Solar Thermal Electric

Net Metering

Nevada's original net-metering law for renewable-energy systems was enacted in 1997 and amended in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. Systems up to one megawatt (MW) in capacity that generate electricity using solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and certain types of hydropower are generally eligible, although systems greater than 25 kilowatts (kW) in capacity may be subject to certain costs at the utility's discretion. Systems must be designed to offset part or all of a customer-generator's electricity requirements. A system is not eligible for net metering if its generating capacity exceeds the greater of (1) the limit on

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Montgomery County - Green Power Purchasing


In May, 2019 The Montgomery County Commissioners announced a wind energy purchase that will power all of the county’s electrical accounts with emission-free renewable power. In addition to the wind generated electrical purchase, the Commissioners made a commitment to transition to renewable energy for heating all county-owned buildings and powering all county-owned vehicles by 2050.

How homeowners can purchase renewable energy

Since the energy market in Maryland is deregulated, you can choose your electricity supplier and the source of the electricity you want to buy. As a result, you do not need to install special equipment to receive clean energy

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Clean Energy Project Bond Program

Legislation enacted in Idaho in April 2005 (S.B. 1192) allows utilities and independent (non-utility) developers of renewable energy projects in the state to request financing from the Idaho Energy Resources Authority (IERA), a state bonding authority created in March 2005 by the Environment, Energy and Technology Energy Resources Authority Act (H.B. 106). The authority was created to finance the construction of electric generation and transmission projects by electric utilities. SB 1192 extended the financing opportunities to independent renewable energy producers that are not "qualifying facilities" under the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA)

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Interconnection Standards

Note: HB 589, signed in July 2017, requires the NCUC to adopt an expedited review process for swine and poultry waste energy projects of 2 MW or less. The NCUC issued an order in June 2019 with revisions to the interconnection standard including provisions for adding energy storage at existing solar PV sites, and expedited study of interconnection standard for small swine and poultry waste facilities. 

The North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) first adopted comprehensive interconnection standards for distributed generation in 2005. The NCUC later updated the interconnection standards in 2008 and 2015. The current NCUC standards, which are similar

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Net Metering

Note: In April 2021, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission approved a proposal from CenterPoint South (formerly Vectren, Southern Indiana Gas & Electric Company) for a new distributed generation rate under the framework established by S.B. 309. The new rate uses a net billing system with instantaneous netting, with exported electricity compensated at 1.25* the locational marginal price (LMP) at CenterPoint's load node. As of March 2024, AES Indiana, Indiana Michigan Power, NIPSCO, and Duke Energy Indiana have filed updated tariffs with similar structures.

Note: Senate Bill 309, signed into law in May 2017, makes important changes to Indiana's compensation
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Energy Conservation in Public Buildings

The Florida Energy Conservation and Sustainable Buildings Act requires the use of energy-efficient equipment and design, and solar energy devices for heating and cooling state buildings where life-cycle cost analysis determines that solar-energy systems will be cost-effective over the life of the building. Florida law also requires that all new educational facilities include passive solar design. Florida mandates that schools with hot water demands exceeding 1,000 gallons per day must include a solar water heating system that provides at least 65% of hot water needs whenever economically feasible.

In June 2008, Florida enacted legislation (HB 7135) mandating that buildings constructed
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Nonrefundable Business Activity Tax Credit

This program was repealed by Act 90 of 2019 and will expire for tax years beginning after December 31, 2031.

Note: Public Act 38 of 2011 repealed the Michigan Business Tax (MBT) and implemented the Corporate Income Tax (CIT). Public Act 39 was passed in conjunction with the CIT and allows for certain credits awarded under the MBT to be retained for the duration of the agreements. Businesses receiving certain credits, including Renaissance Zone credits, may choose to either continue to file under the MBT to continue claiming their credits, or file under the CIT. Certain Renaissance Zone credits will

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Austin Energy - Net Metering

Eligibility and Availability

Austin Energy, the municipal utility of Austin Texas, offers net metering to its non-residential retail electricity customers for renewable energy systems up to 20 kilowatts (kW). Austin Energy offers the Value of Solar rate instead of net metering for residential customers with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems no larger than 20 kW. The current Performance Based Incentive Rate being accepted is $0.09/kWh for a ten year term.

The definition of renewable includes solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, wave and tidal energy, biomass, and biomass-based waste products, including landfill gas.

Systems must be used primarily to offset a

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Solar Contractor Licensing

Florida has licensing requirements for all solar contractors. State licensure for such contractors is required by those who install, alter, repair, maintain, relocate, or replace a solar thermal or solar photovoltaic system. Those employed by a licensed contractor are not required to be licensed. Plumbing contractors are also allowed to provide services related to installing, maintaining, repairing, and altering solar heating water systems. Such contractors can do so without obtaining additional local regulatory licenses, certificates, or registrations.

To qualify for a license, installers must have four years of experience, which may include both installation and education and one year must

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Solar Design Standards for State Buildings

Arizona law requires that new state building projects over 6,000 square feet follow prescribed solar design standards. Solar improvements should be evaluated on the basis of life cycle costs. Affected buildings include buildings designed and constructed by the department of administration, school districts and universities. These projects must include an evaluation of: (a) proper site orientation; (b) active and passive solar energy systems for space heating; (c) solar water heating; and (d) use of solar daylighting devices. 


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