Solar and Wind Rebates: Money in Your Pocket

Solar and wind energy are becoming a natural choice in some areas of the country. Following in the footsteps of the government's "Cash for Clunkers" and appliance rebate program, homeowners in some states may be eligible for rebates when installing renewable energy systems in their homes and businesses.

In Arkansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Vermont, Utah, and Wyoming, among others, programs are offering payments of thousands of dollars for residential solar photovoltaic, solar thermal or wind-energy systems. The state-allocated funding, as with other rebate programs, is being provided under the Recovery Act of 2009.

Ken Zweibel, director of the George Washington University Solar Institute, says the rebates are creating a "tipping point" for solar-powered systems, and renewable energy programs are thriving despite the recession and expensive installation costs.