PWA compliance for clean energy tax credits: exceptions, penalties and the weekly record

Walker Blue engineer reviewing payroll records against a Department of Labor wage determination (edit to describe the actual photo)

By Josh Howes, Chief Executive Officer, Walker Blue LLC IN SHORT Projects that meet prevailing wage and apprenticeship (PWA) requirements can claim five times the base credit: 30% instead of 6% under Section 48. Energy projects under 1 MW of output can get the full rate without meeting PWA. For the rest, the enhanced rate rests … Read more

Eight ITC questions ESCOs keep asking- answered

ESCO professionals reviewing plans for an energy project while addressing ITC questions

By David Diaz, Chief Strategy Officer, Walker Blue LLC When we work with ESCO teams serving school districts, colleges, municipalities and other public-sector customers, the same ITC questions come up again and again. These are eight we heard repeatedly between April and September 2026. We kept the questions close to how they were actually asked … Read more

Can District and Campus Geothermal Projects Qualify for the Federal ITC?

Campus geothermal energy system showing underground heat exchange loops serving multiple educational buildings, illustrating how district and campus geothermal projects can support sustainability goals and potentially qualify for federal clean energy tax incentives.

Yes, geothermal systems serving district energy networks, campuses, and central plants may qualify for the federal Investment Tax Credit, and the runway is longer than most owners assume. While solar and wind face compressed construction-start timing under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21, enacted July 4, 2025), geothermal heat pump property retained eligibility … Read more

Energy Tax Incentive News: June 17, 2025

Company Update: Blue Energy Group and Walker Reid Strategies will be merging. Communications will represent both companies during the transition. Read the official announcement UPDATES The Senate Finance Committee released its draft of The One Big Beautiful Bill on June 16th. The bill differs greatly from the version that passed the House. Key energy-related provisions include: … Read more

The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Update

Beautiful Bill Update

UPDATES On May 12, 2025, the House Ways and Means Committee released its budget reconciliation bill titled “The One, Big, Beautiful Bill.” This bill proposes several broad changes to the Internal Revenue Code, including the rollback or phase-out of several clean energy incentives introduced under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Key energy-related provisions include: Section … Read more

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