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We are at a cross roads in human history, we can choose to continue on as we have been, or we can make a change to improve our future and quite possibly the future for several generations to come. We are here to promote energy independence, a better environment, a secure future and a higher return on investment for your hard earned dollar. It is what I believe in, it is why I am in the solar business.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act; whats in it for me?

14 Feb 09 | Commentary, Conservation

I spent several hours this morning picking through the final conference report on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (HR-1), also known as the “Economic Stimulus Bill.”  You can download and read all 647 pages of it here, if you dare. There are several sections that deal with Renewable Energy and solar power systems.  Here are a few of the highlights:

ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
For an additional amount for ‘‘Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’’, $18,500,000,000, which shall be used as follows:
(1) $2,000,000,000 shall be for expenses necessary for energy efficiency and renewable energy research, development, demonstration and deployment activities, to accelerate the development of technologies, to include advanced batteries, of which not less than $800,000,000 is for biomass and $400,000,000 is for geothermal technologies. (2) $500,000,000 shall be for expenses necessary to implement the programs authorized under 1 part E of title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6341 et seq.).
(3) $1,000,000,000 shall be for the cost of grants to institutional entities for energy sustainability and efficiency under section 399A of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6371h-1).
(4) $6,200,000,000 shall be for the Weatherization Assistance Program under part A of title IV of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 11 U.S.C. 6861 et seq.).
(5) $3,500,000,000 shall be for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants, for implementation of programs authorized under subtitle E of title V of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17151 et seq.).
(6) $3,400,000,000 shall be for the State Energy Program authorized under part D of title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6321).
(7) $200,000,000 shall be for expenses necessary to implement the programs authorized under section 131 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17011).
(8) $300,000,000 shall be for expenses necessary to implement the program authorized under 3 section 124 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15821) and the Energy Star program.
(9) $400,000,000 shall be for expenses necessary to implement the program authorized under 7 section 721 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16071).
(10) $1,000,000,000 shall be for expenses necessary for the manufacturing of advanced batteries authorized under section 136(b)(1)(B) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17013(b)(1)(B))

Cliffnotes: $18.5 Billion for research and development, including biomass, geothermal and batteries, block grants, weatherization, conservation, energy star, battery manufacture, and other grants.

Those are all good things.  I find it interesting that batteries where specifically mentioned for R&D and manufacture.  It seems that one of the major shortfalls of PEV (Plug in Electric Vehicle) is the weight and distance limiting factors associated with batteries.  It would be great if these obstacles can be overcome.

The Department of Education also gets funding for renewable energy systems, under section 11 of the School Modernization section:

(11) renewable energy generation and heating  systems, including solar, photovoltaic, wind, geothermal, or biomass, including wood pellet, systems or components of such systems

This will be administered by the states, which in New York State, means NYSERDA, know widely for its bureaucratic efficiency.

Perhaps the most interesting item, from a renewable energy contractor’s perspective is this:

GRANTS FOR SPECIFIED ENERGY PROPERTY IN LIEU OF TAX CREDITS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Upon application, the Secretary of Energy shall, within 60 days of the application and subject to the requirements of this section, provide a grant to each person who places in service specified energy property during 2009 or 2010 to reimburse such person for a portion of the expense of such facility as provided in subsection (b).
(b) GRANT AMOUNT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The amount of the grant under subsection (a) with respect to any specified energy property shall be the applicable percentage of the basis of such facility.
(2) APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE.—For purposes of paragraph (1), the term ‘‘applicable percentage’’ means—(A) 30 percent in the case of any property described in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (c), and (B) 10 percent in the case of any other property.
(3) DOLLAR LIMITATIONS.—In the case of property described in paragraph (2), (6), or (7) of subsection (c), the amount of any grant under this section with respect to such property shall not exceed the limitation described in section 48(c)(1)(B), 16 48(c)(2)(B), or 48 (c)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, respectively, with respect to such property.
(c) SPECIFIED ENERGY PROPERTY.—For purposes of this section, the term ‘‘specified energy property’’ means any of the following:
(1) QUALIFIED FACILITIES.—Any facility described in paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4), (6), (7), (9), or (11) of section 45(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
(2) QUALIFIED FUEL CELL PROPERTY.—Any qualified fuel cell property (as defined in section 48(c)(1) of such Code).
(3) SOLAR PROPERTY.—Any property described in clause (i) or (ii) of section 48(a)(3)(A) of such Code.
(4) QUALIFIED SMALL WIND ENERGY PROPERTY.—Any qualified small wind energy property (as defined in section 48(c)(4) of such Code).
(5) GEOTHERMAL PROPERTY.—Any property described in clause (iii) of section 48(a)(3)(A) of such Code.
(6) QUALIFIED MICROTURBINE PROPERTY.—Any qualified microturbine property (as defined in section 48(c)(2) of such Code).
(7) COMBINED HEAT AND POWER SYSTEM PROPERTY.—Any combined heat and power system property (as defined in section 48(c)(3) of such Code).
(8) GEOTHERMAL HEATPUMP PROPERTY.—Any property described in clause (vii) of section 48(a)(3)(A) of such Code.
(d) APPLICATION OF CERTAIN RULES.—In making grants under this section, the Secretary of Energy shall apply rules similar to the rules of section 50 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. In applying such rules, if the facility is disposed of, or otherwise ceases to be a qualified renewable energy facility, the Secretary of Energy shall provide for the recapture of the appropriate percentage of the grant amount in such manner as the Secretary of Energy determines appropriate.

There is a lot to wade through, however, the gist is instead of income tax credits, which may need to be carried over to a second year, a homeowner business owner can apply for a grant from the Department of Energy for 30% of the installed cost of a solar, wind, geothermal, fuel cell, or “Micro Turbine” which I take to mean microhydro turbine. They would receive this money within 60 days instead of waiting until the end of the year to file an income tax return.

I think that the grant options are a good idea for the average homeowner who is outlaying some serious cash for a renewable energy system. I would note that if the program gets too big, there will likely be some abuse, which could give the solar industry a black eye. Picture an NBC news fleecing of America segment. I, for one, am very keen on keep unscrupulous operators out of the renewable energy fields. They are bad for business.

I will reiterate my position on incentives once again. I don’t like them. I would prefer that congress remove the subsides for oil, gas and coal rather than subsidize renewable energy as well. That will not likely happen anytime soon, so until such time, incentives are necessary to level the playing field. One day, hopefully, someone will wake up and realize that we are wasting a lot of money and end the whole subside structure.

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14 Feb 09 | Commentary, Conservation | Comments (0)