Cost of Federal tax credit programs to develop the market for industrial solar and wind energy technologies. Final report to Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, University of California. Volume 2: appendices

Abstract

In 1978, Congress passed the Energy Tax Act which, in addition to the 10% investment tax credit then available, added a 10% tax credit (increased to 15% by the Crude Oil Windfall Profits Tax Act of 1980) to specifically encourage industrial investment in equipment which either generated energy from renewable sources or conserved energy. The purpose of this study is to estimate the amount of renewable energy investment these tax credits will cause, if they are retained until 1991, and to estimate the net costs to the US Tresury of providing these tax credit programs. The effect of increasing the level of renewable energy tax credit program from 15 to 30, 45, or 60% was also considered. In addition, the current tax credit program and the at-risk provision of tax law were examined and their impact on renewable energy investment considered. The present situation, the anticipated effects of preserving the present tax credit policy, and the probable effects of changing tax credit policy to further encourage renewable energy investment are examined. The findings on each of these issues are summarized.