Oregon’s municipal finance law allows cities and counties to create "local improvement districts" in order to fund both renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. Cities and counties may bond for funds or borrow small amounts from the Oregon Department of Energy.
HB 2626 – July 2009 [pdf]
In March 2009, Sonoma County became the first county in California to pursue public financing of distributed solar energy and energy efficiency improvements under AB 811… Read More
In August of 2008, the Long Island town of Babylon, New York approved the Long Island Green Homes (LIGH) program to finance energy efficiency improvements for any of the town’s 65,000 single-family homes to be paid back by the energy savings accrued from the improvements.… Read More
Becoming the first jurisdiction to utilize authority granted by Colorado’s HB 08-1350, in April 2009 Boulder County and partner municipalities launched the ClimateSmart Loan Program, allowing commercial and residential property owners to obtain financing for renewable and/or energy efficiency improvements. … Read More
In 2008, the City of Palm Desert became the first city in California to pursue public financing of distributed renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements under AB 811.… Read More
In 2008, the Berkeley City Council approved an amendment to the Berkeley Municipal Code (BMC) and created the Special Tax Financing Law. The Special Tax Financing Law is the implementing legislation that allows for the creation of the Sustainable Energy Financing District, by which the City would help property owners finance solar installations and energy efficiency improvements by creating a special tax that is paid through their individual property tax bills.… Read More
In 2008, California passed legislation to enable every city (and county) in the state to establish voluntary districts for homeowners wanting to fit their homes with renewable energy or make energy efficiency improvements and pay for the improvements with a special assessment on their property taxes. … Read More
In 2009 a vigorous debate is taking place about the best way to reduce carbon emissions. There are two leading proposals: a carbon cap and emissions auction with revenue returned to Americans as a dividend, and a carbon tax with revenue returned to Americans in the form of lower taxes or a dividend. In the mid 1990s Minnesota debated a carbon tax and dividend bill designed by ILSR. Several studies were done about the impact on various sectors of such a policy. … Read More
As part of the 2002 Omnibus Tax Bill (Laws of Minnesota 2002, Chapter 377) the legislature has changed the way wind energy projects are taxed. From now on, wind energy projects in Minnesota will be exempt from property taxes and instead will be required to pay local taxing districts a direct payment based on the electricity production from the wind turbines. The tax is on a sliding-scale based on the size of the wind energy project.… Read More