clean energy tax credit

ARTICLE | September 22, 2023

Title: Navigating the Landscape of Clean Energy Tax Incentives 

As the global push for clean energy intensifies, the U.S. government is leveraging tax incentives to stimulate the development and implementation of greener alternatives. Recent changes in legislation and the implementation of new IRS rules have created a complex landscape for clean energy tax credits and deductions. Understanding these changes is crucial for developers, operators, and homeowners looking to capitalize on these incentives.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 has instituted a series of tax incentives aimed at encouraging the development of clean energy projects. The U.S. Department of the Treasury published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) in August 2023, outlining the conditions for receiving these tax incentives. Uniquely, many of these incentives are tied to compliance with the Federal Davis-Bacon Act's prevailing wage and registered apprenticeship requirements. Developers and operators must be cognizant of these stipulations to take full advantage of the tax benefits.

The NPR stipulates that projects meeting the labor requirements can receive a bonus rate of 30% for the investment tax credit or 1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour for the production tax credit. However, penalties for non-compliance are severe, including a fine of $5,000 multiplied by the total number of workers paid below the prevailing wage rate.

Moreover, the IRA has imposed an apprenticeship labor hours requirement. Projects must employ a certain percentage of qualified apprentices, ranging from 10% to 15% depending on the project's commencement date. Non-compliance can result in penalty payments to the Secretary of the Treasury.

In addition to the IRS’s tax credits for clean energy projects, the IRA also introduced transferable energy tax credits. These provisions simplify project structuring compared to traditional tax-equity and create a more efficient market for utilizing available tax credits. With these new rules, tax credits can be transferred or sold, democratizing access to the capital needed to finance a project and providing opportunities to buyers to gain cash tax savings.

The IRS also issued new rules providing tax credits for energy-efficient home improvements. Homeowners can claim up to $3,200 for qualified energy-efficient home improvements. This includes up to $1,200 for energy property costs with limits on doors, windows, and home energy audits, and up to $2,000 per year for qualified heat pumps, biomass stoves, or biomass boilers. 

Moreover, the IRS has established the Residential Clean Energy Property Credit. This credit applies to the cost of installing solar panels, solar water heaters, fuel cells, wind turbines, and other qualifying equipment, with no overall dollar limit. 

Understanding these intricate regulations and leveraging them effectively can be challenging for businesses and individuals. The rules proposed by the NPR are not yet final and will not become final until sometime next year, providing a window for developers, producers, and homeowners to understand and prepare for these compliance issues. 

Developers, in particular, need to anticipate compliance issues and potentially submit comments to the U.S. Department of the Treasury addressing those issues. Developers and producers who do not traditionally employ “mechanics and laborers” may need to adapt their contractual agreements to ensure compliance with the new requirements and avoid loss of deductions or credits.

Despite the complexities, these tax incentives provide a clear signal that the U.S. government is committed to fostering a clean energy future. By understanding and effectively navigating the landscape of clean energy tax incentives, businesses and individuals can make a significant contribution to this goal while reaping financial benefits.