A number of green energy projects are being implemented in Florida.
Like many states, Florida has implemented a number of incentives to promote the development of a greener economy, and these incentives include grants for green energy. Grants come in the form of tax credits, low interest loans and rebates, and are intended to provide more opportunities for organizations to pursue the green energy projects they are interested in.
Rebate Programs
Fort Lauderdale awards rebates of up to $1,000 to homeowners who purchase energy-efficient appliances for their homes. Orange County's OCHEEP! offers a similar program, and Sarasota County also awards rebates for improvements that homeowners make to improve the energy efficiency of their homes through renovations. In addition, the state-wide Residential Energy-Efficient Appliance Rebate Program gives rebates of up to $1,500 for residential energy efficiency upgrades. Utility rebates are also offered in many parts of Florida.
Tax Incentives
Businesses can receive tax credits and incentives for their participation in clean energy initiatives. The Capital Investment Tax Credit for Clean Energy is a state-wide incentive meant to attract clean energy companies to do business in Florida. In addition, there is no sales tax on solar energy systems in Florida for either homeowners or commercial operations.
Loans
There are two major loan programs in Florida; one in Miami-Dade County and the other in Sarasota County. Miami-Dade's Renovation for Energy Efficiency Loan (REEL) program provides repayable incentives of up to $100,000 for businesses to improve their energy efficiency. Sarasota County's Get Energy Smart Retrofit Loan program provides smaller loans of up to $5,000 for county residents to upgrade the energy efficiency of their homes. In addition, several municipalities provide utility loans to encourage energy efficiency.
Other Grants
Florida's green energy grants target a variety of potential recipients. Utility grants are awarded in Talahasee and Orlando. Talahasee's grants are provided to low income residents who could not otherwise afford energy efficiency upgrades. Orlando's initiatve is also targeted at low income households and awards grants up to $2,000. Larger commercial clean energy projects are supported by the Florida Renewable Energy Technologies Grants Program.
Tags: energy efficiency, energy efficiency, energy projects, green energy, Sarasota County, their homes, awards rebates
