PV Gap

Ronald Said:

Will I get some kind of tax credit if I give extra energy to the grid?

We Answered:

you would have to contact the utility company to see if they will buy back excess energy you produce - I think they would only pay you the wholesale rate per kwh, not the same retail rate you pay for electricity you normally buy from them

Rene Said:

Energy Tax Credit?

We Answered:

a tax credit is figured after you figure your tax, therefore it would be in your terms cash you get. You deduct it from tax due.

Phillip Said:

Should Americans be granted dollar for dollar tax credit for energy conserving home improvements?

We Answered:

Yes--and it makes good economic sense. Providing such incentives would do a lot more than just help cut energy use. By helping people who can't otherwise afford the up-front costs, it also means they will have long term savings--helping them even more and creating more disposable income--thereby increasing consumer spending (hence good for the economy). And this would help connstruction firms (hard hit right now) thus creating jobs.

A similar program was put in place clear back in 1980 under Jimmy Carter--but was removed by the Reagan administration at the demand of the ooil and coalcompanies. Had it been implemented, along with improvements in automobile fuel efficiency (also rescinded by the neocons) we would be independant of foreign oil by now--or very close to it. Think about what that would do for our current economic problems, not to mention the environment.

Sorry to run on--but people need to realize that the "environment is bad for the economy" myth is just that--propaganda by the fossil fuel industry spread to protect their profits. Energy efficiency and alternative energy is good economics.