2023 Solar Incentives Guide for Gilroy, CA - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Gilroy.
You'll learn about:
- Local & State Solar Incentives
- Federal Tax Credits (Updated for 2023 and beyond)
- Ways to optimize your solar investment
Solar installers are experts in maximizing your solar tax credits and rebates.
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Updated September 15, 2023
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What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Gilroy?
Property Tax Exclusion for Solar Energy Systems and Solar Plus Storage System
Western Riverside Council of Governments - Home Energy Renovation Opportunity (HERO) Financing Program
Minimum financing: $5,000
The financing may not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the market value of the property, up to the first seven hundred thousand dollars ($700,000) of the property’s market value, and ten percent (10%) of the remaining value of the Property above seven hundred thousand dollars ($700,000) minus any PACE assessment on the property The total amount of any annual property taxes and assessments shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the property's fair market value, determined at the time program financing is approved.
Local Option - Municipal Energy Districts
Self-Generation Incentive Program
Incentives will step down over time. See below for incentive amounts.
Renewable Market Adjusting Tariff (ReMAT)
LADWP - Feed-in Tariff (FiT) Program
Base price will step down over time as certain MW goals are met
California Solar Initiative - Solar Thermal Program
Single Family Residential Incentives:
Systems that displace natural gas: $29.85 per estimated therm displaced
Systems that displace electricity or propane: Funding has been exhausted
Commercial/Multifamily Incentives:
Systems that displace natural gas: $20.19 per estimated therm displaced
Systems that displace electricity or propane: $0.42 per estimated kWh displaced *** Note, funding has been exhausted in this category for SCE and PG&E
Solar Pool heating: $5.00 per estimated therm displaced
Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/
Solar incentives are intended to encourage people to switch their home over to renewable energy by providing financial incentives meant to lower the burden of solar panel installation and use. Incentives may include things like discounts, cash back or credit towards your monthly utility bill. Some incentives are provided by the federal government, while others are provided by the state of California or by your utility company, county or municipality. Some solar incentives you might qualify for are:
- Tax Exemptions: Tax exemptions can come in one of two forms. The first is sales tax exemption, which is applied when you purchase solar panels. The second is property tax exemption, which allows you to exclude the added value of your solar system when paying property tax on your home.
- Net Metering: You can sign a net metering contract with your Gilroy utility company. This agreement may apply to all or a percentage of the excess electricity that is generated by your solar panels. Your utility company will then subtract this value from your monthly utility bill.
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): SRECs and other performance-based incentives are generally handled at the state level. Once your solar system meets a predetermined threshold (generally a small amount of energy production), you can receive SRECs that can be sold to your utility company or other buyers. The money you receive is usually considered part of your taxable income.
- Tax Credits: Tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions (not deductions) in the amount of tax that you owe the federal government.
- Rebates: Solar rebates might be provided by your local utility company, or by your county or state. These rebates work as partial refunds that are applied after you pay for solar panels and before tax credits are calculated.
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Federal Solar Incentives
When someone says "solar incentives," you probably think of federal incentives first. The Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit, or ITC, is likely the most well-known federal solar incentive. The ITC offers a tax credit for a set percentage of your solar system's cost.
The ITC applies towards solar systems installed after January 1, 2006 and lets you deduct from your taxes a percentage of the total cost of solar panels, accessories, equipment and labor. This credit can apply towards a solar panel system installed on a primary or secondary residence that you own in the United States. The original claim amount was 30% of the total cost, although certain projects may qualify for only 26%, depending on the details. There is no maximum claim amount.
To understand exactly how much money the ITC could save you, contact your local Gilroy solar panel installer.
The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August 2022, expanded and extended the ITC (as well as retitling it the Clean Energy Credit). Homeowners can now qualify for a credit of 30% of the total costs of solar system installation for projects that began after January 1, 2022 and will be finished by the end of 2032. The percentage will then decrease yearly until the Clean Energy Credit expires in 2035. Starting in 2023, the expansion will also make credits for energy storage systems even easier to claim.
More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. The best way to learn more about how the new Clean Energy Credit will apply to you is to speak with your local Gilroy solar panel installation expert directly.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Rebates, tax credits and more might be claimed at multiple levels. On top of federal solar incentives, there are often state and local ones as well. These incentives might be distributed by your county or municipality, or by the California government. Some are available for a limited time, while others are ongoing.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Gilroy
Solar incentives can come from the federal government, the California government or your local utility company. The growing number of available incentives has facilitated the nationwide growth of solar energy use in the last 15 years. Getting in touch with your local Gilroy solar panel installation expert is the best first step towards making sure you get all the incentives you qualify for when you switch to solar energy.
EcoWatch's Gilroy, CA Solar Incentives FAQs
How can I find out if I qualify for specific solar incentives?
It's a good idea to talk to your local Gilroy solar installer for a better understanding of which incentives your project may qualify for. Typically, solar incentives apply to new solar panel systems installed on property you own (in the U.S.) within a specified date range. Some incentives, such as those provided at the level of the California government, may have other requirements.
How much can I save on my electric bill annually if I add solar panels to my Gilroy home?
When you add solar panels to your Gilroy home, you can expect to save around $1,764.67 per year, or around $33,528.72 over the next 20 years.
If I trade in my appliances for ones that can utilize solar energy, are there benefits I can claim?
Under the new Inflation Reduction Act, there are a number of new financial incentives for making eco-friendly improvements to your home. More details regarding these incentives, including information about incentives for purchasing new appliances, can be found here.
Can I claim incentives both towards the up-front cost of solar panels, and later as reimbursement?
The order in which incentives are applied may vary depending on which incentives you are claiming but usually yes, you can claim multiple types of incentives for your solar project. Get in touch with your solar installer or a local tax professional to confirm you are claiming all of the incentives you qualify for and applying them in the correct order.
Can I use solar and another type of renewable energy in combination to power my home?
You can use multiple types of renewable energy, or a combination of renewable and non-renewable energy, to power your home. Be sure to go over your plan with your local Gilroy solar installation expert. They can help you as you plan for your project and educate you on the various incentives that you might or might not qualify for.
Our goal is to reach as many people as we can with sensible solutions like solar energy. Our team of full-time local researchers collects solar price and installation data for every city in America then compiles it to create these digestible city guides. If you want to read our solar expert's opinion on the top solar companies featured here, follow this link.
Solar incentive research was conducted by Melissa Smith and Karsten Neumeister. Local data analysis was conducted by James Savino. See something we missed or could do better? Email the editor.