About $329.7 million of New Clean Renewable Energy Bonds can still be allocated to states, localities and other users, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

How can solar financing be improved in the United States? Experts shared their vision for the future at the Green Investing Conference held by the Information Management Network (IMN).

Current federal renewable-energy incentive programs will end by 2020, leaving the future of Washington's solar industry clouded. A state program, though, got a new lease on life recently. Installers say the incentives remain key to selling solar systems to cost-conscious customers.

Widely believed to be the first initiative in the Southeast to decouple utility revenues from power sales, Arkansas' success to date is serving as proof that such regulations can benefit ratepayers and utilities while creating new energy efficiency jobs. Mississippi and Louisiana are the latest states to seriously consider such incentives aimed at utility programs that can save electricity and natural gas ratepayers' money. 

Seven communities and one Utility District have been approved to receive over $33.4 million in low-interest loans for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements, including Cleveland which will receive a $1.2 million loan for water distribution system improvement.  

Offshore wind power is in its infancy stage in the United States, but there are signs it is picking up. The first project is off the coast of Rhode Island and in January, another project was approved off the shores of New York's Long Island. Many projects rely on federal tax incentives which is cause for concern for some people given the current administrations lack of enthusiasm for renewables.

A youth sports center is the first building in Sycamore Township to use Ohio PACE program to finance a $650,000 energy improvement project that included the installation of rooftop solar energy panels, LED lighting retrofit, and the installation of new insulation panels in the facility's gymnasium.

Florida Governor Rick Scott Senate Bill 90, a measure that will expand tax breaks for renewable energy sources like solar panels on commercial and industrial buildings. The bill extends renewable-energy tax breaks already given to residential properties and exempts a percentage of the assessed value of renewable installations from property taxes.

This report, produced by the American Jobs Project, culminates in recommendations for Minnesota's leaders based on best practices in the United States and abroad. Each recommendation identifies opportunities for barrier removal and future growth in the energy efficiency sector.

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