Solar Power Rebates
No matter where you live in the continental USA, solar power systems work (and they probably work just fine in Alaska too, if designed properly). Particularly with electricity rates rising and a growing consumer demand to decrease our dependence on non-renewable fuels, installing solar power systems makes economic sense.
At the Federal level, homeowners can take advantage of a 30% tax credit up to $2,000 for a solar photovoltaic or solar domestic water system (except for heating hot tubs or swimming pools). Note that this tax credit is currently set to expire on December 31, 2008 however Congress is working on a comprehensive energy bill that could create a long-term extension for the credit and may even remove the $2,000 ceiling.
An increasing number of states, utilities, and local jurisdictions are offering residents monetary incentives to install solar power systems.
Twenty-nine states have some sort of personal tax incentive related to solar power and many of these same states also offer property or sales tax exemptions for residential solar photovoltaic or domestic water systems. Many utilities offer rebates and an increasing number of local jurisdictions offer rebates or loans for installing renewable energy systems as well.
California has established some of the most attractive financial incentives to promote solar power, so too has Colorado and Arizona. However those "sunny states" are not alone, a surprising number of states in less sun-drenched parts of the USA have created aggressive programs as well. For example, in the Northeast, where residents pay some of the highest residential electricity rates in the nation, states such as New Jersey, New York, Maryland, and Massachusetts offer substantial financial subsidies.
To view a comprehensive database of the incentives available for solar photovoltaic, solar thermal and other types of renewable energy incentives visit: http://www.dsireusa.org.