The Economic and Fiscal Impacts of Hawaii's Solar Tax Credit

Authors

  • Thomas A. Loudat
  • Prahlad Kasturi Professor, Department of Economics, Radford University Radford, VA 24142

Abstract

This research paper assesses the economic and fiscal impacts of Hawaii's solar tax credit-stimulated solar installations.  The method entails estimating the economic effects created by i) the purchase of a solar system as well as ii) of the alternatives foregone. Our study shows that the State receives full repayment of its solar credit investment in 9 to 15 years. For each solar credit dollar spent, the State receives $1.97 to $2.67 dollars in additional tax revenues. The fiscal results of the tax credit reported by this research have been replicated in a federal solar tax credit study published by the US Partnership for Renewable Finance USPRF (2012) that estimates an IRR of 10% for the government's tax credit “investment” in residential solar systems. The findings of the federal study comports closely with our Hawaii's estimate of an IRR of 9.5% for residential and 11.1% for commercial solar systems. Keywords: Solar Energy, Solar Tax Credit, Internal Rate of ReturnJEL Classification: O4

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Author Biography

Prahlad Kasturi, Professor, Department of Economics, Radford University Radford, VA 24142

Dr. Prahlad Kasturi is a professor of economics at Radford University in Virginia, USA.  His research interests are in agriculture, energy, environment, health and cultural economics and policy.

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Published

2017-01-17

How to Cite

Loudat, T. A., & Kasturi, P. (2017). The Economic and Fiscal Impacts of Hawaii’s Solar Tax Credit. International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, 7(1), 224–252. Retrieved from https://mail.econjournals.com/index.php/ijeep/article/view/3359

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 1 (2017)

Section

Articles

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