On January 20, 2012, the FY 2012 Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Solicitation was issued. The REAP program provides grants to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. Deadlines are set for March and June of 2012.
Washington State August 30, 2010 The State of Washington has awarded Cascade Community Wind Company (CCWC) one million dollars (30% grant 70% low interest loan) to help install up to eight community wind turbines before December 2011.
A new report from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory reveals how the 30% investment tax credit (ITC) and cash grant equivalent have increased benefits for the development of Community Wind projects. “Revealing the Hidden Value that the Federal Investment Tax Credit and Treasury Cash Grant Provide To Community Wind Projects” analyzes the impact of new federal policies for wind farm investment incentives introduced this year as part of the U.S. economic stimulus program.
This is a recording of the first in a four-part webinar series at no charge that will provide attendees with vital information regarding Community Wind and Community Energy project financing in the new policy environment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
This webinar presented information about:
Moderator:
Lisa Daniels, Windustry
Panelists:
Jim Duffy, Nixon Peabody LLP
Forrest David Milder, Nixon Peabody LLP
Matt Ferguson, Reznick Group
Julie Newland, Reznick Group
Kevin Schulte, Sustainable Energy Developments
A transcript in Adobe Reader (PDF) format is also available in the link below:
Windustry Webinar Transcript
This webinar was presented by Windustry. 
In-kind sponsorship of this webinar was provided by National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), Nixon Peabody LLP, Reznick Group, and Sustainable Energy Developments (SED).
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Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Treasury Department has announced the second round of awards for cash assistance to energy producers in place of tax credits. This provides provides an additional $550 million, bringing the total to more than $1 billion awarded to dateto companies committed to investing in domestic renewable energyproduction.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 extended many consumer tax incentives originally introduced in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT) and amended in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-343).
Consumers who install residential small wind systems with a nameplate capacity of not more than 100 kilowatts can receive a 30% tax credit for systems placed in service before December 31, 2016; the previous tax credit cap no longer applies. This Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit also applies to solar energy systems (including solar water heating and solar electric systems), geothermal heat pumps, and residential fuel cell and microturbine systems. There is no maximum credit for systems placed in service after 2008.
Information is available at the federal EnergyStar web site:
Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency
A tax credit is generally more valuable than an equivalent tax deduction because a tax credit reduces tax dollar-for-dollar, while a deduction only removes a percentage of the tax that is owed. Consumers can itemize purchases on their federal income tax form, which will lower the total amount of tax they owe the government.
IRS Notice 2009-41 provides the guidelines for this tax crredit.
In addition to federal tax incentives, some consumers will also be eligible for utility or state rebates, as well as state tax incentives for energy-efficient home improvements. Each state's energy office web site may have more information on specific state tax information.
The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency provides information and links to resources for individual states.
Washington, D.C. - Marking a major milestone in the effort to spur private sector investments in clean energy and create new jobs for America's workers, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced $502 million in the first round of awards from an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) program that provides cash assistance to energy production companies in place of earned tax credits.
This handout is a compilation of Minnesota-specific and federal incentives for wind energy systems. The list is divided into programs that are funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the stimulus bill) and programs that are funded through other sources. This list was last updated August 21, 2009.
Washington, DC - 21st Century Infrastructure: Opportunities and Hurdles for Renewable Energy Development is a conference sponsored by the American University Washington College of Law and the Renewable & Distributed Generation Resources Committee of the ABA Section of Environment, Energy and Resources.
Topics will include:
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has published a report analyzing the impacts that state level feed-in tariff policies can have on the renewable energy industry across the country. The report uses data and reports from around the world to highlight the various benefits that a feed-in tariff type of policy can have on renewable energy development.
A feed-in tariff is an energy policy that provides for a guarantee of payment to renewable energy developers for the energy that is produced. This type of policy can be thought of as an advanced form of a production-based incentive because payments are made for the actual electricity produced and not for how much capacity is installed. The most common feed-in tariff payment is based on the actual levelized cost of renewable energy generation. This method of payment provides a price adequate to ensure a reasonable rate of return on for investors.
The authors of the report delve into the various advantages of feed-in tariff policies and the number of challenges to implementing feed-in tariff policies in the U.S. The report also provides a review of the current state-level and utility-level feed-in tariff policies that are currently in place across the county and compares them with the successful models found in Europe. These states include Gainesville, Florida; various Wisconsin utilities; California; Vermont (report was written prior to passage of the state-wide feed-in tariff so this analysis focuses on the two utility-specific programs); Washington; and Oregon. The authors wrap up the report with a discussion of best practices for feed-in tariff policy design and implementation, followed by an analysis on how to use a feed-in tariff policy to achieve state renewable energy goals.
The authors highlight one of the most important elements of a feed-in tariff policy - that it allows for more participants in renewable energy project development. In their analysis the authors state that there are significant impacts of a feed-in tariff on developing community ownership, but it will depend on how the program is structured and payments determined.
