West Virginia - Energy tax credit, solar rebates and incentives

West Virginia Renewable and Solar Energy Incentives

Residential Solar Energy Tax Credit

Incentive Type: Personal Tax Credit
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Photovoltaics
Applicable Sectors: Residential
Amount: 30%
Maximum Incentive: $2,000
Equipment Requirements: Solar energy system used to provide hot water must derive at least 50% of its energy from the sun
Carryover Provisions: Excess credit may be carried forward to each of the next taxable years until exhausted (up to four years).

Summary: West Virginia passed legislation in June 2009 authorizing its solar energy tax credit for residential installations. The tax credit, which is 30% of the cost to purchase and install the system, is capped at $2,000. Eligible technologies include systems that use solar energy to generate electricity, heat or cool a residence, or provide hot water or solar process heat for use in the residence. Solar systems for heating a pool or hot tub are not eligible. The solar energy systems installed to provide hot water must derive 50% or more of its energy to heat or cool from the sun. If the credit exceeds the taxpayer's liability, the unused portion of the credit may be carried forward to "each of the next taxable years" until it is used (but may not be carried forward past July 1, 2014). 

Tax Exemption for Wind Energy Generation

Incentive Type: Corporate Exemption
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: Wind
Applicable Sectors: Utility
Amount: Reduction of Business and Occupations (B&O) tax from 40% to 12% of generating capacity

Summary: In March 2007, West Virginia enacted legislation (SB 441) amending its tax law concerning the business and operation (B&O) tax for wind turbines. Although SB 441 increased the taxable value of wind turbine generating capacity, the taxation level is still significantly lower than that of most other types of electricity generation. For most types of newly constructed electricity-generating units, the B&O tax is calculated by multiplying a pre-determined dollar amount by 40% of the nameplate capacity rating of the generating unit. However, the B&O tax on wind turbines is multiplied by only 12% of the nameplate capacity rating. This results in an effective B&O tax rate on wind powered turbines that is about 30% of the effective tax rate of most other types of newly constructed generating units.

Special Assessment for Wind Energy Systems

Incentive Type: Property Tax Incentive
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: Wind
Applicable Sectors: Utility
Amount: Property tax basis reduced to ~25% of assessed value

Summary: For the purposes of property tax assessment, utility-owned wind projects are considered to have a value equal to their salvage value, with certain limitations. This incentive effectively lowers the property tax base on utility-owned wind turbines from 100% of fair market value to as little as 24.95% of fair market value.* This results in an effective property tax rate on wind turbines that is 24.95% of the effective tax rate on most other types of newly constructed electricity-generating units. 
 
 
*The law states that up to 79% of the total property may be assigned salvage value. Salvage value of a pollution control facility, of which a wind turbine is considered for assessment purposes, is 5%. Therefore, if 79% of the property is valued at 5% (salvage value), and the remaining 21% of the property is valued at 100%, the effective value for property tax purposes is 24.95%.

Federal Energy Tax Credit (Residential/Commercial)

Taxpayers and commercial business owners are granted an energy tax credit of 30% of the total expenses, which include installation of residential or commercial solar panel (PV) systems, solar thermal systems, fuel cells and labor expenses.  Residential wind energy installations and geothermal pumps are also subject to a tax exemption.  

• Solar electric systems and solar thermal heaters have no maximum incentive.
• If there is excess federal tax credit, it may be carried over to the subsequent taxable year.  
• This may continue on through consecutive years until 2016, under which unused credit may or may not be expunged.

Federal Energy Conservation Subsidy Exclusion (Residential)

• Public utilities provide residential purchasers with an exemption of 100% of energy conservation subsidies.  
• The overall worth of an installation or renewable utility regardless of the energy conservation capacity, will be excluded from the buyer’s gross income.  
• Customers who participate in a utility company’s energy conservation program may be given a reduced rate of electricity utilized or a nonrefundable credit of the price of electricity on the customer’s monthly electric bill.

Energy-Efficient Mortgages (Residential)

• With this federal loan program, homeowners may utilize energy-efficient mortgages (EEM) to either supplement or completely fund renewable energy systems.