Florida, the sunshine state and a favorite for vacationers and retirees. Looking out my window at our dreary rainy Oregon weather, Florida is sounding pretty appealing at the moment. If you already are enjoying her tropical beaches or are considering a move in that direction, these new tax credits may peak your interest.

In a progressive mindset, the State of Florida has taken the initiative to offer tax incentives to builders to encourage the inclusion of solar systems into new home construction. Florida already had a number of incentives in place, but the recent housing rescue plan included some additional tax credits that make the inclusion of solar systems into new homes surprisingly affordable for contractors. After deducting all of the financial incentives, a 2 kWh system will only cost the contractor $2500-4000. The new homeowner can also benefit, receiving $450 back from the utility company and up to 30% of the total expense back.

Amazingly, this allows contractors to offer a great selling feature to potential homebuyers, and homebuyers reap the benefits by getting a new home with alternative power for the same price as they would have paid for a new home without the custom feature four years ago. This is a great concept that other states should implement as well. Not only does it give the construction industry a boost, but it also encourages the advancement of alternative energy. In addition, it is helping to stimulate the lackluster housing market, providing incentive at an affordable price.

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Posted on November 19th in Going Solar by Anna.