Despite the many benefits of building your own independent power system, upfront installation costs might delay the purchase of such a system for some.

Fortunately, there are a wide range of federal, state and local programs that can substantially reduce these costs in the form of tax credits, rebates, grants & loans.

Please visit the links below for more details on incentives programs which might be available to you in your area:

Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE USA):
DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy.

Directory of Energy Efficiency and Alternative Energy Programs in Canada

Federal Government Solar Incentives

ecoENERGY for Renewable Power

ecoENERGY for Renewable Power will provide an incentive of one cent per kilowatt-hour for up to 10 years to eligible low-impact, renewable electricity projects constructed over the next four years, April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2011.

________________________________________________________________________________________

Provincial / Territorial Government Solar Incentives

British Columbia

Energy Conservation Sales Tax Exemptions

The Province of BC provides provincial sales tax (PST) exemptions on solar energy equipment.

Innovative Clean Energy Fund

The Province will provide a further $25 million to develop innovative, clean energy projects in British Columbia's rural communities through the Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) Fund

Standing Offer Program

As directed by the provincial government in its BC Energy Plan: A Vision for Clean Energy Leadership, BC Hydro is implementing a Standing Offer Program to encourage the development of small and clean energy projects throughout British Columbia. The program is a process to purchase energy from small projects with a nameplate capacity greater than 0.05 megawatts but not more than 10 megawatts.

LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive Program

Choose to take advantage of B.C.'s new home energy efficiency incentives.

Back to map

________________________________________________________________________________________

Alberta

The Province of Alberta currently has no solar incentives in place.

Back to map

________________________________________________________________________________________

Saskatchewan

Net Metering Program and 25% Rebate on Start Up Solar Projects

The Saskatchewan Research Council's Net Metering Program will pay a one-time fee equivalent to 25 per cent of eligible costs up to a maximum of $100,000 (i.e., maximum $25,000 payment). Projects with generating capacities of 100kW or less that comply with the local utility's net metering policies and enter into net metering contracts with their local electric utilities are eligible for funding under this program. Participants in the program agree to give the SRC access to their utility records for 18 months prior and 10 years after installation of the generating equipment.

Back to map

________________________________________________________________________________________

Manitoba

The Province of Manitoba currently has no solar incentives in place.

Back to map

________________________________________________________________________________________

Ontario

Go Solar Ontario

"Go Solar Ontario, is a market transformation campaign that provides Ontario residents with the information and links they require to install solar energy systems to heat water or generate electricity.

Net Metering

Ontario's net metering regulation allows you to send electricity generated from renewable sources to the electrical grid for a credit toward your energy costs.

Ontario PST rebate on renewable installations

The Ontario government is extending the retail sales tax rebate on qualifying renewable equipment to January 1, 2010 to encourage the use of solar and other renewable technologies. The program provides a full rebate on the PST paid for renewable equipment used for the installation of a solar, wind, micro hydro-electric or geothermal system, or enhancement to an existing system. Only residential households or residential builders are eligible for this rebate.

Pilot Financing for Residential Renewable Energy

Residents in Peel Region and part of York Region are eligible for zero interest loans up to $50,000, or rebates, for the installation of alternative and renewable energy technologies in their homes, under a pilot program called PowerHouse, funded by the Government of Ontario and operated by Hydro One and Enersource. Residents of Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon and parts of York Region are eligible. Both PV and solar thermal projects are eligible under this program. Projects must be completed by Feb. 15, 2009.

Back to map

________________________________________________________________________________________

Quebec

Net Metering

With our net metering option, you can feed any surplus power you generate into the Hydro-Quebec grid. When your facilities supply electricity to the Hydro-Quebec grid, a credit is applied to reduce the balance of your electricity bill.

Back to map

________________________________________________________________________________________

New Brunswick

Net Metering

NB Power's net metering program provides customers the option to connect their own environmentally friendly generation unit to NB Power's distribution system. This program allows customers to generate their own electricity to offset their own consumption, while still remaining connected to NB Power's distribution system to meet their electricity demands when their generation unit cannot.

Back to map

________________________________________________________________________________________

Nova Scotia

Net Metering

To provide more options when it comes to renewable energy, Nova Scotia Power has launched a new program called Net Metering. Residential and commercial customers are now able to connect small renewable energy generating units (100 kilowatts or less) to Nova Scotia Power's electrical grid.

Back to map

________________________________________________________________________________________

Prince Edward Island

Sales Tax Exemption

There is a PST exemption on small-scale renewable energy equipment with a rating of 100 kilowatts or less (100 kilowatts = 340,000 BTUs).

Net Metering

The Net-Metering Systerm Regulations make it more economically feasible for Island homeowners, small businesses or farmers who have an interest in generating their own electricity to install small-scale generating systems - those that produce 100 kilowatts of energy or less. Under the regulations, any excess energy that small-scale generators supply to the electrical grid will be credited at the same price as they pay for power that they purchase from the utility.

Minimum Purchase Price Regulations

The Minimum Purchase Price Regulations establish the price utilities must pay for power produced by large-scale renewable energy generators - that is those capable of producing more than 100 kilowatts of energy. The rate has been set at 7.75 cents per kilowatt hour with 5.75 cents of that a fixed rate and 2.0 cents a variable rate that may be adjusted annually to reflect changes in operating costs. The variable rate will be tied to the Consumer Price Index.

Back to map

________________________________________________________________________________________

Newfoundland Labrador

The Province of Newfoundland Labrador currently has no solar incentives in place.

Back to map

________________________________________________________________________________________

Yukon

The Government of Yukon currently has no solar incentives in place.

Back to map

________________________________________________________________________________________

Northwest Territories

Community Renewable Energy Fund

The Community Renewable Energy Fund funds promising technologies that require demonstration in the NWT in order to prove they are feasible in the north. This contribution is available to community and Aboriginal governments, GNWT departments, boards and agencies, and non-profit organizations to establish feasibility studies or alternative energy demonstration projects as part of their operations. The objective of this fund is to promote projects that advance the knowledge and effectiveness of new clean energy technologies in northern environments.

Medium Renewable Energy Fund

The Medium Renewable Energy Fund is available to assist commercial businesses, including off-grid lodges and camps, that want to incorporate commercially available alternative energy technologies into their operations. The objective of this fund is to reduce fuel use in remote locations where fuel prices are extremely high due to added transportation costs.

Small Renewable Energy Fund

The Small Renewable Energy Fund is available to assist residential homeowners that want to incorporate commercially available, clean energy technologies into their home for the production of electricity.

Back to map

________________________________________________________________________________________

Nunavut

The Government of Nunavut does not offer any solar incentives.

Back to map