Wind energy funding take the form of scholarships, grants or tax breaks.
Wind energy grants are available from both Texas state and federal sources. Grants include scholarships for wind energy and technology education, professional development grants for wind energy companies and tax incentives for renewable energy projects. By overlapping grant projects, such as installing wind energy with the assistance of wind energy students, or by providing wind research opportunities, a patchwork of funding may be available for wind energy projects.
SARE and Rural Development Grants
Renewable energy creates revenue and jobs.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers sustainable energy grants through its Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. Wind energy projects used on farm property in conjunction with public programs such as education, research and production enhancement are funded by SARE grants. The USDA Rural Development Department offers renewable energy grants for wind power in rural areas. Wind power in rural areas can generate not only energy, but also jobs and local income, which is why government programs are funding these projects. Wind energy grants from the Rural Development Department range from grants to help install wind energy equipment to grants for job expansion and professional development for wind energy businesses.
Texas Wind Energy Institute
The Texas Wind Energy Institute (TWEI) is a partnership between Texas Tech University and Texas State Technical College offering training, education and professional development in wind energy. Entry-level certificates, undergraduate and graduate programs including a PhD. in Wind Science and Engineering are available through TWEI programs on Texas college campuses. TWEI also offers opportunities for wind energy teachers and employers in the field. Texas Tech University offers a Wind Energy Scholarship with applications for the program on the school's website. The Federal Pell Grant can also be used for any of these programs by low-to middle-income students without bachelor's degrees. Applicants for the Pell Grant use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid online. Colleges listed on the FAFSA will be contacted, and then college financial aid departments will issue award letters to recipients for acceptance. The TWEI educational programs could work together with SARE grants for wind energy and graduate student research.
More College Wind Programs and a Franchise Tax Exemption
Several other Texas colleges offer wind energy programs with financial aid such as Pell Grants and in-house scholarships, available to assist students with tuition, housing, transportation and supplies. West Texas A&M University has an Alternative Energy Institute and Baylor University has an Environmental Studies Department that includes wind energy. Texas offers the Solar Energy Devices Business Franchise Tax Exemption, which gives commercial and industrial wind energy businesses franchise tax exemptions. Recipients must be a corporation in Texas engaged solely in the business of manufacturing, selling or installing solar energy devices. This exemption still qualifies as a solar energy exemption under the Texas Tax Code.
Wind Energy Incentives and Renewable Energy Grants
The Texas State Energy Conservation Office offers several grants for wind energy. SECO offers Renewable Energy Technology Grants for eligible public entities to fund qualified renewable energy technology. SECO also has provided grant money to colleges and universities specifically for renewable energy students. The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy offers financial assistance to businesses working to increase the use of renewable energy, and several federal and state wind energy incentives exist as well. The Federal Renewable Electricity Production Tax Credit and IRS Production Tax Credits are two federal wind energy incentive programs.
