Attached to the latest bailout plan passed by the Fine Folks on Capitol Hill, was an extension and amendment of the federal solar tax credit. The tax credit is extended for an additional 8 years. Before this renewal, there was a cap at $2000 for the tax credit. No more! The federal tax credit is now up to 30% and can be applied alongside other state and local incentives to go solar.
San Francisco is leading the way by encouraging homeowners and landlords to go solar. In additon to being the first city to pass stringent green building ordinances, Gavin championed this little number below.
From dsireusa.org:
“The City and County of San Francisco, through the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), are providing rebates to residents and businesses who install photovoltaic (PV) systems on their properties. Systems must be at least one kilowatt (kW) in capacity, and there is no maximum size limit to participate. There are four distinct funding levels for residential installations. First, basic installations of systems are eligible for rebates of $3,000. Residential systems installed by a local installer qualify for a higher incentive of $4,000. Residential installations in lower income and racially diverse neighborhoods considered “environmental justice districts” because of their proximity to industrial sites and major highways are eligible for an even higher incentive of $5,000. Systems installed by individuals trained through the city’s workforce development system can receive an incentive of $6,000.
Commercial, non-profit and industrial installations receive a capacity-based incentive of $1,500 per kW, up to a maximum amount of $10,000. Multi-unit residential buildings that are operated by a non-profit may receive up to $4,500 per kW (depending on the number of units) up to a maximum of $30,000.
The San Francisco rebates can be combined with the state-level California Solar Initiative, in addition to the federal tax credit. To simplify the application process, San Francisco will approve of any system which qualifies for the California Solar Initiative.
The San Francisco Solar Energy Incentive Pilot Program is funded with $3 million from the SFPUC renewable energy fund, which comes from the sale of power generated by the Hetch Hetchy dam. The renewable energy funds previously provided funding just for solar installations on city buildings, which is expected to continue with a portion of the fund.”
So, if the Fed, Sacramento, and The City are all willing to pitch in, why wouldn’t you go solar? It increases the value of your home, decreases your dependence on carbon-emitting fossil fuels, and give your home the certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ of cool, green cache.
I happen to know a few solar outfits here in The Bay. If you’re curious about solar for your home or office, give me a call and I can set you up with the right folks to get the ball rolling.
