Background
On February 17, 2009 President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Re-investment Act of 2009. With a significant emphasis on renewable energy technology deployment and job expansion, the bill improved upon the 2008 small wind tax credit by removing “cost caps.” This change allows consumers and small businesses to deduct from their tax liability 30% off the installed cost of a wind turbine. Additionally, businesses will have the option of receiving their credit in the form of a cash grant.

Q: What does this mean to me?
A: The entire cost of a Skystream system (plus installation) is reduced by 30 percent provided you have a tax liability over the course of two years. Depending on where you live, you could save even more! States have also implemented rebates for small wind systems which can be used in addition to the Federal credit. Furthermore, in the last two months alone, more than 30 states have introduced legislation that either expands incentives for renewable energy and/or addresses market barriers. Learn more at http://www.skystreamenergy.com/incentives.

Q: How does a tax credit work?
A: Typically, a tax credit is money that you can deduct from any money owed to the federal government at tax time (tax liability). The small wind tax credit can be carried over two years after the product is installed. For more information on how to take advantage of the credit, we suggest that you speak to a tax specialist.

Q: I don’t normally owe taxes – how can I claim the credit?
A: You can only claim the credit based on what you would owe in taxes (your tax liability after two years). If you do not normally receive a refund, you may want to consult with a tax specilalist to understand better what opportunities are available to you.

Q: How do I claim the credit?
A: You will be required to file the long form and itemize your deductions. The IRS form 5695 must be completed and filed with your taxes. The current form does not reflect the changes to the most recent legislation.

Q: Can someone who already owned a Skystream claim the tax credit?
A: If you purchased a Skystream in 2008, you qualify for the federal-level tax credit, passed as part of the October 2008 bailout legislation, up to $2,400 per wind turbine with a cap of $4000. If you purchased a Skystream in 2008 but your dealer did not install it until 2009, ask your dealer to write a letter indicating that the wind turbine was not “commissioned” in 2008 and became operational 2009. You would qualify for the 30 percent tax incentive in your 2009 filing.

Q: What if I want to purchase and install more than one Skystream?
A: The stimulus package allows for a 30 percent tax credit on the total cost of multiple units. There is no cap on the 30 percent tax credit. Businesses may qualify for a grant from the US Treasury in lieu of a tax credit.

Q: I heard I can get cash back rather than a tax credit – how does that work?
A: Businesses can apply for a grant from the US Treasury and rather than a tax credit, receive a cash grant. The details are still being worked out but should be in place by April or May. Keep in touch with your dealer or the manufacturer for more information.

Q: Does this work for all small wind systems, even Whisper and Air Breeze?
A: Yes. The incentive is available to all users of small wind systems.

Southwest Windpower seized the opportunity to develop a strong presence in China by partnering with Yunsheng, a Ningbo-based manufacturing company who has been producing component parts for several Southwest Windpower products for the last four years. The joint venture – Ningbo Air-Yunsheng Windpower – will produce Southwest Windpower’s Air X product beginning in early 2009. The 400 watt Air X wind generator is a solution that can help power China’s rural electrification project, the largest such project in the world. Currently more than 15 million inhabitants in China have no access to basic electricity – and with the government’s commitment to resolve the majority of these insufficiencies by 2015, there is significant need for such products in China.

For the past year, Southwest Windpower has been developing relationships in China and CEO Frank Greco is confident in the Air X’s ability to penetrate the market, “We’ve been meeting with the government agencies and testing the Air X against competitive Chinese turbines. At the end of the day, our product speaks for itself and we’re very excited about our future in the Chinese market.” Southwest Windpower projects that 10,000 – 15,000 turbines will be manufactured and sold by the joint venture in 2009.

Additionally, Southwest Windpower just announced the opening of its first European office in Cologne, Germany, which will manage sales, shipping and distribution of its products across Europe. After successful test installations across Europe over the last year, the award-winning Skystream 3.7™ – the first small wind generator designed for utility-connected, residential use – has begun shipping in the UK, Germany and Spain. To date, 3000 units have been shipped. Southwest Windpower expects that by the end of 2009 the German office will also support the Middle East and Africa.

Greco says that this is just the beginning of Southwest Windpower’s expansion: “We are exploring opportunities in India and possibly Korea. We anticipate the demand for renewable energy solutions in both Europe and the U.S. will continue to grow. We believe we have a revolutionary product that directly meets a consumer need – there is no limit to where we can go.”

The company is also poised for aggressive domestic growth. In October, as part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, H.R. 1424, a federal-level tax credit for qualified small wind turbines was approved, providing up to $4,000 in rebate funds for units installed through 2016. The U.S. small wind industry projects that this federal credit, combined with a forthcoming equipment certification program and the Obama administration, will help create thousands of new jobs and could foster U.S. market growth of more than 40 percent annually.

Website: http://www.skystreamenergy.com/

In 1987 the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh adopted its current name and approach to service delivery: acting as a broker by providing grants, technical assistance and education to help individuals and organizations purchase and use professional design and planning services. Today, the CDCP offers a diversity of programs and services that connect people and neighborhoods with resources to make investments in the built environment – buildings, neighborhoods, parks and public spaces. These programs and services help to promote economic development and improve the quality of life in Pittsburgh region.

Accomplishments

Design Fund Grants & Technical Assistance

* Since 1987, the CDCP has committed over $1,000,000 in Design Fund grants to more than 65 community-based organizations in the City of Pittsburgh.
* These grants and related technical assistance have led to nearly $82 million in new community investment.
* Since 2000, the CDCP has provided additional technical assistance to over over $200,000 in contracts, serving clients and communities in the Pittsburgh region.
* 50 contracts via consulting contracts, influencing over $325 million in investments.

RenPlan®

* Since 1996, the RenPlan® program has matched over 1,200 homeowners with volunteer architects, landscape architects, and interior designers for affordable renovation consultations.
* RenPlan® consultations have influenced an estimated $9.5 million in home renovations.
* The CDCP has expanded the RenPlan® program to serve residents in communities surrounding the City of Pittsburgh and small business owners.

Pedal Pittsburgh

* Since 1994, Pedal Pittsburgh has attracted more than 20,000 participants.
* Pedal Pittsburgh event has raised over $675,000 to support CDCP programming.

Civic Stewardship

* Since 2000, the CDCP has influenced the quality design of over $100 million in private and public development via participation in city-wide and regional coalitions and initiatives.

Website: http://www.cdcp.org

“The plights of day laborers and other underrepresented populations have been of interest to Public Architecture since our inception,” says architect John Peterson, who founded Public Architecture in 2002. “We believe architecture has a great deal to offer to this ‘other 90%’ of the population, which rarely benefits from the services of design professionals.”

According to a recent UCLA/Ford Foundation study, on any given day there are more than 110,000 day laborers looking forward in U.S. cities, more than half of which are hired by individual home owners or renters. Seventy-nine percent of day laborers seek work at informal hiring sites. A relatively small (approx. 65) number of official day labor centers have been established in recent years, but informal gathering sites, such as street corners, gas stations, and home improvement store parking lots, remain the norm. As they are spaces designated for other uses, these sites frequently lack even the most basic of amenities (shelter, water, toilet facilities, etc).

The Day Labor Station was designed in response to the more than 200 (est.) informal day laborer gathering sites across the country, particularly home improvement store parking lots and similar settings. “Our solution is based on the realities of the ways in which the day labor system operates, and responds to the needs and desires of day laborers themselves, as our clients,” says Peterson.

Public Architecture is currently working to locate a permanent site for the first Day Labor Station. Ultimately, the Stations will be deployed across the country. The sustainably-designed structure utilizes green materials and strategies and is meant to exist primarily, if not completely, off-the-grid. The Station provides a sheltered space for the day laborers to wait for work as well as basic amenities such as drinking water and restrooms.

“In addition to day laborers themselves, the Day Labor Station was also designed with other stakeholders in mind, such as major corporations like Home Depot and Lowe’s as well as local businesses and municipalities. Although most of these groups have clear ‘no solicitation’ policies, day laborers continue to seek work and contractors as well as homeowners continue to hire workers on their properties. Our responsive solution is cognizant of these realities,” notes Peterson. “We believe the Day Labor Station presents a tremendous, positive public relations opportunity as well as a clearly needed public service.”

The Day Labor Station is documented online at www.daylaborstation.org.

The 1%” is a national program launched by Public Architecture in 2005 that challenges architecture and design firms to pledge 1% of their billable hours to pro bono work. Over 300 firms have signed on to date. If every architecture professional in the U.S. dedicated just 20 hours annually, it would add up to 5,000,000 hours each year—the equivalent of 2,500-person firm working fulltime for the public good. The 1% program was launched by Public Architecture in 2005 with the support of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and is presently supported by a range of groups, including the NEA, American Institute of Architects (AIA), Boston Society of Architects (BSA), corporate and private foundations, as well as leading firms such as Elness Swenson Graham Architects (ESG), Hammel, Green & Abrahamson (HGA), Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum (HOK), HKS, McCall Design Group, and Perkins + Will.