Discover Feasibility at the Minnesota Solar Suitability Analysis
Wondering if a particular site in Minnesota is good for solar energy? The MN Solar App can help. The Minnesota Solar Suitability Analysis is an ongoing project led by graduate students in the Masters of Geographic Information Science program at the University of Minnesota. The project aims to map solar potential on a large scale across Minnesota using Lidar data and GIS technology with the goal of providing free and open source tools and data to the GIS community.
Please note: satellite data changes over time: trees come down, feasible areas open up as well become inacessible. Keep this in mind and always have a solar site assessment done in person.
Use PVWatts to estimate your production
A powerful calculator developed by the National Renewabl Energy Lab, PVWatts is the standard of the solar photovoltaic industry. It estimates the energy production of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) energy systems throughout the world. This website allows homeowners, small building owners, installers and manufacturers to easily develop estimates of the performance of potential PV installations.
Find Incentives at the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency
DSIRE is the most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States. View the specific details on various incentives that may be applicable to save money on your project.
Financing for Solar Projects through the Center for Energy and Environment
The Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) is a non-profit that can provide a number of loans for energy usage. These statewide loans for solar make it easy for Minnesota homeowners to install solar panels. Avoid costly dealer fees and have the knowledge that your loan is managed by a local non-profit dedicated to community empowerment. CEE annually loans more than $18 million through 1,100 distinct home improvement loans and operates in 32 Midwest cities and 24 Twin Cities neighborhoods to improve residential properties
Guide to the Federal ITC and Depreciation for Commercial Solar Photovoltaics
Released by the Dept of Energy in January 2020, this pdf contains excellent summaries of tax incentives for commercial projects. Be aware that the percentages used in the descriptions have changed a number of times since it was released. This pdf is a good resource on how to calculate the following:
- The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for businesses
- Modified Accelerated Cost-Recovery System (MACRS) Depreciation
- Bonus Depreciation
Confirm with a tax professional knowledgable about solar tax incentives to verify for your potential project.
Please note: not all tax professionals have been exposed to these concepts.