Personal Tax Credits for Eligible Energy Efficient Technologies
Beginning in 2009, certain Michigan taxpayers are eligible for a tax credit for the purchase and installation of qualifying energy efficient home improvements. To claim the tax credit, persons filing single returns must have an annual income of $37,500 or less and married couples filing jointly must have an annual income of $75,000 or less. The definition of qualifying home improvements is limited to the following categories: insulation, water heaters, furnaces, windows, refrigerators, clotheswashers, and dishwashers. All equipment must meet the EPA Energy Star efficiency criteria. The items must be intended for residential or non-commercial use. The amount of the credit is 10% of the installed cost of each improvement, up to $75 for single filers and $150 for joint filers. The credit only applies to equipment purchased after December 31, 2008 and before January 1, 2012. Contact: Information - MDOT, Michigan Department of Treasury. Individual Income Taxes, Lansing, MI 48922; 517-373-3200; http://www.michigan.gov/treasury

Rebates up to $10,000 for Renewable Energy Systems
Rebates for renewable-energy systems are available to residential customers of all Wisconsin Public Power, Inc. utilities including these Michigan utilities: Alger Delta CEA, Baraga Electric Utility, Gladstone Power & Light, L'Anse Electric Utility, Negaunee Electric Department, and Norway Power & Light. Customers must reside in the service territory of the participating utility and the system must be installed on the customer's property. The renewable energy techonologies are: solar water heat, solar space heat, photovoltaics, and wind. The incentive amounts: solar-thermal systems $25-$30/sq. foot of collector area; PV systems $2-$3/kWh; wind-energy systems 25% of project cost; site assessments 75% of fee; and repairs to existing systems 50% of project cost. Maximum incentives are solar-thermal systems $3,500; PV systems: $10,000; wind-energy systems $10,000; site assessments $375; and repairs to existing system $2,500. Contact: Wisconsin Public Power, Inc. (WPPI), 1425 Corporate Center Drive Sun Prairie, WI 53590-9109; 608-837-2653; 800-255-9774; Fax: 608-837-0274; http://www.wppisys.org/