The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) adopted rules in July that encourage the development of more state small wind generation systems by simplifying interconnection with electric utilities. Designated small wind innovation zones will be established in political subdivisions to expedite the local government approval process for these wind generation systems. To be designated as a small wind innovation zone, a political subdivision such as a city, county, township or school district must either adopt or be within the boundaries of a local government that adopts the model ordinance for expedited approval. The area must also be served by an electric utility that uses the model interconnection agreements developed in a previous rule making. The new rules also create a new eligibility category under Iowa's renewable energy tax credit program for the owners of small wind generation systems that operate in small wind innovation zones. A state production tax credit of 1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour is available for energy sold by eligible wind generation facilities. A complete summary of the comments and staff recommendations in this rule making is available through the IUB's electronic filing system found at efs.iowa.gov.

Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell signed two bills in June that create a statewide energy policy, establishing goals for renewable energy generation and incentives to spur renewable energy investment. Policy tools in S.B. 220, the Alaska Sustainable Energy Act, include a grant program for demonstration projects that will be commercially viable within five years and a $250 million Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund to give the state, schools and municipalities access to low-interest loans to achieve energy savings. A provision to create a renewable energy production credit was removed from the bill, but may be revisited next year. H.B. 306, the State Energy Policy, sets a goal for the state to increase its energy efficiency by 15 percent on a per capita basis between 2010 and 2020 and to receive 50 percent of its electric generation from renewable and alternative energy sources by 2025. View the text of both bills at www.energytaxcredits.com.

Despite Vermont's falling home prices, rents remain high and the housing market is still tight, a June report from the Vermont Housing Finance Agency found. “Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Housing and Wages in Vermont” tracks housing costs in relation to incomes. The report concluded that more than half of Vermont's occupations have median wages less than the $36,800 needed to pay the average fair market rent of $920 for a modest two-bedroom unit. This year's report also noted that the number of homeless persons in Vermont has increased by 22 percent since 2008. Copies of the report are available on VHFA's web site at www.vhfa.org.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) awarded more than $2.6 million in grants to support 18 new wind energy projects under the Commonwealth Wind Community Scale Wind Initiative. The awards include design and construction grants for six projects with a total capacity of more than 12 megawatts (MW) and 12 feasibility studies for projects that, if completed, would total more than 23 MW in capacity. The Commonwealth Wind Community Scale Wind Initiative is operated by MassCEC's renewable energy generation division, which generates roughly $23 million a year to support renewable energy installations and companies.

North Carolina Gov. Bev Purdue signed Senate Bill 388 in June. SB 388 clarifies that Section 1603 cash grants in lieu of investment tax credits (ITCs) are not public funds and acceptance of the grants should not reduce the basis for determining a project's state ITC. The North Carolina Department of Revenue had previously included the grants in its definition of public funds, meaning that projects taking advantage of the grant program would not be eligible for the full 35 percent ITC. S.B. 388 is effective retroactively for projects placed in service on or after January 1, 2009. Download the full text of the bill at www.energytaxcredits.com.