Georgia Solar Incentives

Summary:
Commercial Incentives for Renewable Energy:  The tax credit is equal to 35% of the cost of the system (including installation), $0.60/square foot for lighting retrofit projects, and $1.80/square foot for energy-efficient products installed during construction. The credit is subject to various ceilings depending on the type of renewable-energy system or project. The following credit limits for various technologies apply: For clean energy property installed for single-family residential purposes, the tax credit is equal to 35% of the cost of the system (including installation). The credit is subject to various ceilings depending on the type of system.  
 
The following credit limits for various technologies and sectors apply:
Before claiming the credit, the taxpayer must submit an application to the Georgia tax commissioner for tentative approval, as the aggregate amount of tax credits taken -- both personal and corporate credits -- may not exceed $2,500,000 in a given calendar year.

The property must be placed in service prior to application for the tax credit.

Tax credits are granted on a first come, first served basis and may not exceed the taxpayer's liability for that taxable year.

Excess credit may be carried forward for five years from the close of the taxable year in which the installment of the clean energy property occurred. If the amount of credits exceeds the taxpayer's liability in a taxable year, the excess may be taken as a credit against the taxpayer's quarterly or monthly payment.  
 
Solar hot water systems must be certified for performance by the Solar Rating Certification Corporation (SRCC), the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) or a comparable entity approved by the tax authority. The equipment must meet the certification standards of SRCC OG-100 or FSEC-GO-80 for solar thermal collectors and/or SRCC OG-300 or FSEC-GP-5-80 for solar thermal residential systems.  
 
This tax credit is in effect from July 1, 2008 until December 31, 2012. For more information, review the guidelines for the tax credit issued by the Department of Revenue.

Atlanta, Savannah, Athens, Augusta, Roswell, Jacksonville

• A maximum of $100,000 per installation for domestic solar water heating
• A maximum of $500,000 per installation for photovoltaics (PV), solar thermal electric applications, active space heating, biomass equipment and wind energy systems
• A maximum of $100,000 per installation for Energy Star-certified geothermal heat pumps
• A maximum of $100,000 for lighting retrofit projects
• A maximum of $100,000 for energy-efficient products installed during construction.

• A maximum of $2,500 per residence for domestic solar water heating
• A maximum of $10,500 per residence for photovoltaics (PV), active space heating and wind energy systems
• A maximum of $2,000 per installation for Energy Star-certified geothermal heat pumps.