Use The Tax System To Reduce Your Small Wind Turbine Cost
Just a few months back, before President Bush left office, he signed the revised Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 into law. In that legislation is a an opportunity for small businesses, farms, and residents to credit some of their small wind turbine cost against their tax expenses.
Now we are able to claim up to 30% of our small wind power system cost (must have no more than a 100 kW capacity), against our tax return, but limited to four thousand dollars. The only drawback is that the act has no effect for small wind turbines erected before 3 October 2008. And the credit for home wind turbines is restricted further to the lower of $1,000 per kilowatt and $4,000.
Traditionally North America has had the largest market in the small wind turbine industry, but lately it was getting under-cut by its European rivals who offered greater tax relief for small wind turbine systems. So the tax incentives were very much loved by Ron Stimmel, a small wind advocate for the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), who said:
“Congress should be thanked for realizing and supporting the small wind turbine industry as a vital player in our energy security and greener environment. These tax incentives will encourage households to reduce their power costs, and fight global warming in a real way.”
Being the first federal tax subsidy for small wind turbines since 1985, industry analysts believe it could help inflate the United States wind power market by over forty-percent a year. Not to mention the equipment certification scheme that, together with the Act, could help secure America as the global market leader.
The legislation was brought about thanks to the AWEA’s persistent requests for the the wind power market to be able to compete equally with the solar power industry. The AWEA was determined for small wind turbine owners to receive a 30% tax credit on the cost, provided their systems were no bigger than one kilowatts.
Since the two industries share the same renewable energy market, the wide legislation also expands on a similar credit for the PV solar industry that was first enacted in 2005. Domestic PV solar systems now receive a 30% credit, limited to $4,000, and commercial installations can get the same, but uncapped, credit.
So how does this act affect anyone who has installed their own system? By the looks of things, DIY renewable energy enthusiasts can also enjoy the federal tax credit as long they have proof of all installation costs and the date they were incurred. But, it is best to get sound legal advice first to help you maximize any tax credit due.
With the new tax credit, coupled with potential state-side credits, we cannot see a better time for anyone to invest in their own renewable energy system at home and offset the wind turbine cost. Whether this means getting an expensive professionally installed solar/wind power hybrid, or learning to do it yourself, potential electricity savings are a decision away. At the end of the day the choice is yours.
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