Georgia Solar Incentives

As of May 2008, the state of Georgia has created legislation for huge tax credits and incentives for commercial solar applications. These incentive include:

A maximum of $500,000 per installation for photovoltaics (PV), solar thermal electric applications, and other systems.

North Carolina Incentives

In North Carolina, for renewable energy property used for any purpose other than single-family residential purposes, the tax credit is equal to 35% of the cost of the system (including installation), $0.60/square foot for lighting retrofit projects, and $1.80/square foot for energy-efficient products installed during construction.

South Carolina Solar Incentives

In South Carolina, taxpayers may claim a credit of 25% of the costs of purchasing and installing a solar-energy system for heating water, space heating, air cooling or generating electricity in a building owned by the taxpayer. The maximum credit in any year is $3,500 for each facility or 50% of the taxpayer's tax liability for that taxable year, whichever is less.

Alabama Solar Incentives

Through a private/public partnership with PowerSouth, Alabama's Local Government Energy Loan Program offers zero-interest loans to local governments and schools for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements that will eventually have a payback through utility savings. Under the program, municipal and county governments may borrow up to $350,000 for eligible projects, and K-12 schools may receive up to $350,000 per campus or $500,000 per school system for eligible projects. Eligible renewable energy resources generally include biomass, hydropower, geothermal energy, wind energy, and solar energy.

Mississippi Solar Incentives

Mississippi offers low-interest loans for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. Eligible renewable energy technologies include solar thermal, solar space heat, solar process heat, photovoltaics (PV), alternative fuels, geothermal, biomass, landfill gas and hydropower. All projects must demonstrate that they will reduce a facility's energy costs. The interest rate is 3% below the prime rate, with a maximum loan term of seven years. Loans range from $15,000 to $300,000. This program is supported by a revolving loan fund of $7 million, established through federal oil overcharge funds.

Tennessee Solar Incentives

The State of Tennessee Economic and Community Development Energy Division is now offering a pilot grant program for businesses to install renewable energy systems at their facilities. To qualify, the facility where the system will be installed must undergo an energy audit. The grant amounts are 40% of the installed cost for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, wind, solar water heating, hydrogen fuel cells and solar hybrid lighting up to a maximum of $75,000. The minimum grant amount is $5,000.

Florida Solar Incentives

Florida's Solar Energy System Incentives Program was established in June 2006 (SB 888) to provide financial incentives for the purchase and installation of solar energy systems from July 1, 2006, through June 20, 2010. A total of $2.5 million was available for FY 2006-2007; $3.5 million was available for FY 2007-2008, and $5 million is available for FY 2008-09.