FUNDING: Grants and Incentives

Focus on Energy Incentives:

The Focus on Energy program of Wisconsin offers Cash Back Rewards for systems rated 20kW or less to support system installations for Wisconsin residents who are in the service territory of participating utilities. Focus on Energy also offers an Implementation Grant for systems 20kW-100kW. Funds and application times may be limited. The owner should contact Focus on Energy to confirm incentives. Grant incentives for 2009 need to be applied for by Dec. 31, 2009. See the Focus on Energy website for updates on incentives. Within 30 days of the approval of your Focus on Energy Incentive, the building or conditional use permit must be applied for with your municipality. This permit must be secured within 90 days of the Focus on Energy incentive. It is usually best to apply for the building permit just before you send in the grant application in case you run into any permit approval delays. Building permits are usually good for 1 year, so if it is immediately approved you will still have time for construction.

Focus on Energy Implementation Grant:

This grant is provided to offset a portion of the cost of a wind system installation. The grant is based on a certified site assessment from a Focus on Energy certified site assessor. The Focus on Energy Implementation Grant is limited to 35% of the actual cost or $100,000, whichever is less, and is based on a factor derived from the system performance.

See http://www.focusonenergy.com/Incentives/Renewable/Wind/ for more information.

USDA Rural Development Grant:

The customer may qualify for a grant under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Grants can fund up to 25% of eligible project costs. Minimum and maximum grant awards are $2,500 - $500,000 for renewable energy projects. We can assist you in this process or you can contact Mark Brodziski at the USDA in Stevens Point for more information.

Mark Brodziski, USDA Rural Development
4949 Kirschling Court
Stevens Point, WI 54481
(715) 345-7615, Ext. 131 Mark.brodziski@wi.usda.gov

Small Wind Systems Tax Credit:

The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, H.R. 1424, was enacted into law and includes a new federal-level investment tax credit (ITC) to help consumers purchase small wind turbines for home, farm, or business use. Owners of small wind systems with 100 kilowatts (kW) of capacity and less can receive a credit for 30% of the total installed cost of the system. The former cap of $4000 was lifted by the Economic Stimulus Bill of 2009 allowing the system owner to receive the full 30% tax credit. The credit will be available for equipment installed through December 31, 2016. The tax credit can also be taken in the form of a grant from the US Treasury Dept. Direction to obtain this grant is in process.

See http://www.focusonenergy.com/Incentives/tax.aspx for more information.

Net Metering:

In Wisconsin, utilities are required to allow customers to net-meter for systems with rated output of 20KW or less. What this means to the owner is that the utility will provide full retail credit for any extra energy that is sent out on to the utility grid, which will occur at any time when the output from the system exceeds the demands at that time. WE Energies does allow net metering for wind systems up to 100kW in their territory. The annual savings shown in the table above reflect net metering rates for systems up to 100kW.