The three types
- Brownfield sites: land with past contamination, as defined in federal law.
- Statistical areas: areas with a history of fossil fuel jobs or tax revenue and with unemployment at or above the national average.
- Coal closure areas: census tracts where a coal mine or coal power unit has closed, and the tracts next to them.
Why developers check it
A project in an energy community may earn a larger tax credit if it meets the other rules. The lists are updated, and federal tax credit law has changed since 2022. Check current IRS and Treasury guidance, and ask a tax adviser, before counting on any bonus.
How Voltane shows it
Voltane shows whether a site falls inside a mapped energy community statistical area or coal closure tract, with the source and year. The brownfield type is not mapped. It is given for reference only. It is not funding advice and does not say that a project qualifies.
Questions people ask
Does being in an energy community guarantee a tax bonus?
No. The project must also meet the timing, technology and other rules for the credit. Location is only one test.
Where is the official energy community map?
The US Department of Energy and the IRS publish the official lists and a mapping tool. Use those as the primary source.
Related
More glossary
- What is time to power?
- What is powered land?
- What is a powered shell?
- What is large load interconnection?
- What is a point of interconnection?
- What is an interconnection queue?
- What is queue position?
- What is ERCOT?
Need a site, or have one?
Tell us what you need and Voltane finds, reports on and prices candidate sites in ERCOT. Or bring a site you already have for a path-to-power report (by request for now).