Recently in Energy Tax Incentives Category

Measuring Your Energy Investments for ROI

By Carolyn on January 12, 2009 8:29 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks
Jim Hansen, an independent financial consultant, runs every investment through the "peak oil test". In this presentation from the ASPO-USA 2008 conference, he explores traditional energy investments; opportunities in renewables, rail, and electrifying the transportation system; areas to avoid like airlines and trucking; and what to watch, like electric cars and the unwinding of globalization.

Ecologist and professor Charlie Hall looks at energy return on energy invested. Whether it's a cheetah chasing antelope, or humans making ethanol -- the energy we get back has to exceed the energy we put in, or the story is over. He compares oil's energy return in the 1930's (1 calorie invested returned 100 calories of energy) with the current situation (1:12) and still declining.

Presenters respond to the final question in the Q&A session at the close of ASPO-USA's 2008 conference: how do we better harness the intellect, energy and commitment at this conference, and what one thing would you have people ask an elected official to do about peak oil?
 
Peak Moment Conversation #136 "Energy Investment - Energy Return" with financial consultant Jim Hansen, and ecologist Charlie Hall, plus final Q&A from the ASPO-USA 2008 conference in September, is now online at www.peakmoment.tv (video), and www.globalpublicmedia.com (audio and video).

Economic Stabilization Act of 2008

By Carolyn on January 10, 2009 3:44 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks
The energy efficiency provisions include:
  • An extension of the commercial buildings tax deduction to the end of 2013.
  • An extension of the tax credit for efficient furnaces, boilers, air conditioners, and water heaters; and insulation and window upgrades to existing homes (covering improvements installed in 2009, but not 2008).
  • A one-year extension of the new energy-efficient home tax credit, to the end of 2009.
  • Three years of manufacturer tax credits for sales of high-efficiency refrigerators, clothes washers, dishwashers, and dehumidifiers (2008-2010).
  • A new tax credit for plug-in hybrid vehicles purchased starting in 2008 and extending until shortly after the number of qualifying vehicles reaches 250,000.
  • A new 10% investment tax credit for combined heat and power systems (through 2016)
  • An extension of fuel cell and microturbine credits to the end of 2016.
  • Accelerated depreciation for smart meters and smart grid systems.
  • Extension of an existing bonding program for green buildings and sustainable design, and establishment of a new energy conservation bond program that would help local and state governments to fund energy conservation efforts.

The bill pays for these provisions by restricting several oil and gas industry tax breaks, and tightening some provisions on the sale of stocks.

For more information: The Tax Incentives Assistance Project (TIAP), sponsored by a coalition of public interest nonprofit groups, government agencies, and other organizations in the energy efficiency field, is designed to give consumers and businesses information they need to make use of the federal income tax incentives for energy efficient products and technologies passed by Congress as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and subsequently amended several times.

http://www.energytaxincentives.org/


Main Index | Archives | Food Sustainability »

Categories