Here's a little more info on the history of solar rebates and tax credits:

Amendment 37, passed in November 2004, requires that Xcel Energy establish a
rebate program for residential and commercial clients. Current rebates are
$4.50/watt. Xcel also provides Net-Metering at retail rates.

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 provided a 30% Federal Tax Credit – a full
credit, not just a deduction – for qualifying solar photovoltaic systems,
with a cap of $2,000. However, new legislation enacted at the end of 2008
took away the cap, meaning that the tax credit is 30% with no limit on the
expenditure, and it expires on December 31, 2016. Commercial systems also are
subject to a 30% tax credit, however they never were limited to a cap.

Hope this helps

Awesome Stuff! I own 13 chains that compete in indiana with Walmart and we are acctualy very simliar and started using solar. GOOGLE has recently set aside 300 million that they give away to small business to create greener gas emissions.

Awesome Stuff! I own 13 chains that compete in indiana with Walmart and we are acctualy very simliar and started using solar. GOOGLE has recently set aside 300 million that they give away to small business to create greener gas emissions.

You told 'fitting solar panels in my building', i want to know 'My Building' means your personal house or whole appartment? If it is for personal benefit then i dont think you will get any tax rebates.

Jaybow, Depending upon where you live in the US, there could be some outstanding greening incentives available to you. Although the federal government does have some programs, don't forget to check with your state, county and local municipality (many of them offer low cost financing, rebates on installation, etc). A few words of caution however... First, check with your local zoning department to make sure solar panels are allowed in the first place and if there are any 'screening' issues (yes I know...going green is all the rage these days, but many areas of this country have some strict design criteria). Next, check with your local building department to get an understanding of any special permitting steps and/or design considerations (earthquakes, hurricanes, and other variations of inclimate weather can all wreak havoc on solar panels). Then; you mentioned 'my building' so I'm going to guess you own the place (if you don't, you'll need the written approval of your landlord of course). You should consider having your roof area inspected by a structural engineer or, at a minimum, a qualified commercial roofer. Once again, wind loads, snow loads, etc can cause severe damage even to a sound roof structure, not to mention that any penetrations that you put into your roof might void your existing roof warranty (having your roofer participate in the installation process is usually a good way of keeping that warranty intact, BTW). Finally...pick your system VERY carefully. I'm all for saving money, energy, and reducing our collective carbon footprints; but the truth is Green Technology is still very much in its infancy and many national companies install these systems more for publicity reasons than actual cost-savings. Make sure the system you buy today isn't obsolete next week (like personal computers used to do to us) and that there will be quantifiable benefits, via reduced energy costs, for your business. I hope that helps in some way and wish you the best of luck! Regards, Tony O

Thanks for your reply, LocationIsland. @jaybow - we recently posted The Green Financing Guide for Small Businesses, which explains tax credits and other financial incentives for making energy efficient upgrades. Take a look and if you have additional questions, please feel free to post them here.