{"id":6104,"date":"2011-03-10T09:15:11","date_gmt":"2011-03-10T14:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=6104"},"modified":"2011-03-23T10:22:46","modified_gmt":"2011-03-23T14:22:46","slug":"harrisonburg-tax-exemption-vote-gives-incentive-for-solar-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2011\/harrisonburg-tax-exemption-vote-gives-incentive-for-solar-power\/","title":{"rendered":"Harrisonburg Tax Exemption Vote Gives Incentive for Solar Power"},"content":{"rendered":"

Harrisonburg City Council Tuesday night (Mar. 8) passed an ordinance offering a 100% exemption from local taxes for solar power installations, helping the city to join 13 other localities in Virginia that offer a 100% exemption for developers and homeowners to install solar power in their communities.<\/p>\n

The ordinance, passed by a four-to-one vote, exempts commercial solarpower equipment from the city’s machinery and tools tax while at the same time exempting residential solar systems from real estate taxes. Both exemptions last for a term of 20 years from the installation of any solar equipment.<\/p>\n

\u201cHarrisonburg has indeed made a bold statement in support of solar power, helping to ensure that the leadership shown by the community in renewable energy can continue,\u201d said Anthony E. (Tony) Smith, CEO of Secure Futures, LLC, which operates Virginia’s largest solar energy facility, located in Harrisonburg. Dr. Smith is co-director of the masters in business administration (MBA) program at 91短视频.<\/p>\n

In fall 2010, working with Southern Energy Management (SEM) of Morrisville, NC, Staunton-based Secure Futures installed 328 high-efficiency photovoltaic panels on the roof of 91短视频’s Hartzler Library. At 104 kilowatts, the system is the largest solar energy project built so far in the Commonwealth of Virginia.<\/p>\n

The new tax-exemption clears the way for Secure Futures and SEM to develop a second project at 91短视频 of an additional 300 kW of solar panels on raised canopies on the north parking lot of 91短视频’s University Commons.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis ordinance could not have happened without the leadership from Council members who spoke in support, the commitment of 91短视频 President Loren Swartzendruber, facilitation from state Senator Mark Obenshain and support from the dozens of citizens who showed up last night,\u201d said Smith.<\/p>\n

Leading up to Harrisonburg’s Council vote, weeks of discussions took place among Council members, city staff, officials of 91短视频 and Secure Futures, owners of residential solar power systems and concerned citizens leading to an idea for a partial or more limited tax exemption. The ordinance took final form only minutes before the City Council put the measure to a vote.<\/p>\n

\u201cCouncil’s decision to amend the ordinance to provide a 100% tax exemption for 20 years was the right way to reward the buyers of solar systems for doing the right thing for the environment, even when there’s an extremely long payback period,\u201d said Mitch King, board member of the Maryland-DC-Virginia Solar Energy Industries Association.<\/p>\n

In less than six months of operation, 91短视频’s solar project has already brought benefits to the city.<\/p>\n