March 12, 2008

Yes, if you’re thinking about purchasing a renewable energy system, it’s definitely a good idea to find out about state and local incentives you may qualify for. A good place to start is the Department of Energy’s list of state specific resources. Here’s their information specifically for Texas.

One of the many helpful resources you’ll find on these state pages is contact information for your state energy office. Here’s some specific information on renewable energy incentives from the Texas State Energy Conservation Office. In particular, it looks like there’s a property tax exemption you may be interested in learning more about.

To find out about other incentives you may qualify for, visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE), at www.dsireusa.org. Search for your state, and they’ll list all the available incentives both from the state and from individual utilities. In your case, you might want to check out the DSIRE list of homeowner’s incentives for Texas, which you can find here.

Another good way to find local incentives is to visit Findsolar.com. This is a great general resource for learning more about solar power. All you have to do is plug in your location and average utility bills, and you get an estimate on the cost of a renewable energy system, plus more information about the financial incentives for solar energy in your area. It’s definitely worth checking out.