Ohio renewable and solar energy incentives

Property improvement program – Hamilton County

The Property Improvement program offers homeowners in the Hamilton County the ability to take out loans that must be used towards funding of energy efficient systems or improvements in their houses. The loan is on a 3% interest rate and can be paid back over the course of five years. Loans have a maximum amount of $50,000.

Green Energy Ohio solar thermal rebate program

Ohio residents that purchase/install solar water heating systems are eligible for the Green Energy Ohio solar thermal rebate program. The rate of this rebate is $30/kBtu each day. In order to determine the amount of projected energy that your system creates a solar collector must analyze your water heating system. The rebate maxes out at $2,400/homeowner. If needed, the Sierra Club has established a funding program for this rebate.

Property tax abatement for green buildings – Cincinnati

Residents & commercial buildings that have qualified for LEED are eligible for this 100% property tax abatement. Residential homes may receive up to a $500,000 improvement on the market value of their building, and if the building happens to be LEED platinum certified, there is maximum on the improvement price.

Special energy improvement districts

This is a funding plan that offers residents a 25-year loan at a small interest rate. This money must be used towards payments for energy improvements. Homeowners pay this loan back via increased property tax assessments over a number of years.

Residential solar PV energy incentive – Advanced energy program grants

The Ohio Energy Office offers grants to residents that have installed a grid tied solar PV sys that generates 2 or more kWs and are customers of the utility companies that are partnered with the program. The incentive offers $3 per system watt capacity. There is a $25,000 limit for this offer. In order to be eligible for the program, the system must have all proper credentials and must be fully inspected before the grant may be provided.

Utility rebate programs

There are a number of different rebate programs that are offered throughout Ohio by utility companies and municipal cities. The majority of these programs are geared towards water heaters, heat pumps and geothermal systems. These rebates work as a one time fixed amount that are used towards the final cost of the system. There is no set price on the rebate amounts.

Federal renewable energy tax credit

Ohio residents are eligible to receive a credit of 30% of the total price (including labor and installation costs) towards the following systems: solar PV, geothermal heat pumps, fuel cells, small wind-energy, and solar water heating. There is a limit of $2,000 for solar PV and solar water heaters that were placed in service before 2009. There is no limit to the incentive for systems placed in service after 2008. Any additional federal tax credit may roll over towards the next taxable year if it is greater than the tax liability. This rollover can continue until 2016, but after that point there is no structure in place as to whether this plan will continue.

Residential energy conservation subsidy exclusion

This exclusion allows Ohio residents to be exempt from 100% of any energy conservation subsidies that they receive from public utilities. The resident’s gross income will not reflect the price (including installation costs) of any of the following conservation systems: solar energy, solar water heat and solar space heat. Additionally, customers of electric utility companies that are participating in this program may receive reduced pricing on electricity furnishing and nonrefundable credit towards the cost of monthly electricity.

Energy-efficient mortgages

Homeowners have the ability to use EEM (energy-efficient mortgages) through this federal loan program with the purpose of financing residential renewable energy technologies.

Net metering

All Ohio residents are able to use net metering for the following systems: solar, methane, wind hydropower, biomass or geothermal. The goal of the system must be to offset electricity requirements and they must have the ability to record energy flow in either direction. After 12 months, a customer may request a refund for any excess net energy generated.