Dollar and energy savings loans:
-Residents of Nebraska that wish to make energy efficiency improvements
on their homes are eligible to receive low interest loans administered
by the Nebraska Energy Office.
-Homes and buildings that are 5 years or older are eligible. Newer
buildings will not qualify for these loans.
-Energy efficiency improvements that qualify include equipment and
technologies for solar water heating, solar space heating, solar PV,
landfill gas, biomass, geothermal electric, hydroelectric and renewable
fuels.
-Eligible projects must either be included in the “pre-qualified
improvements” list or be approved by submitting an energy audit
of the project that confirms it will have a practical payback period.
-Interest rates for these loans are no more than 5% with a maximum
payback term of 5 to 15 years depending on project.
-Loan amounts vary.
Net metering:
-Net metering is available to customers who have facilities that
generate electricity through solar, wind, methane, biomass, hydropower
or geothermal systems.
-The power produced by the renewable energy system is used to offset
the kilowatt hours consumed each month. The incentive shows up as
a credit on the customer’s monthly bill.
-Customers keep all renewable energy credits connected to the electricity
their system generates.
-Systems must have a capacity of 25 kilowatts or less to be eligible
for net metering.
Residential renewable energy tax credit:
-This personal tax credit allows the taxpayer to claim a credit of
30% of expenditures including labor costs and installation of qualified
residential solar-electric systems, solar water heating systems or
fuel cells. Small wind-energy systems and geothermal heat pumps can
also be accredited for.
-Solar-electric systems and solar water heaters have a maximum incentive
of $2,000 if placed in service before 2009. There is no maximum incentive
for systems placed after 2008.
-The excess amount of the federal tax credit may be carried forward
to the next taxable year if it exceeds tax liability.
-This can be carried forward until 2016, but after that, it is unknown
if the unused credit will be able to be forwarded.
Residential energy conservation subsidy exclusion:
-This is a personal exemption of 100% of energy conservation subsidies
provided by public utilities.
-The value of a purchase or installation of any energy conservation
measure by a customer such as solar water heat, solar space heat or
photovoltaics will not be included in the customer’s gross income.
-Customers of an electric utility company, who participate in the
utility’s energy conservation program, may receive a rate reduction
of electricity furnished or a nonrefundable credit against the purchase
price of the electricity on each monthly electric bill.
Energy-efficient mortgages:
-This is a federal loan program where homeowners can use EEM (energy-efficient
mortgages) to finance renewable energy technologies in a home.
