California Financial Incentive Programs
For Individuals, Non-Profits, Companies
- Grants
- Loans
- Rebates
- Incentives
- Tax Exemptions
The state of California as well as the utilities and many local communities offer a wide spectrum of incentive programs. The most prominent program was created for the solar energy market. The Go Solar California Campaign established one of the most comprehensive nationwide solar incentive programs to date – The California Solar Initiative.
For the home builder, business owner, non-profit organization, or individual it may be difficult to identify the right program. The following table intends to provide an overview of the most important programs.
Type | Scope | Name | Renewable Type | Sector |
Grant Programs | Local | Santa Monica Green Building Grant Program | Passive Solar Space Heat, Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Bio-Gas, Daylighting, Small Hydroelectric | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Construction, Multi-Family Residential, Low-Income Residential, Institutional |
State | School Facility Program – Modernization Grants | No specific technologies | Photovoltaics, Other Distributed Generation Technologies | |
Utility | see www.dsireusa.org for details | |||
Loan Programs | Local | Berkeley FIRST (Financing Initiative for Renewable and Solar Technology) | Photovoltaics | Commercial, Residential |
Palm Desert Energy Independence Program | Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Photovoltaics | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Agricultural | ||
Santa Monica - Solar Santa Monica | Solar Water Heat, Photovoltaics | Commercial, Residential | ||
State | Energy Efficiency Financing Program | CHP/Cogeneration, Other Distributed Generation Technologies | Schools, Local Government, Public Hospitals | |
Utility | see www.dsireusa.org for details | |||
Rebate Programs | Local | Marin County Solar Rebate Program | Solar Water Heat, Photovoltaics, Solar Pool Heating | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools |
San Francisco Solar Energy Incentive Program | Photovoltaics | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Multi-Family Residential | ||
State | California Solar Initiative | Solar Space Heat, Solar Thermal Electric, Solar Thermal Process Heat, Photovoltaics | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Multi-Family Residential, Low-Income Residential, Agricultural, Institutional, (All customers of PG&E, SDG&E, SCE; Bear Valley eligible only for NSHP) | |
CSI - Pilot Solar Water Heating Program | Solar Water Heat | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Agricultural, Institutional | ||
New Solar Homes Partnership – NSHP | Solar (Photovoltaics) | Home Builders (Residential, Multi-Family Residential, Low-Income Residential) | ||
Emerging Renewables Program | Wind, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Schools, Low-Income Residential, Agricultural, Institutional | ||
Self-Generation Incentive Program | Wind, Fuel Cells | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Institutional | ||
Utility | see www.dsireusa.org for details | |||
Other Incentives | Green Buildings | see www.dsireusa.org for details | ||
Production | California Feed-In Tariff | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Geothermal Electric, | Commercial, Industrial, Residential | |
SCE Biomass Standard Contract | Landfill Gas, Biomass, Municipal Solid Waste, Anaerobic Digestion, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels | Commercial, Industrial, Agricultural | ||
City of Palo Alto Utilities – Solar Renewable Energy Credit Purchase Program | Photovoltaics | Commercial, Industrial | ||
Alternative Fuel and Vehicles | see www.dsireusa.org for details | |||
Tax Exemptions | Property Tax Exemption | Property Tax Exclusion for Solar Energy Systems | Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Solar Thermal Electric, Solar | Commercial, Industrial, Residential |
Source: www.dsireusa.org