Green Tax Expert
Income Tax Help for Green Businesses
Income Tax Help for Green Businesses
California State, local governments and utilities offer a number of green building incentives programs and energy incentives to commercial and industrial businesses. California has one of the most extensive energy programs in the country. Several cities and counties have defined specific programs for builders and businesses that decide to build green.
In Marin County businesses that exceed Title 24 (California Building Energy Efficiency Standards) requirements by 20%, or install an on-site renewable energy system that produces cheap online vitamin a minimum of 75% of the annual energy use for the building can receive an energy fee waiver, fast-tracked permits, and free green building consulting.
In San Bernardino County businesses and builders that commit to building green will receive fast-tracked plan review, priority inspections, design assistance, and recognition for all qualified projects. Green building incentives are available for approved programs include the LEED building system, California Green Builder standards or the San Bernardino County’s Green Building Basics Checklist.
Energy incentives and green building incentives are also available in San Diego County. This county offers a Green Building Incentive Program designed to promote the use of green building materials, water conservation and energy efficiency in new or renovated commercial buildings. San Diego County will reduce building permit and plan check fees by 7.5% and grant accelerated plan checks.
Santa Monica has specific guidelines for businesses and residents for installing solar power. They also encourage the construction of sustainable buildings by allowing priority plan checks for USGBC LEED building projects.
There are also a wide variety of other energy incentives open to California businesses including:
- Loan and rebate programs in several California communities;
- Production Tax Incentives for businesses that create their own renewable energy;
- Contracts with utilities for sale of excess self-generated renewable energy;
- Energy efficiency financing program;
- Utility loan and rebate programs for energy efficiency and green buildings.
Green building incentives and energy incentives help California businesses to mitigate the up front costs of building and renovating using green building practices.
I am all for getting out as much information as possible out there to the public on how to save on energy. When they can also save in the process through green tax credits, so much the better.
Liz Nichols