Solar Rebates and Solar Tax Credits for Texas

Texas allows a corporation to deduct the cost of a solar energy device from the franchise tax in one of two ways:

• The total cost of the system may be deducted from the company's taxable capital or,
• 10% of the system's cost may be deducted from the company's income.  

Both taxable capital and a company's income are taxed under the franchise tax, which is Texas's equivalent to a corporate tax. 

For the purposes of this deduction, a solar energy device means "a system or series of mechanisms designed primarily to provide heating or cooling or to produce electrical or mechanical power by collecting and transferring solar-generated energy. The term includes a mechanical or chemical device that has the ability to store solar-generated energy for use in heating or cooling or in the production of power." Under this definition wind energy is also included as an eligible technology.

Texas also offers a franchise tax exemption for manufacturers, seller, or installers of solar energy systems which also includes wind energy as an eligible technology.

Companies in Texas engaged solely in the business of manufacturing, selling, or installing solar or wind energy devices are exempt from the franchise tax. The franchise tax is Texas’s equivalent to a corporate tax. There is no ceiling on this exemption, so it can be a substantial incentive for solar and wind businesses.

For the purposes of this exemption, a solar energy device means "a system or series of mechanisms designed primarily to provide heating or cooling or to produce electrical or mechanical power by collecting and transferring solar-generated energy. The term includes a mechanical or chemical device that has the ability to store solar-generated energy for use in heating or cooling or in the production of power." Under this definition wind energy is also listed as an eligible technology.

Texas also offers a franchise tax deduction for solar energy devices which also includes wind energy as an eligible technology.

The Texas property tax code allows an exemption of the amount of 100% of the appraised property value increase arising from the installation or construction of a solar or wind-powered energy device that is primarily for the production and distribution of thermal, mechanical, or electrical energy for on-site use and devices used to store that energy.

Solar energy devices installed or constructed on or after January 1, 2014, used for a commercial purpose are subject to the cost method of appraisal, and the depreciated value must be calculated using a useful life of 10 years or less (H.B. 2500).

Eligible Technologies

"Solar" is broadly defined and includes a range of biomass technologies. "Solar energy device" means an apparatus designed or adapted to convert the radiant energy from the sun, including energy imparted to plants through photosynthesis employing the bio-conversion processes of anaerobic digestion, gasification, pyrolysis, or fermentation, but not including direct combustion, into thermal, mechanical, or electrical energy; to store the converted energy, either in the form to which originally converted or another form; or to distribute radiant solar energy or the energy to which the radiant solar energy is converted.

"Wind-powered energy device" means an apparatus designed or adapted to convert the energy available in the wind into thermal, mechanical, or electrical energy; to store the converted energy, either in the form to which originally converted or another form; or to distribute the converted energy.

Process

Those wishing to claim this exemption must fill out Form 50-123, “Exemption Application for Solar or Wind-Powered Energy Devices.”

More information can be found in the Solar and Wind-Powered Energy Device Exemption and Appraisal Guidelines.

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.   

• Solar Technologies. Eligible solar energy property includes equipment that uses solar energy to generate electricity, to heat or cool (or provide hot water for use in) a structure, or to provide solar process heat. Hybrid solar lighting systems, which use solar energy to illuminate the inside of a structure using fiber-optic distributed sunlight, are eligible. Passive solar systems and solar pool-heating systems are not eligible.
  
  
• Fuel Cells. The credit is equal to the applicable percentage of cost for a given year with no maximum credit. However, the credit for fuel cells is capped at $1,500 per 0.5 kilowatt (kW) of capacity. Eligible property includes fuel cells with a minimum capacity of 0.5 kW that have an electricity-only generation efficiency of 30% or higher. 

• Small Wind Turbines. The credit is equal to the applicable percentage of cost for a given year with no maximum credit. Eligible small wind property includes wind turbines up to 100 kW in capacity. Small wind turbines must meet the performance and quality standards set forth by either the American Wind Energy Association Small Wind Turbine Performance and Safety Standard 9.1-2009 (AWEA), or the International Electrotechnical Commission 61400-1, 61400-12, and 61400-11 (IEC)

• Geothermal Systems. The credit is equal to the applicable percentage of cost for a given year with no maximum credit limit stated. Eligible geothermal energy property includes geothermal heat pumps and equipment used to produce, distribute or use energy derived from a geothermal deposit. For electricity produced by geothermal power, equipment qualifies only up to, but not including, the electric transmission stage. For geothermal heat pumps, this credit applies to eligible property placed in service after October 3, 2008. Note that the credit for geothermal property, with the exception of geothermal heat pumps, has no stated expiration date.

• Microturbines. The credit is equal to the applicable percentage of cost for a given year with no maximum credit limit stated (explicitly). The credit for microturbines is capped at $200 per kW of capacity. Eligible property includes microturbines up to two megawatts (MW) in capacity that have an electricity-only generation efficiency of 26% or higher.

• Combined Heat and Power (CHP). The credit is equal to 10% of expenditures, with no maximum limit stated. Eligible CHP property generally includes systems up to 50 MW in capacity that exceed 60% energy efficiency, subject to certain limitations and reductions for large systems. See the note at the bottom of this page for more details. The efficiency requirement does not apply to CHP systems that use biomass for at least 90% of the system's energy source, but the credit may be reduced for less-efficient systems. This credit applies to eligible property placed in service after October 3, 2008.

• Production Tax Credit-Eligible Technologies. Technologies that are eligible for the Production Tax Credit (PTC) were eligible to opt for the ITC in lieu of the PTC if construction commenced prior to January 1, 2015. As of January 1, 2015, only wind energy systems are eligible to claim the ITC in lieu of the PTC.  

• Offshore Wind. Systems for which construction commences prior to 2026 are eligible for a 30% tax credit.

• Waste Energy Recovery. Qualified waste energy recovery property means property that generates electricity solely from heat from buildings or equipment if the primary purpose of such building or equipment is not the generation of electricity. The term “waste energy recovery property” does not include any property that has a capacity in excess of 50 megawatts.

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.

* Combined heat and power systems can only receive the full credit if the system has an electrical capacity of 15 MW or less, and a mechanical energy capacity of of 20,000 horsepower or less, or an equivalent combination of electrical and mechanical energy capacities. Larger combined heat and power systems (up to a maximum of 50 MW and 67,000 horsepower) can qualify for a reduced tax credit equal to the ratio between the actual system capacity and 15 MW.  For example, a 45 MW system can qualify for a tax credit worth 15/45 of the otherwise allowable credit. 

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.


* The term "public utility" is defined as an entity "engaged in the sale of electricity or natural gas to residential, commercial, or industrial customers for use by such customers." The term includes federal, state and local government entities.

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*:

• a variety of solar-electric and solar-thermal technologies
• fuel cells and microturbines
• geothermal electric
• direct-use geothermal and geothermal heat pumps
• small wind (100 kW or less)
• combined heat and power (CHP)
• the provision which defines ITC technologies as eligible also adds the general term "wind" as an eligible technology, extending the five-year schedule to large wind facilities as well.

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.

The 5-year schedule for most types of solar, geothermal, and wind property has been in place since 1986. The federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) classified fuel cells, microturbines and solar hybrid lighting technologies as five-year property as well by adding them to § 48(a)(3)(A). This section was further expanded in October 2008 by the addition of geothermal heat pumps, combined heat and power, and small wind under The Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008.

Bonus Depreciation

Bonus Depreciation has been sporadically available at different levels during different years. Most recently, 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.

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.

For more information on the federal MACRS, see IRS Publication 946, IRS Form 4562: Depreciation and Amortization, and Instructions for Form 4562. The IRS web site provides a search mechanism for forms and publications. Enter the relevant form, publication name or number, and click "GO" to receive the requested form or publication. For guidance on bonus depreciation, including information relating to the election to claim either 50% or 100% bonus depreciation, retroactive elections to claim 50% bonus depreciation for property placed in service during 2010, and eligible property, please see IRS Rev. Proc. 2011-26.


*Note that the definitions of eligible technologies included in this entry are somewhat simplified versions of those contained in tax code, which often contain additional caveats, restrictions, and modifications. Those interested in this incentive should review the relevant sections of the code in detail prior to making business decisions.

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. 


* The term "public utility" is defined as an entity "engaged in the sale of electricity or natural gas to residential, commercial, or industrial customers for use by such customers." The term includes federal, state and local government entities.

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:

• Wind: $0.015/kWh 
• Geothermal and Closed-Loop Biomass: $0.025/kWh
• Open-Loop Biomass, Hydroelectric, Landfill Gas, Waste-to-Energy, and Marine Technologies: $0.013/kWh

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:

• open-loop biomass, geothermal, small irrigation hydro, landfill gas, and municipal solid waste combustion facilities placed into service after October 22, 2004, and before enactment of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, on August 8, 2005, were only eligible for the credit for a 5-year period, and
• open-loop biomass facilities placed in service before October 22, 2004, were eligible for the 5-year period beginning January 1, 2005.

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:

• for a facility that produces electricity from a wind turbine, the beginning of the excavation for the foundation, the setting of anchor bolts into the ground, or the pouring of the concrete pads of the foundation;
• physical work on a custom-designed transformer that steps up the voltage of electricity produced at the facility to the voltage needed for transmission; and
• beginning construction of roads integral to the activity performed by the facility including onsite roads used for moving materials to be processed (e.g., biomass) and roads for equipment to operate and maintain the facility. 

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.

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.

FHA Energy Efficient Mortgages
The FHA allows lenders to add up to 100% of energy efficiency improvements to an existing mortgage loan with certain restrictions. FHA mortgage limits vary by county, state and the number of units in a dwelling. See their website for more details. These mortgages were previously limited to $8,000.The maximum amount of the portion of an energy efficient mortgage allowed for energy improvements is now the lesser of 5% of:

• The value of the property,
• 115% of the median area price of a single-family dwelling, or
• 150% of the Freddie Mac conforming loan limit

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. 

Borrowers may include closing costs and the up-front mortgage insurance premium in the total cost of the loan. The loan is available to anyone who meets the income requirements for FHA’s Section 203 (b), provided the applicant can meet the monthly mortgage payments. New and existing owner-occupied homes of up to two units qualify for this loan. Cooperative units are not eligible. Homebuyers should submit applications to their local HUD Field Office through an FHA-approved lending institution.

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Energy Efficient Mortgages
The VA insures EEMs to be used in conjunction with VA loans either for the purchase of existing homes or for refinancing loans secured by the dwelling. Homebuyers may borrow up to $3,000 if only documentation of improvement costs or contractor bids is submitted, or up to $6,000 if the projected energy savings are greater than the increase in mortgage payments. Loans may exceed this amount at the discretion of the VA. Applicants may not include the cost of their own labor in the total amount. No additional home appraisal is needed, but applicants must submit a HER, contractor bids and certain other documentation. The VA insures 50% of the loan if taken by itself, but it may insure less if the total value of the mortgage exceeds a certain amount.

This mortgage is available to qualified military personnel, reservists and veterans. Applicants should secure a certificate of eligibility from their local lending office and submit it to a VA-approved private lender. If the loan is approved, the VA guarantees the loan when it is closed.

Conventional EEMs
Conventional mortgages are not backed by a federal agency. Private lenders sell loans to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which in turn allows homebuyers to borrow up to 15% of an existing home’s appraised value for improvements documented by a HER.

Fannie Mae also lends up to 5% for Energy Star new homes. Fannie Mae EEMs are available to single-family, owner-occupied units, and Fannie Mae provides EEMs to those whose income might otherwise disqualify them from receiving the loans by allowing approved lenders to adjust borrowers’ debt-to-income ratio by 2%. The value of the improvements is immediately added to the total appraised value of the home.

Freddie Mac offers GreenChOICE mortgages to "provide greater affordability for borrowers, offer more flexibility and combine the flexibilities of Home Possible Mortgages to offer borrowers additional affordable financing opportunities." Borrowers should apply directly to the lender. Click here for more details.

ENERGY STAR Partnership for Lenders
To promote EEMs and lenders who offer them, the federal ENERGY STAR program offers a partnership program for lenders who provide EEMs to borrowers. Becoming a partner allows lenders to utilize the Energy Star brand to promote themselves as Energy Star partners offering EEMs. To become a lender, partner lenders must first provide proof that they know how to write EEMs. To maintain their partnership benefits, lenders must write a certain number of EEMs per year. Energy Star does not have a lender certification program or process. Click here for more information about ENERGY STAR's lender partnership program, and here to access the partner locator tool. ENERGY STAR requires that its lender partners provide EEMs to qualified borrowers regardless of whether it is an FHA EEM, Fannie Mae EEM, or VA EEM.

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.

* The Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program was created by the USDA pursuant to Section 9006 of the 2002 federal Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. Funding in the amount of $23 million per year was appropriated for each fiscal year from FY 2003-2007. In March 2008, the USDA announced that it would accept $220.9 million in applications for grants, loan guarantees, and loan/grant combination packages under the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program. The application deadline was June 16, 2008.

Land grant colleges and universities are referred to in the summary table as "schools" and "institutional" eligible sectors. K-12 schools are not eligible for this grant.

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.

Rebates will only be paid for approved systems installed by approved solar contractors according to the established technical requirements. All systems must conform to the utility's equipment and installation standards in order to qualify for a rebate. These standards include the use of pre-approved equipment; equipment warranty requirements; and the use of a program-approved, NABCEP-certified, and appropriately insured solar installer. Participants must meet a detailed set of home energy efficiency requirements in order to qualify for a solar rebate.

Renewable Energy Credits and other environmental credits associated with renewable energy generated from the system belong to Austin Energy.

The Texas LoanSTAR (Saving Taxes and Resources) low-interest revolving loan program finances energy-related cost reduction retrofits for state, public school, college, university, and non-profit hospital facilities. Borrowers repay loans through the stream of cost savings realized from their energy cost-reduction projects. The LoanSTAR Program Administrator should be contacted for information on current loan interest rates.

As of May 2020, LoanSTAR has funded over 325 loans totaling over $545 million. 

Eligible Projects

Energy cost reduction measures (ECRMs) financed through the program include, but are not limited to, energy-efficient lighting systems; high-efficiency heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems; energy management systems; energy recovery systems; building shell improvements; load management projects; and systems commissioning. Utility dollar savings are the most important criterion; therefore, ECRMs are not limited to measures that save energy. The evaluation of on-site renewable energy options (e.g., solar water heating, photovoltaic systems, small wind turbines) is encouraged in the analysis of potential projects.

All LoanSTAR projects must be analyzed by a Professional Engineer and meet other criteria specified in the technical guidelines, which can be found on the program website. Projects financed by LoanSTAR must have an average simple payback of 10 years or less.

Process

Each April and October, the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) publishes a Notice of Loan Fund Availability and request for applications of LoanSTAR loans. The notice is published in the Texas Register, on the Comptroller’s website, and on the SECO Funding & Incentives webpage. Applications are scored by a review committee, with the highest scoring applicants receiving funding commitments first.  Scoring is based largely on the following considerations.

1. Information provided in the application including the application and one of the following: Engineering Assessment Report / Utility Assessment Report, Preliminary Energy Assessment, or Project Assessment Commitment;
2. Location of proposed project; and
3. Public access to the projects’ energy savings information.

Selected institutions will be asked to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreeing to complete and submit an Energy Assessment Report (EAR) or a Utility Assessment Report (UAR) within 120 days. With an executed MOU, SECO reserves funding for the institution.

SECO performs design review, design specification review, and on-site construction monitoring at 50% and 100% completion of each project phase.  Repayment of the loans does not begin until after construction is 100% completed and it has been determined that the project was designed and constructed in accordance with the LoanSTAR Technical Guidelines.

More information, including project applications and a detailed program guidebook, are available on the program website above. 

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

• 30% for systems placed in service by 12/31/2019
• 26% for systems placed in service after 12/31/2019 and before 01/01/2023
• 22% for systems placed in service after 12/31/2022 and before 01/01/2024
• There is no maximum credit for systems placed in service after 2008.
• Systems must be placed in service on or after January 1, 2006, and on or before December 31, 2023.
• The home served by the system does not have to be the taxpayer’s principal residence.

Solar water-heating property

• 30% for systems placed in service by 12/31/2019
• 26% for systems placed in service after 12/31/2019 and before 01/01/2023
• 22% for systems placed in service after 12/31/2022 and before 01/01/2024
• There is no maximum credit for systems placed in service after 2008.
• Systems must be placed in service on or after January 1, 2006, and on or before December 31, 2023.
• Equipment must be certified for performance by the Solar Rating Certification Corporation (SRCC) or a comparable entity endorsed by the government of the state in which the property is installed.
• At least half the energy used to heat the dwelling's water must be from solar in order for the solar water-heating property expenditures to be eligible.
• The tax credit does not apply to solar water-heating property for swimming pools or hot tubs.
• The home served by the system does not have to be the taxpayer’s principal residence.

Fuel cell property

• 30% for systems placed in service by 12/31/2019
• 26% for systems placed in service after 12/31/2019 and before 01/01/2023
• 22% for systems placed in service after 12/31/2022 and before 01/01/2024
• Systems must be placed in service on or after January 1, 2006, and on or before December 31, 2023.
  
• The maximum credit is $500 per half kilowatt (kW).
• The fuel cell must have a nameplate capacity of at least 0.5 kW of electricity using an electrochemical process and an electricity-only generation efficiency greater than 30%.
• In case of joint occupancy, the maximum qualifying costs that can be taken into account by all occupants for figuring the credit is $1,667 per 0.5 kW. This does not apply to married individuals filing a joint return. The credit that may be claimed by each individual is proportional to the costs he or she paid.
• The home served by the system must be the taxpayer’s principal residence.

Small wind-energy property

• 30% for systems placed in service by 12/31/2019
• 26% for systems placed in service after 12/31/2019 and before 01/01/2023
• 22% for systems placed in service after 12/31/2022 and before 01/01/2024
• There is no maximum credit for systems placed in service after 2008.
• Systems must be placed in service on or after January 1, 2006, and on or before December 31, 2023.
• The home served by the system does not have to be the taxpayer’s principal residence.

Geothermal heat pumps

• 30% for systems placed in service by 12/31/2019
• 26% for systems placed in service after 12/31/2019 and before 01/01/2023
• 22% for systems placed in service after 12/31/2022 and before 01/01/2024
• There is no maximum credit for systems placed in service after 2008.
• Systems must be placed in service on or after January 1, 2006, and on or before December 31, 2023.
• The geothermal heat pump must meet federal Energy Star criteria.
• The home served by the system does not have to be the taxpayer’s principal residence.

Biomass Heaters

• 26% for systems placed in service after 12/31/2020 and before 01/01/2023
• 22% for systems placed in service after 12/31/2022 and before 01/01/2024
• Systems must have a thermal efficiency rating of at least 75%

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.

SCORE/CitySmart

The TNMP SCORE/CitySmart program and program administrator helps educational facilities and local governments identify energy efficiency opportunities in existing and newly planned facilities and provides financial and non-financial incentives to help implement the projects. The program is funded by TNMP and offered at no cost to participants. No products or services are sold through the CitySmart or SCORE Programs. The program’s objectives are to reduce the barriers to the adoption of energy efficient technologies and practices, provide educational and supporting services to facilitate the implementation of energy efficiency projects, stimulate strong participation from the targeted markets, and encourage delivery of energy efficiency products and services to those market segment(s).

Commercial Solutions

The TNMP Commercial Solutions program provides financial and non-financial incentives to non-residential customers, other than schools or local governments, for the installation of a wide range of measures that reduce their energy costs, peak demand, or save energy. Technical and energy management assistance, with direct cash incentives, encourage the implementation of such energy efficiency projects in TNM’s service territory. The program is free to participating commercial customers who receive incentives for eligible energy efficiency measures that are installed in new or retrofit applications resulting in savings defined by the Texas Technical Reference Manual (TRM)

The Residential and Hard-to-Reach Standard Offer Programs provide incentives to "Project Sponsors" to install energy efficiency measures in Xcel's service area. Residential customers should contact a participating sponsor (awarded at the first of each calendar year) through the web site provided. Hard-To-Reach Customers are defined as customers with an annual household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, and who have properly completed a PUCT-approved income verification form. All payments to Project Sponsors are based on kW and kWh savings. Examples of eligible projects include:

• Ceiling, wall, attic insulation
• Installing energy efficient windows
• HVAC retrofit
• Duct efficiency improvement
• Lighting
• Photovoltaics and Solar Hot Water

Note that Xcel Energy provides the incentive directly to the Project Sponsor, who then determines what to do with the incentive payment. Charges vary by Project Sponsor and no incentives are paid directly to the consumer by Xcel. More information, including program manual and contracts may be found on the web site.

Austin Energy offers incentives to its residential customers to encourage the use of energy efficient equipment and measures through the "Power Partner Program." Rebates are available for qualified HVAC equipment, weatherization improvements, smaller appliances, and technology upgrades through an energy star rebate program. A winter bonus rebate is also available on certain HVAC improvements. Customers may also receive the Home Performance Bonus Rebate up to $2,400 when they install a new air conditioning unit or heat pump and perform the following weatherization measures listed, if needed for low-to-moderate income residents:

• Install additional attic insulation
• Repair leaking AC ducts and repairs
• Sealing of home envelope
• Solar Screens
• Window Air Conditioner Replacements
• Caulk around plumbing under sinks
• Weather-strip doors
• Install Low-E windows, solar screens, or awnings (to windows in direct sun)
• Air FIltration
• Safety Equipment (Fire/Carbon Monoxide)
• High Efficiency Lighting
• Water Conservation Efforts

To take advantage of the weatherization rebates, customers must first have an energy audit performed on homes. Energy audits are not required for the HVAC rebates. Mobile homes or manufactured homes are eligible for rebates on new air conditioners only. Other energy efficiency improvements cannot be rebated for these dwellings due to construction code differences. Contact Austin Energy or visit the program web site for further requirements and guidelines.

Austin Energy offers incentives for commercial customers to increase the energy efficiency of facilities through the Commercial Rebate Program. Rebates are available for qualified HVAC equipment, ceiling/roof insulation and reflective coating, chillers, custom technologies, energy recovery ventilators, lighting equipment, motors, variable frequency drives, and window treatments. Austin Energy has also created an incentive schedule for new construction projects, which awards incentives based upon specific project conditions. Custom measures include wire-up sizing, day lighting controls, cooling towers and others.

Interested businesses must first fill out a Customer Information Request Form. An Austin Energy Representative will then contact the business to schedule an initial assessment of the facility, during which, project related documentation, applications and additional energy saving opportunities will be discussed. A rebate application accompanied by the required technical documentation on the proposed equipment must then be submitted before any new equipment is installed. Austin Energy will then perform a preliminary inspection of the existing equipment, followed by a final inspection after the work is complete.  Visit the program web site for additional program information and incentive guidelines.

Austin Energy offers a special incentive for its small-to-midsize and not-for-profit business customers to increase the energy efficiency of facilities through the Small Business Rebate Program. Rebates are available for qualified HVAC equipment, ceiling/roof insulation and cool roofing, custom technologies, lighting equipment, and window treatments.

A separate rebate is also available for lighting equipment. Improvement costs of up to 80% percent may be covered by the program. For more information, visit the program website or contact the utility directly.

The Austin Energy Multi-Family Program provides cash incentives to owners, developers, and property managers of apartments and other multi-family properties for making energy efficiency improvements. Rebates are available for qualified A/C systems, heat pumps, window treatments, insulation, ductwork, and lighting equipment. A free walk-through energy survey is required before a rebate application will be accepted. Rebate eligibility for each identified improvement will be determined by the on-site survey. Rebates for some measures may be prorated or not offered depending on the cost-effectiveness of each measure. Incentives are granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact Austin Energy for more information on this program.

Denton Municipal Electric pays residential and small commercial customers to reduce energy demand and consumption in order to reduce the utility bills of DME customers, reduce peak load, reduce emissions, and promote energy conservation. The program offers rebates on the electric service bills of DME retail customers and cash incentives to builders, and applicants can qualify for multiple incentives simultaneously. Rebates are available for air conditioning units, heat pumps, building insulation, programmable thermostats, radiant heat barriers and efficient windows.

An application form must be completed and sent to DME within 30 days of installation of the energy efficient upgrades. The energy efficiency upgrades must be deemed measurable and verifiable through the standards approved by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), which requires that complete information be recorded for each installation. The installer that documents approved energy efficient upgrades must be registered as a DME Authorized Installer. After submitting a Request for Payment, customers can expect to receive the rebate credit in 4 to 10 weeks.

The Program will be in effect each fiscal year beginning on October 1. Confirm with the utility that rebates are available before making investments. For full details, see the program manual available on the utility's web site. For full details, see the program manual available on the utility's web site.

Farmers Electric Cooperative offers incentives for its residential and agricultural members to purchase certain energy efficient equipment. In order to receive rebates, equipment and installation must meet program requirements. More information and rebate applications can be found on the web site listed above.

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 Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 (Div. A, Sec. 107) allocated $800 million for new Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs). In February 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Div. B, Sec. 1111) allocated an additional $1.6 billion for New CREBs, for a total New CREB allocation of $2.4 billion. The Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 also extended the deadline for previously reserved allocations ("Old CREBs") until December 31, 2009, and addressed several provisions in the existing law that previously limited the usefulness of the program for some projects. A separate section of the law extended CREBs eligibility to marine energy and hydrokinetic power projects.

Participation in the program is limited by the volume of bonds allocated by Congress for the program. Participants must first apply to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for a CREBs allocation, and then issue the bonds within a specified time period. The New CREBs allocation totaling $2.4 billion does not have a defined expiration date under the law; however, recent IRS solicitations for new applications require the bonds to be issued within 3 years after the applicant receives notification of an approved allocation (see History section below for information on previous allocations). Public power providers, governmental bodies, and electric cooperatives are each reserved an equal share (33.3%) of the New CREBs allocation. IRS Notice 2015-12, however, divided the remaining volume cap differently: $516,565,691.35 for public power providers, $597,134,963.60 for governmental bodies, and $280,778,469.00 for cooperative utilities.

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.

CREBs differ from traditional tax-exempt bonds in that the tax credits issued through CREBs are treated as taxable income for the bondholder. The tax credit may be taken each year the bondholder has a tax liability as long as the credit amount does not exceed the limits established by the federal Energy Policy Act of 2005. Treasury rates for prior CREB allocations, or "Old" CREBs are available here, while rates for New CREBs and other qualified tax credit bonds are available here.

In April 2009, the IRS issued Notice 2009-33, which solicited applications for the New CREB allocation and provided interim guidance on certain program rules and changes from prior CREB allocations. The expiration date for New CREB applications under this solicitation was August 4, 2009. Further guidance on CREBs is available in IRS Notices 2006-7 and 2007-26 to the extent that the program rules were not modified by 2008 and 2009 legislation. In October 2009, the Department of Treasury announced the allocation of $2.2 billion in new CREBs for 805 projects across the country. A new solicitation (IRS Announcement 2010-54) was issued in September 2010 for roughly $191 million in unallocated New CREB bond volume available only to electric cooperatives. The award announcement for this allocation was made in March 2011. It remains to be seen if or when the IRS will issue new funding announcements for Old CREB allocations which were not issued by the December 31, 2009 deadline, or New CREB allocations which miss the three-year issuance period.

History
The federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) established Clean Energy Renewable Bonds (CREBs) as a financing mechanism for public sector renewable energy projects. This legislation originally allocated $800 million of tax credit bonds to be issued between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2007. Following the enactment of the federal Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, the IRS made an additional $400 million in CREBs financing available for 2008 through Notice 2007-26.

In November 2006, the IRS announced that the original $800 million allocation had been reserved for a total of 610 projects. The additional $400 million (plus surrendered volume from the previous allocation) was allocated to 312 projects in February 2008. Of the $1.2 billion total of tax-credit bond volume cap allocated to fund renewable-energy projects, state and local government borrowers were limited to $750 million of the volume cap, with the rest reserved for qualified municipal or cooperative electric companies.

For further information on CREBs, contact Zoran Stojanovic or Timothy Jones of the IRS Office of Associate Chief Counsel at (202) 622-3980. Questions on recent IRS Notice 2009-33 can be directed to Janae Lemley at (636) 255-1202.


*In March 2010 Congress enacted H.R. 2847 (Sec. 301) permitting New CREB issuers to make an irrevocable election to receive a direct payment -- a refundable tax credit -- from the Department of Treasury equivalent to and in lieu of the amount of the non-refundable tax credit which would otherwise be provided to the bondholder. This option only applies to New CREBs issued after the March 18, 2010 enactment of the law. In April 2010 the IRS issued Notice 2010-35 providing guidance on the direct payment option.

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.

* The Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program was created by the USDA pursuant to Section 9006 of the 2002 federal Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. Funding in the amount of $23 million per year was appropriated for each fiscal year from FY 2003-2007. In March 2008, the USDA announced that it would accept $220.9 million in applications for grants, loan guarantees, and loan/grant combination packages under the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program. The application deadline was June 16, 2008.

Land grant colleges and universities are referred to in the summary as "schools" and "institutional" eligible sectors. K-12 schools are not eligible for this grant.

CPS Energy, San Antonio's municipal utility, offers rebates to customers who install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on their homes, schools, or businesses. Third-party owned systems (e.g., leased PV systems) are not eligible for rebates (a customer must make the upfront financial investment). The rebate is available to all CPS Energy customers for systems of at least 1 kilowatt (kW)-AC.

Current funding will be allocated through three tranches. Each tranche will have a different rebate amount:

• Tranche 1: $2,500/project, plus $500 for locally-produced panels
• Tranche 2: $1,200/project, plus $500 for locally-produced panels
• Tranche 3 (commercial only): $0.60/watt, plus $0.10/watt for locally-produced panels

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.

Oncor provides incentives to Service Providers who install approved energy efficiency measures in business, government, nonprofit, and worship facilities in Oncor's service area. Service providers can include energy service companies (ESCOs), energy consultants, contractors, individual customers, and retail electric providers. Generally, incentives are paid based on the kW and kWh saved and verified through a measurement and verification process. However, certain types of improvement projects have been assigned pre-determined "deemed savings" estimates by the Texas Public Utilities Commission (PUCT) and do not require verification. Currently, 17 types of cooling projects and nine types of lighting projects have deemed savings assigned and do not require measurement and verification if they are installed to the required specifications. Project sponsor incentives are capped at 20% of the incentive budget in a given budget year. Visit the Oncor program web site for additional details.

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.

With tax credit bonds, generally the borrower who issues the bond pays back only the principal of the bond, and the bondholder receives federal tax credits in lieu of the traditional bond interest. The tax credit may be taken quarterly to offset the tax liability of the bondholder. The tax credit rate is set daily by the U.S. Treasury Department; however, energy conservation bondholders will receive only 70% of the full rate set by the Treasury Department under 26 USC § 54A. QECB rates are available here. Credits exceeding a bondholder's tax liability may be carried forward to the succeeding tax year, but cannot be refunded. Energy conservation bonds differ from traditional tax-exempt bonds in that the tax credits issued through the program are treated as taxable income for the bondholder.

For QECBs issued after March 18, 2010, the bond issuer may make an irrevocable election to receive a direct payment from the Department of Treasury equivalent to the amount of the non-refundable tax credit described above, which would otherwise accrue to the bondholder. The direct payment comes in the form of a refundable tax credit to the issuer in lieu of a tax credit to the bondholder. This option was formerly limited to Build America Bonds (see 26 USC § 6431, H.R. 2847 and IRS Notice 2010-35 for details). The advantage of either option is that it creates a lower effective interest rate for the issuer because the federal government subsidizes a portion of the interest costs.

In contrast to CREBs, QECBs are not subject to a U.S. Department of Treasury application and approval process. Bond volume is instead allocated to each state based on the state's percentage of the U.S. population as of July 1, 2008. Each state is then required to allocate a portion of its allocation to "large local governments" within the state based on the local government's percentage of the state's population. Large local governments are defined as municipalities and counties with populations of 100,000 or more. Large local governments may reallocate their designated portion back to the state if they choose to do so. IRS Notice 2009-29 contains a list of the QECB allocations for each state and U.S. territory. Implementing allocations and reallocations most often, but not always, takes place through State Energy Offices. As of this writing some states have yet to assign implementation responsibilities to a specific state agency.

The definition of "qualified energy conservation projects" is fairly broad and contains elements relating to energy efficiency capital expenditures in public buildings that reduce energy consumption by at least 20%; green community programs (including loans and grants to implement such programs); renewable energy production; various research and development applications; mass commuting facilities that reduce energy consumption; several types of energy related demonstration projects; and public energy efficiency education campaigns. In July 2012 the IRS issued Notice 2012-44 clarifying the meaning of "capital expenditures" and "green community program", and providing guidance on meeting the 20% energy consumption reduction requirement for energy -efficiency related capital expenditures in publicly-owned buildings (see 26 USC § 54D and IRS Notice 2012-44 for additional details). Renewable energy facilities that are eligible for CREBs are also eligible for QECBs.

Oncor Electric Delivery offers rebates to its customers that install photovoltaic (PV) systems on homes in its service area. Oncor residential customers are eligible to participate in the program. Rebates may be assigned to the customer, a service provider, or a third party.

Eligibility

A residential customer's home must have electric delivery service provided by Oncor. Systems must be new, connected to the grid on the customer side of the meter and meet all applicable code and utility interconnection requirements. All installations must be performed by service providers who meet specific program eligibility requirements. 

For more information, visit the program website.

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

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

Grid-connected renewable electricity systems must meet the standards of the National Electric Code (NEC) as well as the GVEC's own interconnection rules, code, and by-laws. Interconnection will take place at the GVEC's dual-register meter and electricity produced by the system will be purchased by the GVEC at the utility's renewable energy rate (i.e., not a net metering arrangement). The utility reserves to the right to inspect rebated systems in order to verify that they comply with program guidelines.

Effective April 1, 2019, the following rebates will no longer be offered: Duct Replacement, Energy Efficient Windows, Heat Pump Water Heater, 16 - 17 SEER Heat Pump Cooling and Heating, Insulation, Solar PV System, Solar Water Heater, Solar Water Well, Window Screens/Film, New Home. To qualify for a rebate prior to April 1, 2019, installation must be completed, commissioned (if applicable), rebate application submitted and all required documents turned in. No exceptions will be made.

Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative (GVC) offers a variety of incentives to help residential customers save energy. Rebates are available for energy efficient new homes and improvements to existing homes.

The Energy Star New Home Rebate Program provides an award for all-electric homes that meet the specific standards listed on the program web site. Homes must be built by an Energy Star-certified builder, and third-party verification is required for all energy-efficient measures.

The Home Improvement Rebate Program offers rebates for a variety of energy-efficient equipment. In order to qualify for these rebates, customers must use a listed GVEC contractor. Rebates are available for cooling/heating systems, attic and wall insulation, energy efficient windows and window solar screens/films, duct system replacement, water heaters, and Energy Star appliances. Applications must be submitted online at the Rebate Center. Please see the program web site and appropriate forms for more program information and requirements.

 Note: As of December 2020, funding for solar rebates has been exhausted and the program is suspended; additional funding may be supplied in October 2021.

Denton Municipal Electric (DME) offers rebates to its electric customers for the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar water heating systems. The solar rebates are designed for residential and small commercial customers and are available for both existing buildings and new construction. Applicants must be a home or rental property owner.

The following requirements apply to the PV rebate:

• Applicant must contact Program Manager to receive Interconnection Agreement, Application for Interconnection Packet, and GreenSense PV Rebate Agreement.
• All applications are processed on a case by case basis.
• Structures will only qualify for this rebate once.
• Documents must be completed and approved PRIOR to installation of the photovoltaic system. Post inspections by DME and the City of Denton Building Inspections Department are required on all installations before issuance of the rebate.

The following requirements apply to the solar water heater rebate:

• Solar water heater must be sized to accommodate a family of four, at minimum.
• Solar water heater must preheat water for an electric water heater that is permanently installed at the structure.
• Solar water heater must have permanently installed electric backup.
• Structures will only qualify for this rebate once per 12-month period.
• Applications must be completed and approved PRIOR to installation of the solar water heating system. Post-inspections by DME and the City of Denton Building Inspections Department are required on all installations before issuance of the rebate.

Failure to follow these or other requirements of the City of Denton Building Inspections Division may render the system ineligible for the incentive and the system will not be allowed to interconnect with the DME electrical grid. Requests for payment must be received by DME within 30 days of installation. Credits will be made to the electric utility accounts of electric utility retail customers that purchase the qualified equipment. Participating builders that install qualified systems will receive a cash payment. All installations must be for accounts served by DME and must meet all applicable national, local, and manufacturers’ codes and specifications.

The DME Application for Interconnection and the DME interconnection Agreement detail specific requirements for this rebate.

American Electric Power Texas Central Company (AEP-TCC) offers rebates to any customer that installs photovoltaic (PV) systems on homes or other buildings. Rebates may be assigned to the customer, a service provider, or a third party. 

Rebates

Rebates are offered at a rate of $0.50 per watt (W)-DC for residential customers for the first 3 kW; for systems of 3-5 kW there is a flat incentive of $1,500, for systems of 5-7.5 kW there is a flat incentive of $2,250, and for systems from 7.5-30 kW there is a flat incentive of $3,000. For commercial customers there is an incentive of $0.50 per W-DC for the first 25 kW,  and $0.25 per W-DC for additional capacity up to 200 kW. The maximum rebate is:

• $5,000 per residential customer,
• $31,250-$56,250 for non-residential customers
• Service Provider/Project Owner: $45,000 - $90,000

PV System Eligibility

Unless used for educational purposes by a school, systems must be at least 1 kW- DC in size to qualify for the rebate. Systems may not be sized to produce energy in excess of that required to meet annual on-site energy consumption. Each customer and point of service is eligible to participate in the program multiple times, subject to other program limitations (e.g., maximum per customer and per project incentive limits).

Systems must be new, connected to the grid on the customer side of the meter, meet minimum estimated performance requirements (80% of optimum), and meet all applicable code and utility interconnection requirements. Eligible systems must be covered by an all-inclusive warranty for at least five years from the date of installation.

Visit the program website for more information.

American Electric Power Texas North Company (AEP-TNC) offers rebates to any customer that installs photovoltaic (PV) systems on homes or other buildings. Rebates may be assigned to the customer, a service provider, or a third party.

Rebates

Incentive levels are as follows (all are in $/watt dc-stc):

Residential Commercial

Fixed incentives:

0.001-2.999 kWdc: $0.50/Wdc

3-4.999 kWdc: $1,500

5-7.499 kWdc: $2,250

7.5-30 kWdc: $3,000 Tiered, capacity-based incentives:

$0.50/watt for first 0-25 kWdc

$0.25/watt for add'l up to 200 kWdc

The total amount of program funding for 2021 is $90,000 for residential customers and $73,590 for non-residential customers.

PV System Eligibility

Unless used for educational purposes by a school, systems must be at least 1 kilowatt (kW)-DC in size to qualify for the rebate. Systems may not be sized to produce energy in excess of that required to meet annual on-site energy consumption. Each customer and point of service is eligible to participate in the program multiple times, subject to other program limitations (e.g., maximum per customer and per project incentive limits).

Systems must be new, connected to the grid on the customer side of the meter, meet minimum estimated performance requirements (80% of optimum), and meet all applicable code and utility interconnection requirements. Eligible systems must be covered by an all-inclusive warranty for at least five years from the date of installation. All installations must be performed by service providers who meet program eligibility requirements. AC disconnect switches and revenue-grade solar meters (provided by the service provider) are required. All installations shall utilize mounting/racking systems and hardware specifically designed for use with photovoltaic systems. Installations may be subject to a variety of inspection and performance monitoring requirements in the short- and long-term. 

Please refer to the Program Guidebook for additional details. 

The City of Sunset Valley offers rebates to local homeowners who install photovoltaic (PV) systems on their properties. The local rebate acts as an add-on to the PV rebates that are offered by Austin Energy to its electric customers.

The Sunset Valley rebate is $1.00 per watt (W) up to 3,000 W. In order to qualify for the Sunset Valley rebate, the system must first qualify for an Austin Energy rebate. In addition, the system installation cost must be $6 per kW or less.

The Sunset Valley rebates are in addition to the Austin Energy rebate of $2.50 per watt AC. In order to participate in the program, local residents must first be approved for a rebate through the Austin Energy program and meet the corresponding equipment, warranty, and installation requirements. This means that local residents of utilities other than Austin Energy are not eligible to participate in the Sunset Valley program.

Please see the program website or use the contact information below to obtain more information about this offer.

Austin Energy offers a performance-based incentive to customers with a commercial account number for electricity generated by qualifying photovoltaic (PV) systems. The incentive rate varies based on capacity of  the program, locked for a 10-year term, but the maximum incentive cannot exceed the amount indicated on the Letter of Intent. Systems rated up to 20 kW-AC are also eligible for net metering.

In order to qualify for this program, PV modules must be new and be listed on the California Energy Commission's Go Solar web site. In addition, all solar panels must have a 20-year manufacturer warranty, all inverters must have a 10-year manufacturer warranty, and all systems must have a 10-year installer's warranty. Licensed electrical contractors must obtain the appropriate permits and perform all electrical connections.

NOTE: The most recent solicitation for this program closed December 14, 2015. Please check the program website for information on future solicitations.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers an ongoing grant program for the improvement of energy generation, transmission, and distribution facilities in rural communities. This program began in 2000. Eligibility is limited to projects in communities that have average home energy costs at least 275% above the national average. Retail power suppliers serving rural areas are eligible to apply for grant funding, including non-profits (cooperatives and limited dividend or mutual associations), commercial entities, state and local governments entities, and tribal governments. Under the most recent solicitation for projects, a total of $7 million was available for qualifying projects. Under this solicitation grants ranging from $50,000 to $3 million were available for a variety of activities, including:

• Electric generation, transmission, and distribution facilities;
• Natural gas or petroleum storage or distribution facilities;
• Renewable energy facilities used for on-grid or off-grid electric power generation, water or space heating, or process heating and power;
• Backup up or emergency power generation or energy storage equipment; and
• Weatherization of residential and community property, or other energy efficiency or conservation programs.

This grant program is not limited to renewable energy or energy conservation and efficiency measures, but these measures are eligible for this grant program.

In September 2009, the City of Houston Tax Abatement Program was enacted (Ordinance No. 2009-858), establishing a partial tax abatement for U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified commercial buildings. Since its inception, the tax abatement has been renewed three times, most recently in 2016 (Ordinance No. 2016-252).

Abatement Amount

The Ordinance specifies the abatement as follows:

“If the owner of a new or refurbished commercial facility has registered with the U.S. Green Building Council seeking LEED Certification, then the Economic Development Division…may recommend approval by the City Council of a partial tax abatement for the incremental investment associated with obtaining such certification. The agreement shall be effective up to 10 years, at a percentage based upon the level of certification actually obtained after completion of construction or refurbishment":

• Basic “Certified” Level: 1.0%
• Silver Level: 2.5%
• Gold Level: 5.0%
• Platinum Level: 10%”

Minimum Investment Requirement

The LEED building tax abatement can be a stand-alone abatement or part of a standard economic development tax abatement. If used as a stand-alone tax abatement, the minimum investment requirement to be eligible for the partial tax abatement is:

• $1 million for an investment in a commercial structure that achieves Platinum LEED Certification,
• $2 million for an investment in a commercial structure that achieves Gold LEED Certification,
• $4 million for an investment in a commercial structure that achieves Silver LEED Certification, and
• $10 million for an investment in a commercial structure that achieves basic LEED Certification.

A new restructuring of the Property Tax Abatement is being considered for the City of Houston which would include an implementation period beginning in the 2nd quarter of 2020 and ending in the 4th quarter of 2021.

A comprehensive document outlying this new structure can be found here.

CoServ Electric Cooperative provides a rebate to its members who installation a solar energy system on their property. Customers must sign an interconnection agreement (with net metering) for on-site generation with CoServ. Any excess generation from the system will be given to CoServ without compensation.

Interested customers are encouraged to contact the utility for more details before making investment decisions.

The City of San Marcos offers a Distributed Generation Rebate Program for the installation of grid-tied renewable energy systems. The Distributed Generation Rebate Program is offered to San Marcos Electric Utility (SMEU) customers. In order to qualify for the rebate, customers must be pre-approved by the utility. Single family homes must meet certain energy efficiency criteria determined by the utility. All systems must be professionally designed and installed. For more information, visit the program website.

The City of Plano established this loan program through the Department of Energy to support Plano homeowners seeking energy efficient home improvements.

In partnership with BTH Bank, financing will be provided to program participants, subject to credit approval. Loan terms and interest rate will be determined by BTH Bank. Loan amounts range from $2,500 to $25,000. This loan program will continue to offer future loans as existing loans are paid off. Due to Department of Energy and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Template Guidelines, no pre-completed project can be funded through the Smart Energy Loan Program.

Eligibility requirements, application documents, and program flowchart can be found on www.smartenergyloans.com.

TXU GreenBack provides rebates for making energy-efficiency improvements to facilities that yield long-term savings. The TXU GreenBack program can help fund a new project or help pay for existing projects, such as changing to LED lighting.

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:

•  Minimum credit score of 660
•  Maximum total debt to income ratio of 45% (monthly income divided by monthly debt payments)
• Maximum combined loan-to-value: 100%
• Property type: One-unit, owner-occupied, principal residence properties only
• Appraisal requirement: exterior-only inspection appraisal or other FHA method of valuation
• PowerSaver insures lien position in the first place, or second place, and also insures loans without lien, as long as the loan amount is less than $7,500. 

Eligible Measures

Eligible home energy upgrades include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

• A whole home upgrade through Home Performance with ENERGY STAR
• Insulation and air sealing
• Replacing doors and windows
• Upgrading heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems and hot water systems
• Home automations systems and controls (e.g., smart thermostats)
• Installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, solar thermal hot water systems, small wind power, or geothermal heat pumps

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. 

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.

Note: Additional rebates are available through August 31

Austin Energy offers incentives for multifamily property owners to install solar PV systems on five or more units. In order to qualify, PV systems must be at least 2kW (AC) per unit or be estimated to produce at least 50% of annual electrical consumption. For more information, visit the program website.

Austin Energy provides rebates to small, medium, and large commercial customers who wish to install photovoltaic systems. Incentives range from $0.02-$0.08/kWh. Contact Austin Energy or visit the program website for more information on this program.