US Grants for solar energy
Many governments have seen the possibilities of solar energy production, which still could be a significant expense. We all know about numerous benefits of this energy production, but sometimes people tend to stick to traditional sources of energy, because of the economic reasons. Well, there are grants which are available to homeowners, industry, colleges, state and local governments as well as public utility providers. Offering such solar energy grants is essential policy, helping to reduce effects of global warming and our dependency on polluting fossil fuels. That’s also perfect way of healing the global economy, enabling you to line in your home or drive your car, using the cheapest, most energy-efficient, environmentally friendly technologies.
Some private corporations have chosen to use their money to stimulate solar energy production, such as Google.org, who allocated $10 million in 2007 for investments in companies and projects that support alternative transportation, tending to reduce use of fossil fuels and emissions. Direct renewable energy grants, rebates, tax incentives and carbon emission trading can make for a powerful mix. You may find significant benefits extended to you in building an energy efficient home or retrofitting it. Besides this, renewable energy users could also benefit from renewable energy research grant.
Before we continue onto detailed explaining of certain government grants, we should say that many of them are funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, with the money being allocated by the Department of Energy and the Treasury Department in the USA. Grant money is being used to develop renewable energy infrastructure and to merge it with the existing energy grid.
The U.S. Department of Energy manages a program to promote electricity production from solar and other renewable sources. The Renewable Energy Production Incentive pays public utilities, state and tribal governments, and well as private nonprofit utilities 1,5 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity produced from solar or other renewable sources. This program pays the grant recipient for the first 10 years of a solar energy generation program. According to DOE website, the REPI incentive program is working in 26 states. It’s interesting to know that this program started in 1992 and has been reauthorized through 2026 by Congress.
The DOE also provides grant money to the states to support energy programs. These grants are then used by state government to improve energy production and distribution systems and to develop renewable energy resources, such as solar power, wind and biomass energy productions.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment act of 2009 allow tax payers eligible for this tax credit to take cash grand instead. For properties installing solar power systems, grant will pay 30 percent of the investment basis on the property for solar energy. The grant also covers solar hot water systems and hybrid solar powered indoor lighting system.
Rural Energy for America grant is administered through the USDA and they are available to trial, state and local governments as well as rural electric cooperatives and institutions of higher learning. The focus of this program is to help farmers, ranchers and rural communities pay for energy audits and the development of renewable energy utilities in rural areas. REAP grants can be as high as $100,000. To apply for REAP grant funding apply to your state’s Rural Development Office.