State Rep. Aric Nesbitt (R-66th District) introduced Michigan House Bill No. 5980, which will amend the state’s Renewable Energy Standard— Michigan 2008 PA 295, the “Clean, Renewable, and Efficient Energy Act.” Michigan enacted Public Act 295 in October 2008, requiring the state’s investor-owned utilities, alternative retail suppliers, electric cooperatives and municipal electric utilities to generate […]

Following its successful effort to legislate recognition of geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) into Illinois renewable and energy efficiency laws, the Geothermal Exchange Organization (GEO) has been directly involved in an eight-month process to win revisions to the state’s Technical Resource Manual (TRM). “There were lots of contentious issues that needed resolution to ensure that GHPs […]

Upon its inception, the Long Island Geothermal Energy Organization (LI-GEO) recognized the critical need for standardization of geothermal system designs and installations. One of several committees established early on in the organization’s history was for Standards and Codes. Independently, the Suffolk County Planning Commission (SCPC) decided to develop a fast-track permitting process for geothermal systems […]

As rulemaking for the state’s new thermal renewable energy law proceeds (see previous article), the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) recently added another round of incentives for homeowners interested in the efficiency and comfort afforded by geothermal heating and cooling. MassCEC offers rebates of up to $12,500—based on system size—to eligible homeowners who install qualifying […]

The Oregon Department of Energy has filed permanent rules for the state’s Residential Energy Tax Credit program. The rule amendments go into effect on Jan. 1, 2015. Among other things, the rules allow open-loop geothermal heat pump systems. The rules also modify the tax credit chart and consolidate eligible costs into one section for all […]

Why GHPs Should be a Carbon Reduction Offset for Coal-Fired Power Plants The Geothermal Exchange Organization (GEO) submitted comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urging that renewable thermal energy and geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) be recognized in its proposed rulemaking under Section 111(d) of the U.S. Clean Air Act to cut carbon pollution […]

The Geothermal Exchange Organization (GEO) has joined hundreds of association signatories to a letter sent by the Broad Tax Extenders Coalition to Congress, urging passage of “tax extenders bills” already passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and under consideration by the U.S. Senate. The bills would reinstate and extend several tax incentives that expired […]