The Small Wind Certification Council (ICC-SWCC) applauds the reinstatement of the Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for small wind turbines in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by the President earlier this month. This 30% tax credit applies to the costs of equipment and installation for small wind turbines below 100 kilowatts (kW) and encourages individuals and businesses to install renewable energy technologies.

ICC-SWCC, part of the Solar Rating & Certification Corporation (ICC-SRCC), is a nationally recognized, accredited organization that provides the certifications required to claim the federal tax credit. The ITC for small wind turbines lapsed in 2016 and left the small wind industry struggling to compete with other renewable energy technologies that received federal incentives. The 2018 budget legislation restores the tax credit for small wind turbines through 2022 and extends the credit retroactively to residential and commercial projects installed in 2017.

"We are excited to see the extension of the ITC as it will greatly benefit the companies who create these innovative, energy-efficient technologies and the consumers who purchase them," said ICC-SRCC Director Shawn Martin. "We stand with our partners and clients in the distributed wind industry in supporting legislation that makes renewable energy products affordable and accessible to individuals and businesses across the nation."

Mike Bergey, CEO of Bergey Windpower in Norman, Okla., a small wind turbine manufacturer and ICC-SWCC client, notes, "The last few years have been difficult due to cheap solar imports and unbalanced federal tax policy. A fix to the federal tax credit issue is very timely for us. Our new 15 kW turbine is currently undergoing certification through the Small Wind Certification Council."

"With long term federal policies on parity with solar, the U.S. distributed wind industry can finally refocus its efforts on cost reduction, technology improvement and broad market adoption. This will surely lead to thousands of new American jobs and much needed rural economic development throughout the country," said Russell Tencer, Board President of the Distributed Wind Energy Association, an ICC-SWCC partner.

Products undergoing the ICC-SWCC certification process are subject to rigorous laboratory testing in the field for durability and performance and extensive structural and acoustic analyses. An independent panel of experts review and approve all testing results and design analyses. ICC-SWCC certification documents provide detailed third-party information for consumers on the performance of each turbine to ensure consistent comparisons between manufacturers and models.

ICC-SWCC | smallwindcertification.org