Solar Panels Georgia Law
It s no wonder the state got an f in our 2015 u s.
Solar panels georgia law. Since the expiration of those credits no additional funds have been earmarked for that purpose. Code 44 9 20 et seq. Georgia s solar panel laws are lacking in several areas such as a strong rps and state tax credits. Georgia solar easement act of 1978 ga.
With a payback timeframe of 13 years a vanishing state tax credit and georgia power the largest utility in the state offering no rebates there was little hope for homeowners who wanted solar panels. The statute provides that any person may grant a written solar access easement to another to ensure adequate exposure of a solar energy device. This awkward alliance resulted in the passage of a law two years ago that required georgia power to purchase 525 megawatts of solar power by 2016. Solar costs have declined steeply over the past 10 years more than 70 percent and continue to drop.
However as legislation continues to be drafted and amended the state will be able to take its rightful position as being one of the states with the best solar energy and solar panel laws. A bill to be entitled an act to amend article 1 of chapter 3 of title 46 of the o c g a relating to the generation and distribution of electricity generally so as to provide for financing of solar technology by retail electric customers. In 2011 georgia provided 2 5 million in tax credits for solar installation to be spread over three years. Comprised of leading experts in solar manufacturing and installation academia finance and the law ga solar is leading the effort in georgia to promote the economic and environmental benefits of solar energy through education advocacy and industry support.
In georgia consumers can lease solar panels but many companies don t offer it because it s illegal for anyone but georgia power to trade in electric power. Those program funds were fully committed within the first year. A worker with solar panel solutions inspects solar panels in bronwood ga. Map image by wikimedia commons user.
Before this legislation passed georgia was in a bad way with solar. Special tax incentives such as the federal investment tax credit help defray the cost through income tax deductions and depreciation. Senate bill 401 would have made it. Solar energy accounts for only a small portion of georgia s electric power.
Solar panels will continue to generate and save money on your energy bills for more than 20 years.