Lynn J. Cunningham and Rachel J. Eck assembled this information-laden CRS report (9 August 2021): 'Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Incentives: A Summary of Federal Programs'.
This report has very little text and lots of tables.
Download CRS_Report_Renew_Energy__Energy_Efficiency_Incentives_Summary_Fed_Pgms_9August2021
Summary
Energy is crucial to operating a modern industrial and services economy. Concerns about the availability and cost of energy and about environmental impacts of fossil energy use have led to a wide variety of federal incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency. These incentives aim to implement renewable energy and energy efficiency measures and to develop and commercialize renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.Many of the existing energy efficiency and renewable energy programs have authorizations tracing back to the 1970s. Many programs have been reauthorized and redesigned repeatedly to meet changing economic factors. The programs apply broadly to sectors ranging from industry to academia and from state and local governments to rural communities.
Since 2005, Congress has passed several major energy laws: the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT 2005; P.L. 109-58); the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA; P.L. 110-140); the Energy Improvement and Extension Act (EIEA), enacted as Division B of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA; P.L. 110-343); the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA; P.L. 111-5); and the Energy Act of 2020 (Division Z of P.L. 116-260). Each of those laws established, expanded, or modified energy efficiency and renewable energy research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) programs.
The Department of Energy (DOE) operates the greatest number of efficiency and renewable energy incentive programs, including RDD&D grants and contracts, weatherization assistance, production incentives, loan guarantees, and technology transfers. DOE also provides grants to states for energy policy development and assists other federal agencies in developing and implementing energy efficient and renewable energy resources.
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) runs several programs that largely focus on biofuels, such as ethanol and wood energy. Other USDA programs include assistance to rural communities with high energy costs, biomass crop assistance, grants and loans to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy for agricultural producers and rural businesses, assistance to general consumers for rural energy savings, and sustainable agricultural research.
The Department of the Treasury administers tax credits and other incentives for energy efficiency and renewable energy. Eligible activities include energy efficient home improvements, renewable energy production, and business investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Other federal agencies with energy efficiency and renewable energy programs include the following:
Department of the Interior (DOI), with programs on tribal energy production and use;
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), with energy efficient mortgages and loan programs;
Small Business Administration (SBA), with loan programs to help borrowers upgrade their facilities and fund energy efficiency or renewable energy projects;
Fannie Mae, with a “Green Initiative” loan program;
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which provides energy assistance to low-income households; and
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which provides energy efficient mortgages.
A wide range of entities are eligible for these energy efficiency and renewable incentives, including biofuel producers; state, local, and tribal governments; businesses; schools and universities; research organizations; builders and developers; homeowners; utilities; and veterans. Eligibility also includes a variety of energy-related technologies, such as advanced batteries, heating and cooling systems, vehicles and biofuels, appliances, building envelope technologies, renewable energy production technologies, lighting, and electricity generation and transmission.
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