The almost $800 billion economic recovery bill
includes a bigger tax break for residential solar hot water installations.
Homeowners already could take a tax credit on up to 30 percent of the cost of a
solar hot water system installation, but the total amount was capped at $2,000.
The economic stimulus bill, signed by PresidentBarack ObamaFeb. 17, removes the cap.
This puts residential solar thermal systems on par with residential solar
photovoltaic systems. Last year, a massive financial industry bailout bill
renewed the federal tax credits for both solar PV and thermal for eight more
years. However, a separate provision lifted a $2,000 cap on the federal tax
credit for solar electric systems for homes.
