http://chapelhillsolar.net/

Here's some incentives for both public and private use of alternative power. For instance, NC Green Power, is targetted to non-profits, government, etc.

Here's a quick look at personal incentives:

n 1999 North Carolina's various renewable-energy tax credits were revised and unified into a statute that addresses nearly all renewables. The revised statute provides for a tax credit of 35% of the cost of renewable energy property constructed, purchased or leased by a taxpayer and placed into service in North Carolina during the taxable year. These tax credits took effect January 1, 2000. In September 2005, the credits were extended for another five years.

The credit is subject to various ceilings depending on sector and the type of renewable-energy system. The following credit limits for various technologies and sectors apply:

* A maximum of $3,500 for residential active space heating, combined active space and domestic water-heating systems, and passive space heating;
* A maximum of $1,400 for residential solar water-heating systems, including solar pool-heating systems;
* A maximum of $10,500 for photovoltaic (solar electric), wind, or other renewable-energy systems for residential use;
* A maximum of $2,500,000 for all solar, wind, hydro and biomass applications on commercial and industrial facilities, including photovoltaic (PV), daylighting, solar water-heating and space-heating technologies.

Renewable-energy equipment expenditures eligible for the tax credit include the cost of the equipment and associated design; construction costs; and installation costs less any discounts, rebates, advertising, installation-assistance credits, name-referral allowances or other similar reductions.

Under North Carolina's tax code, the allowable credit may not exceed 50% of a taxpayer's liability for the year, reduced by the sum of all other credits. Single-family homeowners who purchase and install a qualifying renewable-energy system must take the maximum credit amount allowable for the tax year in which the system is installed. If the credit is not used entirely during the first year, the remaining amount may be carried over for the next five years.

For all other taxpayers, the credit is taken in five equal installments beginning with the year in which the property is placed in service. If the credit is not used entirely during these five years, the remaining amount may be carried over for the next five years. The credit can be taken against franchise tax, income tax or, if the taxpayer is an insurance company, against the gross premiums tax.

Robert, while we're at it, we should push for landfill methane gas. I've pushed for it at the local and county levels. The good folks at UNC have suggested using methane recovery for power at the existing 30 acre landfill at Horace-Williams Airport (site of Carolina North). Now Mike Nelson - Orange County Comm. candidate - has jumped on board and is running on a platform to use methane recovery at our current landfill. Methane recovery gives you two bangs for one buck of effort. One, by reducing methane release which contributes to global warming (methane is upto 30 times more effective at warming the atmosphere than CO2). Two, by providing an on-site source of energy - methane can cleaned and used directly or converted into a portable form - like methanol - for storage and further use. I like the idea of creating methanol because current equipment can be retrofitted to run directly on it. Either case, the only missing ingredient is political will.http://www.bluenc.com/comment/reply/3285

Oh, one last bit. There's a meetup Sept. 20th, 7-9pm, Chapel Hill library for prospective solar power customers. I'm going to see if I can get a handle on the cost of adding a panel+grid+emergency backup system to my home.