But there can be something you can look forward to - tax credits. That is, if you made energy improvements to your home before December 31, 2007, or if you purchased a hybrid vehicle.
Unfortunately, Congress has let most of the consumer tax credits expire (as of December 31st). Hopefully, they will reinstate them as incentives for us to improve the energy efficiency of our homes.
So far, Virginia doesn't have any state income tax credits (none that I've found). But we do have 4 days in October when we can buy Energy Star products and be exempt from the sales tax. It's just like the tax-free days we have for school supplies, but for Energy Star items.
This Monday, February 4th, the Virginia Clean Energy Future Act (SB446) http://www.chesapeakeclimate.org/pages/page.cfm?page_id=243
will be voted on by the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee. This bill will mandate that our state get 20% of our energy from clean sources like wind and solar, and that we reduce our electricity usage by 10%. Check out the link above for the latest news on this bill.
If you'd like to find out more about federal or state incentives to become more energy efficient, check out these web sites:
www.dsireusa.org
www.SEEA.us
www.energytaxincentives.org
www.ase.org/taxcredits
www.deq.virginia.gov
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