Duro-Last and Solar in Mn with new Rebates funded in 2011 White and PV

So its 2011 and you think you might want to go solar. Well let me tell you the time has never been better. There are state and federal rebates and free money from many power companies for installing renewable energy to help them comply with federal mandates. In the state of Minnesota you can get a credit of up to 50% the price of product made in the state of Minnesota this refers to products such as Wind turbines, Solar Pv cells, and hydro electric equipment. If you are a home owner the first thing you want to do is an energy audit and replace all old electronics that are not energy star rated. This includes your furnace and fridge. After that its time to get all new light bulbs CFL or LED and then on to solar. If you have a low sloped of flat roof a white roof such as Duro-Last is the best choice to go with a solar project. Its high reflectivity will increase the output of your new solar system and help reduce the load of any roof mounted HVAC units as well as reduce the heating and cooling needs of the building it is protecting.  To see how this can help you in a snowy state check out winter camping and how snow pack works as a thermal insulator. Back to solar if you decided to do solar you need to choose between solar thermal, which is hot water heated by the sun or solar PV which is electricity generated by the sun. Most people opt for solar thermal that have a house that can be heated by water or have many occupants, a pool, or large water use. Other opt for solar PV for the ease of use and ability to sell power back to the grid at an inflated rate for renewable energy. Either way you go you can get upfront money from the government through the recovery act. Check below for all the information you need to get upfront money from the government for 2011. I hope your solar project goes well.

1603 Program: Payments for Specified Energy Property in Lieu of Tax Credits

 

THE SECTION 1603 PROGRAM HAS BEEN EXTENDED

 

Section 707 of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 extends, for one year, important program deadlines:

 

1.       Eligibility Deadlines:  To be eligible, a property must be placed in service in 2009, 2010, or 2011 or placed in service after 2011 but only if construction of the property began during 2009, 2010 or 2011.  The credit termination date (see Program Guidance pg.5) remains unchanged.

 

2.       Application Deadline: Applications must be submitted before October 1, 2012.    

Placed in Service Applications

1. Read the GUIDANCE , TERMS AND CONDITIONS , and SAMPLE APPLICATION.
2. If you do not already have one, request a DUNS number by calling 1-866-705-5711. This is needed to complete section 3A of the application.
3. Gather all of the documentation needed to complete section 6 of the application. Print the APPLICANT CHECKLIST to ensure you have all of the required documentation. For properties not yet placed in service, print the BEGUN CONSTRUCTION CHECKLIST to ensure you have all of the required documentation. 
4. Complete the on-line Application and sign the Terms and Conditions athttps://treas1603.nrel.gov/.
5. Register with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) atwww.ccr.gov/startregistration.aspx. This registration must be completed before a payment can be made.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Posted here are frequently asked questions about the 1603 program and their answers. 

 

Accountant’s Certification

For properties placed in service having a cost basis in excess of $500,000, applicants must submit an ACCOUNTANT’S CERTIFICATION with their application. 

 

Begun Construction Applications

1. Read the GUIDANCE  , TERMS AND CONDITIONS  , and SAMPLE BEGUN CONSTRUCTION APPLICATION.
2. Gather all documentation needed to complete Section 6 of the application.  Print theBEGUN CONSTRUCTION CHECKLIST  to ensure you have all of the required documentation.
3. Once the energy property has been placed in service, please follow the steps outlined above and supplement your application with required documentation.

REVISED GUIDANCE: Note:  Section IV C. (Beginning of Construction) of the Guidance has been revised.  No other changes to the Guidance have been made.   

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Beginning of Construction

For property that is not placed in service in 2009 or 2010, an eligibility requirement of the Section 1603 program is that construction on the property must begin in 2009 or 2010.  Posted here are frequently asked questions and answers about how to meet this requirement. 

Accountant’s Report for “Begun Construction” – 5% Safe Harbor

For projects relying on the 5% safe harbor with an estimated eligible cost basis of $1 million or more, applicants must submit a report from an independent accountant on the eligible costs of the specified energy property paid or incurred by December 31, 2010.  This report may be in the form of:

• An Agreed-Upon Procedures (AUP) Report prepared by an independent accountant in accordance with AT Section 201, “Agreed-Upon Procedure Engagements,” of the AICPA; or
• An Examination Report in accordance with AT Section 101, “Attest Engagements” (Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements 10, as amended) of the AICPA. 

Instructions and example findings for the AUP Report are provided here
For the Examination Report we will accept any format that follows AT Section 101 and includes the required information here

 

Assignment of Payments to Financial Institutions

• ASSIGNMENT INFORMATION
• NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT  submitted with application

Online Annual Report Form Available

All applicants that receive awards under the 1603 program are required to report certain information annually to the Treasury Department for a period of five years.  Reports are due annually, 30 days after the anniversary date of the date the property was placed in service.  The form used to submit this report is now available on-line and can be completed and submitted through the on-line application system athttps://treas1603.nrel.gov.   Applicants will receive a reminder notification via email 30 days before the report is due. 

View a sample of the annual report. 

Questions

You may e-mail questions to 1603Questions@do.treas.gov.  Please note that the purpose of the 1603 mailbox is to answer questions regarding how to apply for the 1603 program.  This includes: how to submit an application, assign a payment, and prepare the independent accountant’s report.  We also answer general questions regarding applicant and property eligibility.  We cannot, however, answer questions that are more appropriately answered by tax accountants, lawyers, and the Internal Revenue Service.  This includes questions regarding what can and cannot be included in cost basis and whether or not certain business structures meet eligibility requirements.  Also, we cannot confirm eligibility for specific projects.

If you have already applied for the 1603 payment and have questions on your application or need technical support to up-load documents, change your password, or seek confirmation of additional up-loaded documents, please address those questions to:treas1603@nrel.gov.

List of Awards

Posted here is a list of awards.  This list is updated weekly.
Thank you for your interest in the 1603 program.​​