6/4/2009 - 6/3/09
"Santa Fe County could be the first county in New Mexico to create an ordinance that will help homeowners purchase solar, wind or geothermal energy systems with almost no up-front cash.
Santa Fe County staff hope to have a draft ordinance for county commissioners by July. Commissioner Kathy Holian said she plans to introduce it.
The Legislature passed two bills in the 2009 session that allow counties to voluntarily establish special renewable energy tax assessment districts. The bills were modeled on similar loan programs in Berkeley and Palm Desert, Calif.
Counties who approve the special tax districts would offer low-interest loans to property owners who want to install solar photovoltaic panels, solar water heaters, wind turbines or ground-source heat pumps. Participating in the program would be voluntary for homeowners.
The renewable energy loan payments would be paid back through property taxes.
Coupled with existing state and federal tax credits, the loans would allow a homeowner to more easily cover the price of a renewable energy system that can cost thousands of dollars. In addition, Public Service Company of New Mexico pays customers for each kilowatt hour of electricity produced by a solar photovoltaic system.
The New Mexico Association of Counties, state agencies and the New Mexico Renewable Energy Industries are working with Santa Fe County to create a model renewable energy loan ordinance that other counties can use.
The bills were sponsored by Santa Fe legislators Rep. Brian Egolf and Sen. Peter Wirth. Cities from Los Alamos to Las Cruces are calling to find out more about the renewable energy loans, Wirth said." More>>>>
Santa Fe County staff hope to have a draft ordinance for county commissioners by July. Commissioner Kathy Holian said she plans to introduce it.
The Legislature passed two bills in the 2009 session that allow counties to voluntarily establish special renewable energy tax assessment districts. The bills were modeled on similar loan programs in Berkeley and Palm Desert, Calif.
Counties who approve the special tax districts would offer low-interest loans to property owners who want to install solar photovoltaic panels, solar water heaters, wind turbines or ground-source heat pumps. Participating in the program would be voluntary for homeowners.
The renewable energy loan payments would be paid back through property taxes.
Coupled with existing state and federal tax credits, the loans would allow a homeowner to more easily cover the price of a renewable energy system that can cost thousands of dollars. In addition, Public Service Company of New Mexico pays customers for each kilowatt hour of electricity produced by a solar photovoltaic system.
The New Mexico Association of Counties, state agencies and the New Mexico Renewable Energy Industries are working with Santa Fe County to create a model renewable energy loan ordinance that other counties can use.
The bills were sponsored by Santa Fe legislators Rep. Brian Egolf and Sen. Peter Wirth. Cities from Los Alamos to Las Cruces are calling to find out more about the renewable energy loans, Wirth said." More>>>>
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