Solar Thermal Electric

Renewable Portfolio Standard

In March 2004, New Mexico’s governor signed into law the Renewable Energy Act (S.B. 43), creating a state renewable portfolio standard (RPS). By 2020, investor-owned utilities (IOUs) are required to generate 20% of total retail sales from renewable energy resources, and rural electric cooperatives are required to generate 10% of total retail sales from renewable energy resources. This requirement was later increased by S.B. 489 of 2019.

Eligible Technologies

Renewable energy is defined as electric energy generated by low- or zero-emissions generation technology with substantial long-term production potential; solar; wind; geothermal; hydropower facilities brought in service after July 1, 2007

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System Benefits Charge

New York's system benefits charge (SBC), established in 1996 by the New York Public Service Commission (PSC), supports energy efficiency, education and outreach, research and development, and low-income energy assistance. To support the SBC program, the state's six investor-owned electric utilities collect funds from customers through a surcharge on customers' bills. The SBC program is administered by NYSERDA and funds numerous programs to improve the state's transmission and distribution infrastructure. The program goals include improving system-wide reliability and increasing peak-electricity reductions through end-user efficiency actions; improving energy efficiency and access to energy options for under-served customers; reducing the environmental impacts

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West Penn Power SEF Commercial Loan Program

WPPSEF Offers Conventional Financing that ranges from $25,000 to $1,000,000 and ACT 129 Micro Loans that range from $10,000 to $50,000. For more information on these programs please visit the website above.

The West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund (WPPSEF) promotes the use of renewable energy and clean energy among commercial, industrial, institutional and residential customers in the West Penn market region. Eligible technologies include solar, wind, low-impact hydro, sustainable biomass such as closed-loop biomass and biomass gasification, and innovative natural gas technologies as well as energy efficiency. Clean energy refers to advanced technologies, including landfill gas and fuel cells

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Met-Ed / Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund

FirstEnergy (formerly GPU) established the Metropolitan Edison Company (Met-Ed) Sustainable Energy Fund in 2000 with an initial contribution of $5.7 million. The fund later received an additional contribution of $2.5 million as a result of the merger between GPU Energy and FirstEnergy, bringing the total to $8.2 million. The fund is administered by the Berks County Community Foundation. The majority of funding available from the Metropolitan Edison Company SEF takes the form of investments made in businesses pursuing one or more of the fund's objectives. These funds typically will be distributed as loans or equity investments, but a limited number

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Modified Accelerated Cost-Recovery System (MACRS)

Note: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 increased bonus depreciation to 100% for qualified property acquired and placed in service after September 27, 2017 and before January 1, 2023. Bonus depreciation steps down by 20% each year beginning with 80% in 2023.  

Under the federal Modified Accelerated Cost-Recovery System (MACRS), businesses may recover investments in certain property through depreciation deductions. The MACRS establishes a set of class lives for various types of property, ranging from three to 50 years, over which the property may be depreciated. A number of renewable energy technologies are classified as five-year property (26

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Business Energy Investment Tax Credit (ITC)

Note: The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (H.R. 5376) made several significant changes to this tax credit, including expanding the eligible technologies, extending the expiration date, modifying the scheduled step-down in its value, providing for new bonus credits, and establishing new criteria to qualify for the full credit. It also phases out this tax credit under section 48 of the Internal Revenue Code and replaces it with a new technology-neutral tax credit under section 48E of the Internal Revenue Code. The summary below describes the current section 48 tax credit as modified by the Inflation Reduction Act, and

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Mandatory Utility Green Power Option

In May 2001, Washington enacted legislation (EHB 2247) that requires all electric utilities serving more than 25,000 customers to offer customers the option of purchasing renewable energy. Eligible renewables include wind, solar, geothermal, landfill gas, wave or tidal action, wastewater treatment gas, certain biomass resources, and "qualified hydropower" that is fish-friendly.

Beginning January 1, 2002, each electric utility must inform its customers on a quarterly basis of the voluntary option to purchase green power. The details of each utility's program must be approved by the state, and annual reports must be submitted from October 1, 2002, to October 1, 2012

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Zero-Emission Facilities Production Tax Credit

Note: Systems entering service on or after January 1, 2021 cannot qualify for this credit. The credit will no longer be available for all systems beginning in 2022.

For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2003 and before December 31, 2021, a state income tax credit is available to producers of electric power using renewable energy resources from a zero-emission facility located in Oklahoma. The zero-emission facility must have a rated production capacity of 1 megawatt or greater. The facility must be placed in operation after June 4, 2001, and the electricity must be sold to an unrelated

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Penelec SEF of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies Loan Program (FirstEnergy Territory)

FirstEnergy (formerly GPU) established the Metropolitan Edison Company Sustainable Energy Fund and the Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund in 2000. The Community Foundation for the Alleghenies in Johnstown, Pennsylvania administers the Penelec loan and grant components of the Fund, which has assets of approximately $9.1 million. The majority of funding available from the fund takes the form of investments made in businesses pursuing one or more of the fund's objectives. These funds typically will be distributed as loans or equity investments. The program is open to any individual, organization, governmental entity, or corporation. Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund and Metropolitan Edison Sustainable

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Renewable Portfolio Standard

Hawaii's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requires each electric utility company that sells electricity for consumption in Hawaii to have the following percentages of electricity sales come from renewable energy by the corresponding date. H.B. 2089 of 2022 amended the RPS to be based on net electricity generation rather than retail sales beginning in compliance year 2030. 

  • 10% of its net electricity sales by December 31, 2010;
  • 15% of its net electricity sales by December 31, 2015;
  • 30% of its net electricity sales by December 31, 2020;
  • 40% of its net electricity generation by December 31, 2030;
  • 70% of its net
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