Wind Energy Credits

Energy Credits - Continued

Wind Energy Credits

Energy from the wind has been around for centuries. Ships used to sail the ocean using the wind. It has been used to pump water in Holland where it helped keep the cities dry behind the dikes. Recently the wind has been captured to generate electricity.

You might be familiar with the Cape Wind project in Nantucket Sound and the battle that has been raging for years over whether or not it should be built. From a purely economic and energy perspective, it will help the Massachusetts economy and move us toward energy independence.

A few years ago I was traveling in the west and was awed by a wind farm that just appeared in the desert. There had to be a hundred or more windmills that did not desecrate the desert as far as I am concerned.

A tax credit is now available for small wind turbines that are used for a residence. Thus, you can install a wind turbine and get a credit for 30% of the cost of the unit. It can provide electricity for your house and could generate electricity that you might be able to sell to the electric company. The most common problem with wind turbines is having a site that gets enough consistent wind to justify the unit. A 30% credit is useless if you are limited in how much you can use the turbine.

Like the other energy credits, you use Form 5695 to claim this one. This is not a refundable credit so you need to have a substantial tax liability to take advantage of the credit.

Here are some links for you:

This link could help you understand wind energy for your home. Remember this is an industry group so all the downsides to wind energy may not be presented.
http://www.awea.org/faq/rsdntqa.html

Here is a site that could help you understand purchasing a wind system as well as other energy alternatives.
http://www.homepower.com/home/

Here is a link to a government website where you can search for grants.
http://www.grants.gov/