resulting in a lower effective interest rate for the borrower.* The issuer remains responsible for repaying the principal on the bond. The tax credit rate is set daily by the U.S. Treasury Department. Under past allocations, the credit could be taken quarterly on a dollar-for-dollar basis to offset the tax liability of the bondholder. However, under the new CREBs allocation, the credit has been reduced to 70% of what it would have been otherwise. Other important changes are described in IRS Notice 2009-33. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
USDA - Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Loan Guarantees | U.S. Department of Agriculture | 08/21/18 | 05/25/22 | 2511 | The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides financial assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses in rural America to purchase, install, and construct renewable energy systems, make energy efficiency improvements to non-residential buildings and facilities, use renewable technologies that reduce energy consumption, and participate in energy audits and renewable energy development assistance. Renewable energy projects for the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loan and Grant Program include wind, solar, biomass and geothermal, and hydrogen derived from biomass or water using wind, solar, or geothermal energy sources. These grants are limited to 25% of a proposed project's cost, and a loan guarantee may not exceed $25 million. The combined amount of a grant and loan guarantee must be at least $5,000 (with the grant portion at least $1,500) and may not exceed 75% of the project’s cost. In general, a minimum of 20% of the funds available for these incentives will be dedicated to grants of $20,000 or less. For more information on grant, loan guarantees, loan financing, and opportunities for combinations thereof, visit the USDA website. Application due dates are published annually in the Notice of Funding Availability. Eligibility Grants and Guaranteed Loans are generally available to small businesses and agricultural producers and other entities as determined by USDA. To be eligible for REAP grants and guaranteed loans, applicants must demonstrate sufficient revenue to cover any operations and maintenance expense as well as any applicable debt service of the project for the duration of the guaranteed loan or grant. Rural small businesses must be located in rural areas, but agricultural producers may be located in non-rural areas. Eligible project costs include purchasing energy efficiency improvements or a renewable energy system, energy audits or assessments, permitting and licensing fees, and business plans and retrofitting. For new construction the replacement of older equipment with more efficient equipment may be eligible as a project cost only when a new facility is planned to be more efficient and similarly sized than the older facility. Working capital and land acquisition are only eligible for loan guarantees. For more information regarding applicant and project eligibility for loans and grants, visit the USDA REAP eligibility webpage, read the eligibility requirements in the most recent Solicitation of Applications for REAP funding in the Federal Registry, and/or contact your state rural energy coordinator. Regional rural energy coordinators provide loan and grant applications upon request. History
The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (H.R. 2419), enacted by Congress in May 2008, converted the federal Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program,* into the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Similar to its predecessor, the REAP promotes energy efficiency and renewable energy for agricultural producers and rural small businesses through the use of (1) grants and loan guarantees for energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems, and (2) grants for energy audits and renewable energy development assistance. Congress has allocated funding for the new program in the following amounts: $55 million for FY 2009, $60 million for FY 2010, $70 million for FY 2011, and $70 million for FY 2012. REAP is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In addition to these mandatory funding levels, up to $25 million in discretionary funding may be issued each year. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (H.R. 8) extended discretionary funding for FY 2013. The 2014 Farm Bill reauthorized the USDA to offer these programs and removed the mandate to offer grants for feasibility studies. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PSE&G - Solar Loan Program | Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) | $100 million (Solar Loan III) | 02/27/17 | 05/25/22 | 2910 | NOTE: The program held its 17th round of solicitation from January 23, 2017 to February 13, 2017. Applications are accepted through 4-6 competitive solicitations on an every-other month basis until program capacity of 97 MW is met. Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) of New Jersey, the largest utility in the State, offers loans for "behind the meter" photovoltaic (PV) systems to all customer classes in its electric service territory. The program opened in April 2008 with a goal of installing 30 megawatts (MW) of customer-sited PV through the issuance of loans totaling $105 million. The initial program, termed Solar Loan I, was operating with a waiting list by July 2009. Solar Loan II was opened in December 2009 to provide additional loans of $143 million with an initial goal of supporting a further 51 MW of capacity. The most recent version Solar Loan III began accepting application in Fall 2013 with a goal of installing additional 97.5 MW of solar over 2-3 years.
The current program provides loans which typically cover 40-60% of the cost of PV systems with the remainder to be paid for or financed separately by the customer. A loan term of 10 years is available to both residential and non-residential customers at an interest rate of 11.179%. The actual maximum loan amount is based on how much energy the customer’s PV system is expected to produce over the term of the loan. The loan program website contains a loan calculator tool for this purpose. Loans are only available to systems of 5,000 kW DC or less that are eligible for net metering and to generate Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) under New Jersey State regulations.
For each application period, each segment is allocated a certain amount of capacity to serve eligible applicants on a first-come, first-serve basis. Excess capacity that exists from a solicitation may be carried forward to the following solicitation, while applications in excess of the available allocation will be prioritized based on the time of application submission and SREC floor price bid. Such applications are then put on a waiting list for the next solicitation.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Department of Energy - Loan Guarantee Program | U.S. Department of Energy | 08/18/16 | 05/25/22 | 3071 | Note: President Obama and DOE issued new supplemental guidance for Renewable Energy and Efficient Energy (REEE) Projects that adds $500 million of loan guarantee authority, making the total available approximately $4.5 billion. It also released guidance to clarify the types of Distributed Energy Projects it can support under the Title XVII program. The additional loan guarantee authority was officially available as of October 2015. Section 1703 of Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005 created the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Loan Guarantee Program. The program was reauthorized and revised by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 by adding Section 1705 to EPAct. The 1705 Program was retired in September 2011, and Loan Guarantees are no longer available under that authority. DOE, however, still has authority to issue Loan Guarantees under the old Section 1703 Program. Under Section 1703, DOE is authorized to issue loan guarantees for projects with high technology risks that "avoid, reduce or sequester air pollutants or anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases; and employ new or significantly improved technologies as compared to commercial technologies in service in the United States at the time the guarantee is issued." Loan guarantees are intended to encourage early commercial use of new or significantly improved technologies in energy projects. The loan guarantee program generally does not support research and development projects. Loan guarantees are provided in response to open solicitations. The application is a two part process; applicants that meet the specified requirements laid out in Part I receive an invitation to submit a Part II application. The updated supplemental guidance for Renewable Energy Projects and Energy Efficiency Projects includes an application solicitation schedule, with final Part I and Part II application due dates to November 30, 2016 (extended in a Fifth Supplement released June 2016). Up to $3 billion is available in loan guarantees for projects in renewable energy, efficient end-use, and efficient generation, transmission, and distribution technologies (plus an additional amount that may be imputed based on the credit subsidy cost of the loan guarantee authority). See the program website for more details on eligibility and the application process. Section 1703 requires either an appropriation to cover the Credit Subsidy Cost (the expected long term liability to the Federal Government for providing the loan guarantee), or payment of the Credit Subsidy Cost by the borrower. A credit-based interest rate spread will be added to certain loans receiving a 100% loan guarantee from DOE and financing from the Federal Financing Bank. Rates and more information are available here.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds (QECBs) | U.S. Internal Revenue Service | 08/22/18 | 05/25/22 | 3098 | Note: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (HR 1) of 2017 repealed the use of tax credit bonds effective January 1, 2018. Issuers of QECBs that elected to receive direct payments from the Treasury issued on or before December 31, 2017, consistent with the Internal Revenue Code (Section 54D), will continue to receive direct payments. The summary presented below is for historical purposes.
The Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008, enacted in October 2008, authorized the issuance of Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds (QECBs) that may be used by state, local and tribal governments to finance certain types of energy projects. QECBs are qualified tax credit bonds, and in this respect are similar to new Clean Renewable Energy Bonds or CREBs. The October 2008 enabling legislation set a limit of $800 million on the volume of energy conservation tax credit bonds that may be issued by state and local governments. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, enacted in February 2009, expanded the allowable bond volume to $3.2 billion. In April 2009, the IRS issued Notice 2009-29 providing interim guidance on how the program will operate and how the bond volume will be allocated. Subsequently, H.R. 2847 enacted in March 2010 introduced an option allowing issuers of QECBs and New CREBs to recoup part of the interest they pay on a qualified bond through a direct subsidy from the Department of Treasury. Guidance from the IRS on this option was issued in April 2010 under Notice 2010-35. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Systems | New Jersey Department of the Treasury | 03/10/21 | 05/25/22 | 3100 |
In October 2008, New Jersey enacted legislation exempting renewable energy systems used to meet on-site electricity, heating, cooling, or general energy needs from local property taxes. (There is not a state component to property taxes in New Jersey). Eligible renewable energy systems* include solar PV, wind, fuel cells, sustainable biomass, geothermal electric, landfill gas, hydroelectric, resource recovery, wave, and tidal systems that produce electricity. Systems that produce energy from solar thermal energy (e.g., solar hot water) or geothermal energy (e.g., geothermal heat pumps) are also eligible for the exemption. The exemption may be claimed for all qualified systems installed on residential, commercial, industrial, or mixed use buildings as accessory uses. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Edison Innovation Clean Energy Manufacturing Fund - Grants and Loans | New Jersey Economic Development Authority | $2 million | 07/16/21 | 05/25/22 | 3266 | Per the State of New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, the EDA Edison Green Growth Fund Loan closed December 2012 The Edison Innovation Clean Energy Manufacturing Fund (CEMF) is intended to provide assistance for the manufacturing of energy efficient and renewable energy products that will assist Class I renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies in becoming competitive with traditional sources of electric generation. The CEMF is administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) and is structured to provide grants (Tranche I) and loans (Tranche II) for certain business development activities that further these goals within the State of New Jersey. Applicants may apply for both tranches together or separately apply for Tranche II funds, but Tranche I applicants must also apply for Tranche II funding. The program first opened early 2009, but the most recent solicitation was issued in May 2011. The program is currently accepting applications on an open, rolling basis.
The total amount of available funding is capped at a maximum of $3.3 million per project. A minimum 50% cash match of total project costs is required to be from non-state derived matching funds. This incentive program is directed at commercial manufacturing; prototype development projects are not eligible. Further details of each Tranche are provided below: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assessment of Farmland Hosting Renewable Energy Systems | 07/13/20 | 05/25/22 | 4026 | In New Jersey, under the Farmland Assessment Act, farmland actively devoted to an agricultural or horticultural use is assessed at its productivity value. This practice generally results in a lower tax burden for farmland owners compared to residential or commercial land owners. In January 2010 New Jersey enacted legislation (S.B. 1538), which among other things clarifies how farmland used for biomass, solar, and wind energy generation should be treated under the Farmland Assessment Act. Ultimately, the law states that the addition of a biomass, solar, or wind energy generating system to land that was assessed and taxed as farmland during the prior tax year does not automatically preclude the land from continuing to qualify for this treatment. Instead, the law sets a series of conditions that must be met in order for the land to continue to be assessed as farmland, as follows:*
Income generated from the sale of heat or power generated by solar, wind, biomass facilities is not considered income for the purposes of meeting eligibility requirements for assessment, valuation, and taxation under the Farmland Assessment Act. However, there is no income requirement for land assessed according to the terms described in the law. Any qualifying generation equipment installed in pinelands remains subject to the Pinelands Protection Act. The application to install energy generation facilities, structures, and equipment can be found here. *It is also important to note that S.B. 1538 prescribes several other criteria for determining whether it is permissible to construct energy generation facilities on preserved farmland. Among these criteria are requirements that energy production facilities not interfere with farm production; be limited in size to that needed to meet no more than 110% of on-site energy needs; and not occupy more than 1% of the total area of the farm, including both preserved and non-preserved portions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
USDA - High Energy Cost Grant Program | USDA Rural Utilities Service | $10 million (2015 solicitation) | 06/09/16 | 05/25/22 | 4359 |
NOTE: The most recent solicitation for this program closed December 14, 2015. Please check the program website for information on future solicitations.
This grant program is not limited to renewable energy or energy conservation and efficiency measures, but these measures are eligible for this grant program. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Edison Innovation Green Growth Fund Loans | New Jersey Economic Development Authority | 07/18/21 | 05/25/22 | 4848 |
Note: The energy efficiency technologies indicated as "eligible" above are examples of possible eligible technologies listed on the program web site. Other products that conserve electricity or natural gas may also be eligible. The renewable energy technologies listed above are those deemed "Class I Renewable Energy" under the New Jersey renewables portfolio standard (RPS). For more detailed definitions please see the program web site.
The Edison Innovation Green Growth Fund (EIGGF), administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, offers loans to for-profit companies developing Class I renewable energy (as defined under state renewables portfolio standard) and energy efficiency products. In order to qualify for a loan, the product in question must have already achieved "proof of concept" and have begun to generate commercial revenues.
Eligibility
Requirements
Use of funds: Growth capital to advance newly discovered energy efficient, renewable energy or supply chain products that will assist Class I renewable energy or energy efficient technologies in becoming competitive with traditional sources of electric generation.
The EIGGF is funded by the state societal benefits charge (SBC), thus proposed projects in municipalities that do not pay into the SBC are not be eligible for funding under this program. In order to be considered for funding, applicants must submit an Eligibility Intake Form. For additional details please see the program website, which contains the program solicitation, application information, and FAQs. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FHA PowerSaver Loan Program | 03/07/16 | 05/25/22 | 5631 | Federal Housing Administration (FHA) through its PowerSaver loan program offers three financing options for homeowners to make energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades in their residences. For all three PowerSaver products, borrowers must select from a list of approved PowerSaver lenders. Please check the HUD website to find a list of participating FHA approved lender for the program. PowerSaver products are not currently offered in all states, so all potential applicants are encouraged to first check the program website to ensure product availability in their location. Eligibility Homeowners must have following requirements to be eligible for the program:
Eligible Measures Eligible home energy upgrades include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:
PowerSaver Home Energy Upgrade—Up to $7,500 This unsecured consumer loan is intended for smaller projects (e.g., insulation, air and duct sealing, water heating, replacing heating and cooling equipment, etc.). It does not require a home appraisal or lien on the property. Single-family homeowners may qualify for the loan if they have manageable debt and a credit score of 660 or higher. Interest rates vary, but typically range from 4.99% to 7.75%. PowerSaver participating lenders, markets, and contact information is available here. PowerSaver Second Mortgage (Title I)—Up to $25,000 This Title I loan is intended for financing larger retrofit projects, including energy efficiency, PV, solar hot water, geothermal, or other renewable energy projects. A home appraisal or equity is generally not required, but PowerSaver lenders may request it if required by their investor. Borrowers cannot currently have an existing home equity loan, a second lien, or second mortgage to qualify for this product. Interest rates vary but typically range from 4.99% to 9.99%, and the maximum loan term is 20 years. PowerSaver Title I participating lenders, markets, and contact information is available here. PowerSaver Energy Rehab (203(k))—First mortgage up to FHA loan limits This 203(k) loan is for home purchase or refinance, targeting either home buyers wishing to combine home improvements with a home purchases or to homeowners wishing to include home improvements when refinancing an existing mortgage. It is FHA-insured up to 100% for a home purchase or refinance, plus the cost of a home improvement project. Current loan limits for a single-unit property vary by area from $217,500 to $625,000 (higher amounts are permitted for two-, three- and four-unit properties); specific loan limits for an area can be found at this website. In order to qualify as a 203(k) PowerSaver loan, at least $3,500 of the home improvements must consist of eligible PowerSaver measures. PowerSaver 203(k) participating lenders, markets, and contact information is available here. The two types of PowerSaver 203(k) loans are Standard and Streamlined. Standard 203(k) loans are for major improvements, where a home improvement project costs at least $5,000 and includes $3,500 in energy upgrades. The Streamlined 203(k) loans are for minor home improvements, where the home improvement project cost must not exceed $35,000. A HUD consultant is only required for oversight of home improvements for Standard 203(k) loans. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) Registration Program | 01/06/19 | 05/25/22 | 5687 | NOTE: Starting October 29, 2018, the SREC Registration program applications submitted will receive 10 year SREC qualifying life. Applications submitted before the date will receive 15 years SREC qualifying life. New Jersey’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) includes a carve-out for solar, requiring the each electricity Load Serving Entities (LSEs) to provide at least 4.1% of the electricity through in-state solar installations by 2028. This solar carve-out, in addition to other supporting incentives has established NJ as one of the largest and dynamic solar market in the US. The SREC registration program allows the solar projects in New Jersey generate Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) which can be traded as commodities to meet state's RPS requirements. Eligibility Participants must register their solar project with the SREC Registration Program prior to the start of the construction in order to establish eligibility to earn SRECs. With respect to solar-electric systems, S.B. 1925 defines the term to include: (1) net metered facilities, (2) facilities that meet the definition of "on-site generation"; (3) facilities eligible for aggregated net metering; (4) facilities owned or operated by a public utility approved by the BPU; (5) facilities connected to the distribution system at 69 kilovolts (kV) or less and approved by the BPU; and (6) facilities certified by the BPU and DEP as being located on a brownfield, an area of historic fill, or a closed landfill. The definition does not include any facility connected to the grid at a voltage of higher than 69 kV, unless the facility is a net metering facility. Program description Solar projects installed in New Jersey that are registered with the SREC Registration Program are qualified to generate Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs). SRECs represent the renewable attributes of solar generation, bundled in minimum denominations of one megawatt-hour (MWh) of production. New Jersey’s SREC program provides a means for SRECs to be created and verified, and allows electric suppliers to buy and retire these certificates in order to meet their solar RPS requirements. All electric suppliers must use the SREC program to demonstrate compliance with the RPS. New Jersey’s on-line marketplace for trading SRECs, launched in June 2004, is the first such operation in the world. The price of SRECs is determined primarily by their market availability and the price of the Solar Alternative Compliance Payment (SACP) for the state RPS. The SACP is effectively a ceiling on the value of SRECs because it is the per MWh payment that electricity suppliers must make if they fail to obtain enough SRECs to cover their RPS obligation. Prior to 2008 the SACP was set at $300 per MWh. This was amended in 2007, and an eight-year schedule was established by the BPU for Energy Year (EY) 2009 - 2016. In 2012 S.B. 1925 established a 15-year schedule for EY 2014 - 2028. Past and current SACP levels are as follows:
SREC prices vary according to supply and demand in the market. The wide fluctuations in the SREC prices in the NJ market have been a significant concern to the regulators and the solar industry. To address this issue, on May, 2014, the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) published a report addressing methods to mitigate SREC price volatility in the market. The report can be accessed here. Prices for recently traded SRECs can be accessed here. Solar facilities have a 10-year "qualification life", meaning that they are eligible to generate SRECs for 10 years after they are connected to the grid. The qualification life ends on the first May 31 (the end of the RPS compliance year) that is at least 10 years after the interconnection date. If a generator has accumulated a fraction of a MWh by the end of a reporting year (May 31), the fraction may be carried over and combined with energy generated in one or more subsequent reporting years in order to make a full MWh that is eligible for sale. Applications filed before October 29 2018, will have SREC life of 15 years. SREC Tracking SRECs accrue from participating solar-electric facilities beginning March 1, 2004. SRECs generated prior to June 1, 2009 could only be used for compliance during the compliance year in which they were generated. Effective June 1, 2009 SRECs had a trading lifetime of two years, meaning that an SREC could be used for by an electric supplier for RPS compliance during the year it is issued or during the next compliance year. This lifetime was extended to three years -- the year of generation plus the following two compliance years -- by A.B. 3520 (2010), effective in July 2010. It has now been further extended to 5 years -- the year of generation plus the following four compliance years -- by S.B. 1925 effective July 23, 2012. Pricing information for SRECs originating within New Jersey is available from the PJM Generation Attribute Tracking System (GATS) through the Public Reports section of the web site. REC owners can directly trade their credits from their GATS account or use other market place aggregators to trade their RECs. SREC based Financing Programs
In April 2008, Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) received approval from the BPU to offer a loan program to help its customers finance PV systems. The PSE&G Solar Loan Program allows customers to take a loan from the utility for up to 40-60% of the cost of the PV system. Customers may then repay the loan using SRECs produced by their system at a basement price initially set at $475 per SREC. The initial $105 million program was scheduled to last two years. An extension of the program, Solar Loan II, was approved by the BPU in December 2009 to provide additional financing amounting to $143 million through 2011 under similar though not identical terms. Click here for further information on this program. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fannie Mae Green Financing – Loan Program | 05/08/20 | 05/25/22 | 5780 | NOTE: Only multifamily properties are eligible for the program. Single family homeowners are not eligible for this program. The Fannie Mae Green Financing Business provides mortgage financing to apartment buildings and cooperatives (with 5 or more units) to finance energy and water efficiency property improvements. Its green financing programs include Green Rewards, and preferential pricing for loans secured by a property with an eligible Green Building Certification. All Fannie Mae green loans are securitized as Green Mortgage Backed Securities (Green MBS). To learn more about these programs, multifamily property owners should coordinate with a Fannie Mae DUS Lender: https://multifamily.fanniemae.com/about-multifamily/our-partners/dus-lenders Green Rewards, launched in 2015, provides preferential pricing and up to an additional 5% of loan proceeds by including up to 75% of projected owner energy and water savings and 25% of projected tenant savings in the loan underwriting. Conventional and affordable multifamily properties, as well as cooperatives, seniors, military, and student housing properties are eligible for this program. To qualify for a Green Rewards loan the property owner must commit to making property improvements that are projected to reduce the whole property’s annual energy and water consumption by at least 30%, which a minimum of 15% must be attributable to savings in energy consumption. Properties may be located anywhere in US, and the selected property upgrades must be completed within 12 months of loan closing. Fannie Mae also provides preferential pricing for an acquisition or refinance loan on a conventional or affordable property that has a current, eligible Green Building Certification per Fannie Mae Form 4250. Please visit the Fannie Mae Green Financing website for more information and detailed program requirements. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NJ Clean Energy- Residential New Construction Program | 12/12/16 | 06/30/17 | 5811 | New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program offers the Residential New Construction Program to incentivize the construction of new homes that meet standards for the following: IECC 2015, EPA ENERGY STAR Certified New Homes, Multifamily High-Rise and the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Program. The program provides a range of financial incentives depending on the energy efficiency of the homes. Both single family and multifamily buildings are eligible for the program. Program Description The Program offers builders flexibility and options to participate in the program by building homes to varying standards or guidelines. In all cases, the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index is used to calculate the home’s energy efficiency achieved and to determine the cash rebate the builder will earn. The three standards are outlined below:
Builders can choose to construct a home in conformance with ENERGY STAR v3.1 specifications and can earn the ENERGY STAR certification for the home. In this case, the rater will score the home’s performance using the HERS rating system. Table 1 below displays the incentives based on HERS Index. The home must meet or exceed the HERS Index Target, comply with all ENERGY STAR v. 3.1 mandated requirements and checklists and construction documents are required.
Builders can choose to build the home in conformance with the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home specification which are above ENERGY STAR v3.1 specifications, meet 2015 IECC insulation requirements, and certify to EPA’s Indoor airPLUS Program. The program also has a Zero Energy Ready Home 100% Renewables offering whereby 100% of the building’s modeled electric site energy usage must be met by renewable energy systems installed onsite at the time of completion of the home.
Builders must meet or exceed EPA ENERGY STAR Multifamily High Rise (MFHR) Program standards including:
Incentive Structure The incentive structure offers the builder varying incentive amounts based on the type of residence (single-family, townhouse, and multi-family) and the level of energy efficiency that the home achieves compared to a reference home. Details of this structure, is available on the program website. Please contact the program administrator for more information. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Successor Solar Incentive (SuSI) Program | Board of Public Utilities | 10/01/21 | 05/25/22 | 22418 | By Board Order on July 28, 2021, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) established the SuSI Program to implement the Clean Energy Act of 2018 (L. 2018, c.17) and the Solar Act of 2021 (L. 2021, c. 169). The SuSI Program replaces the SREC Registration Program (SRP), which was closed to new registration on April 30, 2020 pursuant to the Clean Energy Act, and the Transition Incentive (TI) Program, which provided a bridge between the Legacy SRP and the SuSI Program. The SuSI Program is made up of two sub-programs: Administratively Determined Incentive Program The ADI Program provides incentives for net metered residential projects, net metered non-residential projects of 5 MW or less, all community solar projects, and, for an interim period, projects previously eligible to seek conditional certification from the Board under Subsection (t). The interim market segment is blocked for 75 MW, while net-metered residential, net-metered non-residential, and community solar (LMI and Non-LMI) is blocked for 150 MW. The program will accept new registrations for each market segment on a first-come, first-served basis until the block is fully subscribed. Current available capacity is posted on the homepage of the ADI online portal.
An additional $20 adder is available for a public entity, a customer that is a State entity, school district, county, county agency, county authority, municipality, municipal agency, municipal authority, New Jersey public college, or New Jersey public university. The Interim Subsection is available on an interim basis for solar facilities certified as being located on brownfield, historic fill, or properly closed landfills. Registration opened on August 28, 2021. Competitive Solar Incentive Program This program will provide competitively set incentives for grid supply projects and net metered non-residential projects greater than 5 MW. Board Staff is currently working with stakeholders to develop the design of the CSI Program with the goal of holding the first solicitation by early-to-mid 2022. |