In February 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was enacted, creating a renewable energy grant program. The United States Department of Treasury oversees the program, and offers cash grants instead of federal business energy investment tax credits.

In July 2009, documents became available that detailed all deadlines for these new renewable energy grants. The details released by the United States Department of Treasury included terms, conditions of the grants and a sample application. If you are interested in applying, there is a preliminary online procedure that can be followed.

The solar grant is equal to 30% of the basis of any property for solar energy. The property must be eligible and include equipment which uses solar energy for the generation of electricity to heat or cool a structure. Solar pool-heating systems are not eligible however hybrid solar lighting systems may be eligible.

You can expect to receive a grant of thirty percent in most cases. This grant caps off at $1,500 per kilowatt.

The small wind turbine grants are equal to 30% of the property. These include 100 kilowatt turbines.

Grants also exist for qualified facilities, geothermal heat pumps, micro-turbines and power systems combining heat and power. The government in clear to note that only tax-paying entities are eligible for the grant, meaning all federal, state and local government bodies, all non-profits, all cooperative electric companies and all qualified energy tax credit bond lenders are not eligible.