Key Provisions Benefiting the Solar Energy Industry in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Renewable Energy Grants
1. Creates a new program through the Department of Treasury that provides grants equal to 30 percent of the cost of solar property placed in service during 2009 and 2010 instead of the Section 48 investment tax credit.
2. Repeals Penalty for Subsidized Renewable Energy Financing
Allows businesses and individuals to qualify for the total amount of the solar tax credit, even if projects receive subsidized energy financing (e.g., market loans, tax-preferred bonds, state grants, etc.).
3. Renewable Energy Loan Guarantee Program
Establishes through the DOE for renewable energy projects, renewable energy manufacturing facilities, and electric power transmission projects. Appropriate $6 billion to pay the credit subsidy costs should support $60 billion of loan guarantees.
4. Renewable Energy Manufacturing Investment Credit
Provides up to $2.3 billion to fund a 30 percent investment tax credit for manufacturing assets used to manufacture advanced energy property.
5. Extend Bonus Depreciation
Last year, Congress temporarily increased the amount (50% of the capital investment cost) that small businesses could write off for capital expenditures incurred in 2008 to $250,000 and increased the phase-out threshold for 2008 to $800,000. The bill would extend these temporary increases for capital expenditures incurred in 2009. Accordingly, until the end of 2010, small business taxpayers can write off up to $125,000 (indexed for inflation) of capital expenditures subject to a phase-out once capital expenditures exceed $500,000 (indexed for inflation).
6. Department of Energy Funding
Appropriates $16.8 billion to DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, including $2.5 billion for applied research, development, demonstration, and deployment projects.
7. Five-Year Carryback of Net Operating Losses
For tax years 2008 and 2009, the maximum carryback period for net operating losses is extended from two to five years. Eligible small businesses may elect to increase the carryback period for an applicable 2008 NOL from two years to any whole number of years elected by the taxpayer that is more than two and less than six. An eligible small business is a taxpayer meeting a $15,000,000 gross receipts test.
8. Solar for Schools
Appropriates $53.6 billion to a state fiscal stabilization fund. States shall use 18.2% of this money for public safety and other government services, including renovating facilities and schools to meet green building standards. Solar energy projects qualify.
9. Solar Water Treatment Plants
Provides $6 billion for the State and Tribal Assistance Grants account ($4 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Funds and $2 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds). To ensure that the funds are used immediately to create jobs, the money must be committed to projects under contract or construction within 12 months of the date of enactment.
The bill requires that not less than 20 percent of each Revolving Fund be available for projects to address green infrastructure, water and energy efficiency, or other environmentally innovative technologies. The bill allows States to use less than 20 percent for these types of projects only if the States lack sufficient applications.