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With massive energy consumption rates, California is in a perpetual energy supply and demand struggle. The state is looking to solar as an alternative and Los Angeles just made it more attractive.

Los Angeles Re-Starts Solar Incentives for Homeowners

As the rolling blackouts each summer can attest, California is a state with major energy problems. The problem is so bad that both candidates for governor are now touting their energy plans with the Governator even meeting with foreign officials on global warming issues! While politics always carry an air of promises with little action, the powers that be in the state have actually taken some very strong steps.

This past year, California finally came to grips with its massive energy crisis. Laws and regulations where instituted in an effort to motivate Californians to turn to alternative energy sources, particularly solar power. More importantly, these programs had guts. The state committed to providing over three billion dollars in financial incentives to motivate individuals to switch to solar. Part and parcel to this was an effort to encourage municipalities to also offer financial incentives. Los Angeles has just jumped on the bandwagon.

As of August 14, 2006, the Los Angeles Water and Power Department will be providing incentives to businesses and residences that go solar. Specifically, we are talking about installing new solar panels for the production of energy. The financial incentive comes in a rebate of three to four dollars per system watt and, obviously, the system must be connected to the energy grid. For those that get utility bills in California, it is obvious such savings are massive.

The primary problem with solar panels and power has always been the cost. Strictly speaking, the cost was far more than just sticking with power delivered from the local utility. In California at least, this is no longer the issue. A homeowner in Los Angeles can now install a solar panel and get significant financial incentives that wipe out the cost difference. First, the new system immediately generates thousands of dollars in tax credits from the federal government. Second, the state offers incentives per watt and discounts on the new panel system. Third, the city now gives a discount. Fourth, California is a net metering state, which means a homeowner can sell back the unused power from the solar panels to the utility company to further reduce their cost. All and all, many a homeowner that switches to solar panels can darn near expect to make a profit form it!

Rick Chapo

Rick Chapo is with Solar Companies - a directory of solar energy companies. Solar Power

Most often when considering the purchase of a new car the last thing that comes to mind is that it can actually be financially beneficial. In the case of buying a new hybrid car it can be a financially sound purchase. Since their beginning hybrid cars have been used as a tax credit. Luckily for hybrid owners who bought their car in 2006 the tax incentives have gotten even better.

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When it comes to running a business, much of the necessary focus is on the bottom line. Many businesses, however, fail to realize they can seriously cut energy costs by going solar.

Tax Incentives

Federal and State governments know the best way to initiate change is to provide an economic benefit. When it comes to energy, governments try to make the use of solar energy as economically attractive as possible to businesses. This is done through granting tax incentives in the form of tax credits and deductions. Depending upon which government agency is involved, federal or a particular state, corporations can get tax credits and deductions ranging from 10 to as high as 35 percent of the cost of purchasing and installing solar energy systems.

Net Metering

On top of the tax incentives given to businesses for going solar, a majority of states now offer incredible cost savings through net metering. Net metering refers to state laws that require utilities to purchase power generated from solar systems used by businesses at the same price the utilities would otherwise charge the business. If the business is producing energy in excess of what it is using, the energy is sent into the utility grid and the building power meter actually runs backwards. Since many businesses are closed two days a week, this effectively means the utility is buying the power on said days. Net metering is an incredibly effective means of slashing utility costs.

Solar Loans

Businesses can gain further benefits through going solar by taking advantage of government solar financing programs. These loan programs offer incredible terms in an effort to promote the use of renewable energy and make sense for both new construction and renovations. Typically created as state programs, these 'solar loans' offer financing for the purchase and installation of the equipment. The loans typically have seven to 10 year terms, and are offered as no interest or extremely low interest financing. Combined with the economic benefits of net metering, such loans make the decision to go solar a slam dunk.

Each state tends to handle the promotion of alternative energy in different ways and with different benefits. When combined with federal programs, businesses can reap a financial benefit from using solar energy sources.

Rick Chapo

Rick Chapo is with http://www.solarcompanies.com - a directory of solar energy and solar power companies. Visit http://www.solarcompanies.com/articles to read more solar electricity articles.

Biodiesel production, distribution, and use, as with many emerging alternative energies, has been aided in large part by recent government incentives making biodiesel fuel production and distribution more attractive. These tax incentives put money back in the pockets of biodiesel producers who, presumably, pass the benefits on to you, the consumer, with lower biodiesel prices.

Not just any biodiesel is eligible for tax incentives. The definition of biodiesel fuel, as its used for tax purposes, is 'monoalkyl esters of long chain fatty acids'. Biodiesel production companies seeking any of these credits must ensure that they are making biodiesel fuel that meets the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements for registration of fuels and fuel additives as described in the Clean Air Act, as well as requirements put forth by the American Society of Testing and Materials.

All companies, whether a biodiesel production company or not, that are selling or using biodiesel may qualify for the Biodiesel and Ethanol (VEETC) Tax Credit, on their income taxes. There are two such types of credit.

* the Straight Biodiesel Credit (considered a 'general business credit' by the IRS) - the biodiesel in question must not have been mixed with any petroleum-based diesel fuel, and the company itself must be the biodiesel production company making it;

* the Biodiesel Mixture Credit - the biodiesel in question must contain only biodiesel fuel and petroleum-based diesel, with absolutely no kerosene added, and the company itself must be the biodiesel production company making it.

Additionally, for either tax credit on biodiesel cost, one of the following criteria must also be met;

othe biodiesel production company actually uses the biodiesel itself as a fuel;

othe biodiesel production company sells the biodiesel retail which is then used in the fuel tank of the buyer.

The tax credits on Straight Biodiesel are equal to $1 per gallon of agri-biodiesel and $0.50 per gallon of waste grease biodiesel. The tax credits on Biodiesel Mixtures are $0.01 (a penny) per percentage point of agri-biodiesel and $0.005 (half-a-cent) per percentage point of waste grease biodiesel.

That is, unless the amount of credit approved to taxpaying biodiesel companies applying for the credit in a given year exceeds the annual cap of $1.5 million, in which case the Department of Revenue will prorate credits to biodiesel production companies accordingly.

These tax credits, however, are currently temporary, and set to expire in 2008 - an added incentive to get started now on that biodiesel production company of your own that youve been dreaming about. Theres literally no time to waste.

Another Federal Tax Credit, the Small Agri-Biodiesel Producer Credit (Section 1345: Energy Policy Act of 2005), grants $0.10 per gallon on up to 15 million gallons to small agri-biodiesel production facilities producing less than 60 million gallons per year.

Incidentally, there are local and state tax credits all over the country available on biodiesel cost and costs on other alternative fuels. Visit: www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/laws/incen_laws.html to find out what your locality offers.

According to recent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) study, demand for biodiesel production is set to increase by at least 124 million gallons per year, however fears about the rapidly rising prices of crude oil suggest that facilities might be making biodiesel fuel in even larger amounts and at an even faster rate.

Mike Cubert

Biodisel is clean, renewable, cheap and popular. The best part is that its very easy to make it at home. Visit our biodiesel making section for how to information.

The benefits of solar energy are great, before you understand of solar energy; you need to know about solar energy and the process of harnessing this energy.

There have two different categories of solar energy: thermal and light. Thermal energy is more commonly used and is the energy that is used to passively heat buildings through the use of certain building materials and architectural design. It is obtained from the sun and has a variety of purposes and applications, including the production of hot water, space heating and cooling.

The sun is an incredibly powerful energy source and is made up of hydrogen gas. There are a number of great uses for this energy; the most common use for being the storage and collection of heat and another use is the conversion of sunlight into electricity. More on The Benefits of Solar Energy