Rebates

Utah enacted The Energy Resource and Carbon Emission Reduction Initiative (S.B. 202) in March 2008. While this law contains some provisions similar to those found in renewable portfolio standards (RPSs) adopted by other states, certain other provisions in S.B. 202 indicate that this law is more accurately described as a renewable portfolio goal (RPG). Specifically, the law requires that utilities only need to pursue renewable energy to the extent that it is "cost-effective" to do so. The guidelines for determining the cost-effectiveness of acquiring an energy source include an assessment of whether acquisition of the resource will result

In February 2008, South Dakota enacted legislation (H.B. 1123) establishing an objective that 10% of all retail electricity sales in the state be obtained from renewable and recycled energy by 2015. In March 2009, this policy was modified by allowing “conserved energy” to meet the objective. The objective applies to all retail providers of electricity in the state. However, as a voluntary objective (as opposed to a mandatory standard), there are no penalties or sanctions for retail providers that fail to meet the goal. Final rules related to renewable energy certificates (RECs), energy conservation measurements, and reporting requirements

In March 2008, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) adopted interconnection rules for renewable-energy systems up to two megawatts (MW) in capacity. The PSC rules apply only to the state's investor-owned utilities; the rules do not apply to electric cooperatives or municipal utilities.

Florida's interconnection rules include provisions for three tiers of renewable-energy systems:

• Tier 1: 10 kilowatts (kW) or less
• Tier 2: Larger than 10 kW, but not larger than 100 kW
• Tier 3: Larger than 100 kW, but not larger than 2 MW

To qualify for expedited interconnection under the PSC rules, the customer-owned renewable generation must have

The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) adopted rules for net metering and interconnection for renewable-energy systems up to 2 MW in capacity for investor owned utilities and also requires municipal utilities and electric cooperatives to offer net metering without stipulating standards. Net metering is available to customers who generate electricity using solar energy, geothermal energy, wind energy, biomass energy, ocean energy, hydrogen, waste heat or hydroelectric power.
Utilities must file annual reports with the Florida PSC indicating the number of customer-generators and the size, type and location of their renewable energy systems, the aggregate capacity of net-metered generation, the amount

The City of Grand Rapids began their sustainability journey around 2005. In 2019, they published a strategic plan to serve as a framework for all operations. In 2023 they created a Climate Action & Adaptation Plan to prepare for the impacts of climate change. See the website for additional details.

In May 2007, Montana enacted legislation (H.B. 3) that allows a property tax abatement for new renewable energy production facilities, new renewable energy manufacturing facilities, and renewable energy research and development equipment. Eligible facilities and equipment are assessed at 50% of their taxable value.

Qualifying renewable energy manufacturing facilities are those that (1) produce materials, components or systems to convert solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, biogas or waste heat resources into useful energy, and (2) whose annual production of renewable energy equipment makes up at least half of the facility's total production. Fuel cells and components of fuel cells that generate

In 2007, Idaho enacted a bill that restructured the method of taxation for producers of wind energy from a property tax to a tax on production. The aim of this restructuring was to ease the burden on commercial wind farms in the early years of operation. In 2008, Idaho enacted further legislation to include geothermal energy producers under this method of taxation, and solar energy producers were included under legislation (H.B. 534) enacted in 2016. 

Under these policies, commercial wind, solar, and geothermal energy producers, excluding those regulated by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, are exempt from paying

Green Power Purchasing Executive Order

By an executive order from the Mayor's Office, City of Lansing facilities are required to procure 10% of their energy consumption from renewable sources by 2010, escalating to 15% in 2015 and 20% in 2020. This green power purchasing policy is part of a broader initiative designed to reduce the contribution that city facilities make to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Several additional provisions apart from green power procurement are contained in the order, among them a goal of reducing energy use in city facilities by 10% as soon as it is practical and

NOTE: In July 2016, FERC issued Order 828 revising the Small Generation Interconnection Agreement (SGIA) to require newly interconnecting small generators under 20 MW to ride through abnormal frequency and voltage events and not be disconnected during such events. 

Origin

Through its Orders 792 and 792-A, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) adopted new "small generator" interconnection standards for distributed energy resources up to 20 megawatts (MW) in capacity in November 2013 and September 2014, respectively. These standards made revisions to those promulgated by FERC in May 2005 through its Order 2006. The FERC's standards apply only to facilities subject

Commercial and net metering alternative energy investments of $5,000 or more are eligible for a tax credit of up to 35% against individual or corporate tax on income generated by the investment. The investment must be depreciable. The credit is applied only against taxes due as a consequence of taxable or net income produced by:

• A manufacturing plant that is located in Montana and that produces alternative energy generating equipment;
• A new business facility or the expanded portion of an existing business facility that supplies basic energy needed from the alternative energy generating equipment, on a direct contract sales basis