Montana - Energy tax credit, solar rebates and incentives

Montana Renewable and Solar Energy Incentives

Montana is a state with lots and sunshine and laws that are favorable for solar power and renewable energy.  

In addition, the Federal Government offers a 30% tax credit for the whole installed cost of your system  That's a huge benefit available to you no matter where you live in the US!  Talk to a local installer about the incentives available in your area.

Montana Renewable Portfolio Standards

Montana has RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standards).  This is a regulation that requires utilities to increase their production of energy from renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal by a certain date. Utilities must meet the standards by either producing their own renewable energy or by purchasing it from customers.  They must pay high fees if the standards are not met.  Rather than paying high fees, utilities in strong RPS state offer solar incentives to homeowners.  Montana's RPS of 15% of all energy from renewable sources by 2015 has been met.

Montana RPS Solar Carve Out

Solar carve outs require a certain percentage of the Renewable Portfolio Standards to be met with solar energy.  Montana has no solar carve out.

Montana State Electric Rates

Montana's electric rates rank 37th out of the fifty states.  A state's electric rates are one of the key factors in predicting whether an investment in solar panels makes sense.  The reason for this is simple:  solar power is in direct contention with electric rates.  Low electric rates make it hard for you to achieve significant payback from your solar power investment.  Higher electric rates make an investment in solar energy much more feasible.  Montana's lower rates make investing in solar power less attractive.

Montana Net Metering

Montana offers net metering laws.  Net metering is a system in which solar panels or other renewable energy generators are connected to a public-utility power grid and surplus power is transferred into the grid, allowing customers to offset the cost of power drawn from the utility.  When you generate electricity from your solar array for your home or business, it reduces the amount of energy you purchase from your electric utility.  it also lowers your monthly electricity bills.  If your system produces more energy than you need, the excess power is sold back to the grid.  That amount of energy is deducted from your monthly bill or credited toward a future bill.

Montana Interconnection Standards

Interconnection standards are requirements for connecting solar and other electrical generation systems to the grid.  These rules apply to both electricity customers and utilities.  Montana has strong statewide interconnection standards which makes the interconnection process less complex and expensive. This can be a definite benefit when trying to bring a solar energy system online and makes it easier for a solar power system to make financial sense.

Montana State Energy Rebates

Solar power rebates are incentives federal or state governments offer to reduce the cost of going solar.  Montana has a strong state rebate program through NorthWestern Energy.  You can get a lump sum payment or your installer will take the amount off the final installed price.  Rebates require paperwork to be filed.  Many times installers will handle the paperwork.  Talk with an expert solar installer to see how to qualify.  And don't forget, the Federal rebate for installed solar systems is 30%.

Montana State Energy Tax Credits

Montana offers state solar tax credits -- 100% of the purchase and installation costs of a solar system -- up to a maximum of $500.  As a credit, you take the amount directly off your tax payment, rather than as a deduction from your taxable income.  You can claim the credit for your primary residence, vacation home, and for either an existing structure or new construction.

Montana Solar Power Performance Payments (Performance-Based Incentives)

Montana does not offer Solar Power Performance Payments, also know as production incentives.  Solar Power Performance Payments provide small cash payments based on the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) or BTUs generated by a renewable energy system.  Payments based on a system's actual performance are much more effective than payments based on a system's rated capacity.  Electricity produced is credited as Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs).  SRECs are a great way to help your Solar PV system pay for itself.

Montana Property Tax Exemptions for Energy

Montana offers property tax exemptions for installed solar systems.  Property tax exemptions allow businesses and homeowners to exclude the added value of a system from the valuation of their property for taxation purposes.  A Solar PV system can increase the value of your home by a multiple of 20 times your annual electricity savings (a 5kW system increases the value of your home close to $17,000).  A property tax exemption makes it more economically feasible for a taxpayer to install a solar system on a residential or commercial property.

Montana Sales Tax Exemptions for Energy

Montana has no state sales tax so there are no sales tax exemptions.  A sales tax exemption means that homeowners and businesses would not have to pay any state sales tax on their solar panel system.  Combine the falling cost of solar equipment and installation, state rebates, tax credits, property tax exemptions, and the 30% Federal tax rebate and you have compelling reasons to go solar in Montana!