Until recently, the struggling economy has forced people eager to retrofit their homes to put off for another day their dreams of clean energy. But recent rebate programs at both the State and Federal levels are making alternative energy systems more affordable than ever. Here in New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (NHPUC) is now offering a rebate of up to $6000 for electric-based renewable energy systems -- including wind and PV solar.

In order to qualify, installations need to be completed by September 30, 2009, and applications must be submitted before December 1st, 2009. While the state rebate applies only to residential systems, there is also a 30% federal tax credit available to both residential and commercial systems.

The rebate breaks down to a payback equivelant to $3 per watt, or up to 50% of the total project cost for renewable electric systems, such as solar PV or small wind systems. Solar thermal projects, such as hot-water or space-heat, are not eligible for this round of rebates. If the system is tied to a grid, such as with PSNH, it must have approval from the appropriate electric utility in order to interconnect.

According to Jack Bingham of SEA Solar Store, there has never been a better time to go solar. "What you have right now is a lot of excess inventory of solar panels, so the prices are already going way down," says Bingham. "But when you add in the $6000 rebate from the state, plus the 30% percent federal credit, it makes solar very competeive going forward, turning what was once a 15-year payback into an 8 to 10 year payback."

Prisilla Ballaro, Director of Marketing at Waterline Alternative Energies, explained how these rebates could be used on a variety of small wind systems for home or business. "We currently offer a number of products that utilize less than 5,000 kilowatts -- which is the cutoff -- and with both rebates available, it can really make it affordable," says Ballaro. "The only difference is that a business would get a cash rebate for the system they installed, while an individual homeowner would receive a tax rebate at the end of the year."

It is unclear whether the offer will be extended beyond the September deadline, so if you've ever thought about installing a solar PV system in your home, now's the time to act!

To download the actual application from the State of New Hampshire, click here.

For detailed information about tax rebates and incentives in your state, visit www.dsireusa.org