Federal Subsidies For Solar Energy

Renewable energy resources primarily wind and solar have received subsidies through the tax code since 1979 most of which have occurred in the last decade.

Federal subsidies for solar energy.

The misi report found that non hydro renewable energy primarily wind and solar benefited from 158 billion in federal subsidies or 16 of the total largely in the form of tax policy and direct federal expenditures on research and development r d. This amount is far in excess of federal assistance received by other electricity sources. Many states also offer tax credits for solar. Arizona and massachusetts for instance currently give state income tax credits worth up to.

Federal subsidies for wind and solar projects and technology development totaled about 75 billion over the past decade according to ewg s analysis of data from the treasury department congress joint committee on taxation and the congressional research service. In fy 2016 nearly half 45 of federal energy subsidies were associated with renewable energy and 42 were associated with energy end uses. Both homeowners and businesses qualify for a federal tax credit equal to 26 percent of the cost of their solar panel system minus any cash rebates. Through 2018 these subsidies amounted to more than 100 billion.

There are other federal subsidies that go to wind power including about 24 million for research and development in 2016 per the energy information administration. The federal government provides a solar tax credit known as the investment tax credit itc that allow homeowners and businesses to deduct a portion of their solar costs from their taxes. But to most people energy subsidies mean support for wind and solar. Most current federal subsidies support developing renewable energy supplies primarily biofuels wind and solar and reducing energy consumption through energy efficiency.

Subsidies for coal natural gas and nuclear are all between. Between 2010 and 2016 subsidies for solar were between 10 and 88 per kwh and subsidies for wind were between 1 3 and 5 7 per kwh. That s less than 2 percent of the entire federal budget for last year.