Last week, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and the Department of Energy announced that applications are open for the 48(e) Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program. The application period is open from October 19th to November 18th, with any applications received during these first 30 days treated as having been received at the same time.
Included as part of last year’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), eligible applicants can apply to receive a 10% to 20% point boost to the energy investment tax credit for qualified solar or wind facilities that are on tribal land or in low-income communities. In the program’s August announcement, Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo said “the Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program – also known as 48(e) – supports the deployment of renewable energy technology to benefit low-income households and communities. The program provides a significant incentive on top of the existing 30% Investment Tax Credit, allowing the transition to wind and solar energy to be more affordable for families and communities nationwide.”
From previous guidance, the 48(e) Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program allocates 1.8 gigawatts of capacity available through competitive application for the 2023 program across four categories of qualified solar or wind facilities with maximum output of less than five megawatts. The IRS intends to allocate up to:
- 700 megawatts to facilities located in low-income communities;
- 200 megawatts to facilities located on Indian land;
- 200 megawatts to facilities that are part of federally-subsidized residential buildings, including housing supported by the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and Section 8 of the Housing Act; and
- 700 megawatts to facilities where at least 50 percent of the financial benefits of the electricity produced go to households with incomes below 200 percent of the poverty line or below 80 percent of area median gross income.
For program-related questions, please email EJBonusSupport@hq.doe.gov
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