Incentive Programs For Commercial Solar PV Projects In North Carolina

Installing a solar PV array takes effort on the front end.  You must determine if your rooftop or land will support a cost-effective system, establish what method of procurement is best, install the project and interconnect to the utility.

Sounds like a lot of work – so what’s the payoff? Not only are you generating electricity from a clean energy source, but your business is also effectively paying for 30 years of electricity upfront, helping to stabilize operating expenses.

There are many other benefits to ‘going solar’ that will serve your business in the long run; financial incentives are also available through federal, state and local agencies that help offset the more immediate cost of installing a solar PV array. Using the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) as our source, we’ve compiled many of the cost saving measures available for commercial and local government solar PV projects in North Carolina.

Let’s dive in!

FEDERAL INCENTIVE PROGRAMS

FEDERAL BUSINESS ENERGY INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT (ITC)

The Federal Business Energy Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is available in all 50 states and administered by the US Internal Revenue Service. The ITC has been amended several times, most recently in December 2020. The table below shows the value of the investment tax credit for solar PV by year (click the link below for the value of other eligible technologies). The dates are based on when construction begins:

Eligible Technologies: Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Geothermal Electric, Solar Thermal Electric, Solar Thermal Process Heat, Solar Photovoltaics (PV), Wind (All), Geothermal Heat Pumps, Municipal Solid Waste, Combined Heat & Power, Fuel Cells using Non-Renewable Fuels, Tidal, Wind (Small), Geothermal Direct-Use, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels, Microturbines, Offshore Wind.

Applicable Sectors: Commercial, Industrial, Investor-Owned Utility, Cooperative Utilities, Agricultural

The solar PV array must be operational the year in which the credit is first taken.

Learn more here: https://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/658/business-energy-investment-tax-credit-itc

MODIFIED ACCELERATED COST-RECOVERY SYSTEM (MACRS) DEPRECIATION

Under the federal Modified Accelerated Cost-Recovery System (MACRS), businesses can recover investments in certain property through depreciation deductions. Solar PV property is in the ‘five year’ class, and can be depreciated over that timeframe.  The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 increased bonus depreciation to 100% for qualified property acquired and placed in service after September 27, 2017 and before January 1, 2023.

Eligible Technologies: Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Geothermal Electric, Solar Thermal Electric, Solar Thermal Process Heat, Solar Photovoltaics (PV), Wind (All), Biomass, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Municipal Solid Waste, Combined Heat & Power, Fuel Cells using Non-Renewable Fuels, Landfill Gas, Tidal, Wave, Ocean Thermal, Wind (Small), Geothermal Direct-Use, Anaerobic Digestion, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels, Microturbines.

Applicable Sectors: Commercial, Industrial, Agricultural.

Learn more here: https://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/676/modified-accelerated-cost-recovery-system-macrs

USDA RURAL ENERGY FOR AMERICA PROGRAM (REAP) GRANTS

The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides financial assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase, install, and construct renewable energy systems, make energy efficiency improvements, use renewable technologies that reduce energy consumption, and participate in energy audits and renewable energy development assistance. To be eligible, small businesses must be located in rural areas.

These grants are limited to 25% of a proposed project’s cost, and a loan guarantee may not exceed $25 million. The combined amount of a grant and loan guarantee must be at least $5,000 (with the grant portion at least $1,500) and may not exceed 75% of the project’s cost.

Eligible Technologies: Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Geothermal Electric, Solar Thermal Electric, Solar Photovoltaics (PV), Wind (All), Biomass, Hydroelectric, Hydrogen, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Combined Heat & Power, Tidal, Wave, Ocean Thermal, Wind (Small), Hydroelectric (Small), Geothermal Direct-Use, Anaerobic Digestion, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels, Microturbines

Applicable Sectors: Commercial, Agricultural

Application due dates are published annually in the Notice of Funding Availability. Regional rural energy coordinators provide loan and grant applications upon request.

Learn more here: https://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/917/usda-rural-energy-for-america-program-reap-grants

STATE, LOCAL & UTILITY INCENTIVE PROGRAMS

STATE

PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT FOR SOLAR ELECTRIC SYSTEMS

Administered by the NC Department of Revenue, this program exempts 80% of the appraised value of a non-residential “solar energy electric system” (aka a photovoltaic, or PV, system) from property tax.

Eligible Technologies: Solar Thermal Electric, Solar Photovoltaics (PV)

Applicable Sectors: Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Agricultural

Learn more here: https://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/3036/property-tax-abatement-for-solar-electric-systems

LOCAL 

FINANCING PROGRAM FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY & ENERGY EFFICIENCY

North Carolina’s H.B. 1389 authorizes cities and counties to establish revolving loan programs to finance renewable energy and energy efficiency projects associated with residential, commercial, or other real property. This legislation allows cities and counties to fund their loan programs through Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants from the federal government and the city’s or county’s unrestricted revenue.

Enacted later, H.B 1829 gives cities and counties the authority to establish loan loss reserve funds to assist in the financing of eligible projects, or other types of finance programs funded through federal and state grants or their own general revenue.

Eligible Technologies: Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Geothermal Electric, Solar Thermal Electric, Solar Thermal Process Heat, Solar Photovoltaics (PV), Wind (All), Biomass, Hydrogen, Combined Heat & Power, Landfill Gas, Tidal, Wave, Wind (Small), Hydroelectric (Small), Anaerobic Digestion, Certain Energy Efficiency Technologies are also eligible, but were not specified.

Applicable Sectors: Commercial, Residential

Terms / Interest Rates: Loan term may not exceed 20 years, interest rate may not exceed 8%

Contact your local government to find out if it offers financing for renewable energy and/or energy efficiency through this option.

Learn more here: https://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/3649/local-option-financing-program-for-renewable-energy-and-energy-efficiency

GREEN BUILDING INCENTIVES

To encourage sustainable building practices, North Carolina allows all counties and cities to provide reductions or partial rebates for building permit fees. To qualify, buildings must meet guidelines established by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, the Green Globes program, or another recognized certification program.

Eligible Technologies: Solar – Passive, Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Solar Photovoltaics (PV), Wind (All), Biomass, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Daylighting, Wind (Small), Hydroelectric (Small), Energy Efficiency – Comprehensive Measures/Whole Building

Applicable Sectors: Commercial, Residential

Learn more here: https://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/2956/local-option-green-building-incentives

THE TOWN OF CARRBORO: WORTHWHILE INVESTMENTS SAVE ENERGY (WISE) HOMES AND BUILDINGS PROGRAM

This program was included because PV installations and solar hot water are eligible for financing, however, these technologies must be combined with energy efficiency improvements that are anticipated to yield 15% energy savings.

Carrboro’s WISE Homes & Buildings Programs provides businesses and non-profits with fewer than 50 employees to increase their energy efficiency. The current interest rate is 3% with a maximum loan term of 10 years. The minimum loan amount is $1500.

Participants must have an energy evaluation conducted by a program qualified assessor / contractor prior to submitting their loan application. The energy evaluation identifies the highest priority improvements, and the cost of the evaluation can be included in the loan amount.

Eligible Technologies: Solar Water Heat, Solar Photovoltaics (PV), Water Heaters, Lighting, Lighting Controls/Sensors, Heat pumps, Air conditioners, Programmable Thermostats, Building Insulation, Motors, Motor VFDs, Custom/Others pending approval, Food Service Equipment, Vending Machine Controls, Commercial Refrigeration Equipment

Applicable Sectors: Commercial, Nonprofit

PV installations are eligible for financing; however, they must be combined with energy efficiency improvements that are anticipated to yield 15% energy savings.

Learn more here: https://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/4567/town-of-carrboro-worthwhile-investments-save-energy-wise-homes-and-buildings-program

CATAWBA COUNTY – GREEN CONSTRUCTION PERMITTING INCENTIVE PROGRAM

To encourage the construction of sustainable homes and commercial buildings, Catawba County provides rebates on permit fees and plan reviews for certain qualifying structures and renewable energy projects.

Eligible Technologies: Solar Water Heat, Solar Photovoltaics (PV), Geothermal Heat Pumps, Energy Efficiency – Comprehensive Measures/Whole Building

Applicable Sectors: Commercial, Construction, Residential

Waivers / Reductions:

• New structures earning an approved green building certification: 25% rebate of blanket permit fees, up to $500
• Existing structures installing geothermal heat pumps, solar PV, solar water heating, or gray/rainwater collection: 50% rebate
• Plan review for commercial buildings seeking LEED certification, Energy Star, and/or NC HealthyBuilt Homes: 50% rebate

Learn more here: https://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/4121/catawba-county-green-construction-permitting-incentive-program

UTILITY

DUKE ENERGY CAROLINAS / PROGRESS ENERGY – CAROLINAS: NC SOLAR REBATE PROGRAM

Participation cannot exceed 10,000 kW-AC per year of installed capacity. Nonresidential installations are capped at 5,000 kW in a calendar year and 2,500 kW of that capacity is set aside for use by nonprofit organizations.

Starting in 2021, Duke evenly allocated the available annual capacity between two application periods. For 2022, the remaining application period opens on July 6, 2022. Currently, applications are accepted and selected through a lottery system.

This rebate program expires on December 31^st 2022, with one application lottery remaining in July. Any remaining capacity will be available to all sectors – residential, commercial and non-profit for distribution in 2023. There is currently no new program set to replace Duke’s NC Solar Rebate Program.

Eligible Technologies: Solar Technologies

Applicable Sectors: Commercial, Industrial, Local Government, Nonprofit, Residential, Schools, State Government, Federal Government

Non-residential Customer Solar Rebate Payment: $0.30 per watt

Non-Profit Customer Solar Rebate Payment:  $0.75 per watt times the AC nameplate rating of the Customer’s solar PV electric generating system.

For the most current information, visit Duke’s website here: https://www.duke-energy.com/home/products/renewable-energy/nc-solar-rebates

WRAP UP

The purpose of this blog is to highlight financial incentive programs available specifically for solar PV projects in North Carolina; however, DSIRE also lists financial incentives available for energy efficiency, building performance and other renewable energy sources for all 50 states. Plenty of programs to explore – so get going!

Not sure which incentives to pursue? We’re here to help!