Missouri Solar Power Rebates, Tax Credits, and Incentives
From the Gateway Arch to Branson, with stops along the way in the Ozarks, Missouri has tons of stuff going on. Don’t forget about the Kansas City Jazz scene either. With all sorts of happenings in the Show Me state, what better way to take care of Missouri than by using renewable energy. Clean solar power is also a great way to keep the state’s important waterways sparkling too. Keep reading to see what the legislature has done with solar energy.
STATE LEGISLATION
Missouri’s Senate Bill 54, passed in June, 2007 is an overhaul of the state’s renewable energy policy. Part of that bill, called the Green Power Initiative, set up a Renewable Energy Standard requiring 11% of the state’s energy needs to be produced from renewable sources by 2020. It is up to the Public Service Commission to decide what renewable energy sources are most important though, so stay tuned.
The state does need to review its priorities though. Missouri offers a $5.00/ton tax credit for burning wood from the forestry industry in the state. Maybe we should think about keeping those trees planted in the ground, so that they can reduce the CO2 in the atmosphere, rather than burning them to put more greenhouse gas up there.
NET-METERING
Missouri is a newcomer to net-metering. The governor just signed the authorization in 2007 (also part of Senate Bill 54), and it goes into effect on January 1, 2008. Your clean power system of 100kW or smaller is eligible for net-metering under this plan. The plan also calls for allowing up to 5% of the utility’s peak capacity to qualify for net-metering. Customers get a credit on their next month’s power bill for any excess power generated. That credit can carry over during the annual billing cycle, but after a year, you get to donate it to the power company.
STATE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, UTILITY REBATES, UTILITY LOANS, AND UTILITY INCENTIVES
Missouri does have a nice Energy Loan Program through which schools and local governments can get very low interest loans to purchase solar power equipment. Hurry though, the application deadline for the next round is January 2, 2008.
If you use Columbia Water & Light, you can take advantage of their Super Saver Loan program to put in a solar water heater or a solar space heating system. This program will give you a low interest 5-year loan to use the power of the sun to heat your house or water supply.
Looks like Columbia Water & Light is the cleanest option in Missouri power. They’ll also give you a $500/kW rebate for installing a solar electricity system. This applies to any solar system from 250 watts to 10kW.
Here are the details on rebates and loans for solar power in Missouri:
State Loan Program
* Energy Loan Program
Utility Loan Program
* Columbia Water & Light - Super Saver Loans
Utility Rebate Program
* Columbia Water & Light - Solar & Efficiency Rebates
EXAMPLE 3KW SYSTEM – HOME INSTALLATION COST
You live in Kansas City and want to take advantage of Missouri’s Great solar rating? Installing a typical 3kW home solar electricity system will cost about $54,000. Be sure to take the federal tax credit of $2,000 too. Also keep in mind that you can take out a low interest loan through the state’s Energy Loan Program to help pay for your system. If you use 1,300 kWh each month, and are set up with Kansas City Power & Light who charges $0.0803/kWh, your system will pay for itself in about 27 years. During that time, you’ll be saving over $900 each year on your utility bills, and keeping a whopping 160 tons of greenhouse gasses out of the atmosphere. Check out these other important details about your system:
- 600 square feet of roof area required
- Estimated property value increase of $10,820
- $22,701 estimated utility bill savings over 25 years
CONSENSUS
Missouri is trying to show us they’re getting interested in solar power. However, now is the time to take some more serious action. Let’s get the state off the cutting down forests kick, and onto the solar bandwagon. Legislators in Missouri have taken the first step, but why not go further? For starters, why a renewable energy standard of only 11%? How about shooting for 25-30% or more? Governor Blunt signed the Green Power Initiative, but that’s not the end of the story. Missouri can do much better.
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