2025 Solar Incentives Guide for Nipomo, CA - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Nipomo.
You'll learn about:
- Local & State Solar Incentives
- Federal Tax Credits (Updated for 2024 and beyond)
- Ways to optimize your solar investment
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What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Nipomo?
Property Tax Exclusion for Solar Energy Systems and Solar Plus Storage System
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 meant to encourage homeowners to switch to renewable energy by offering financial incentives that lower the burden of solar panel installation and use. Incentives may include things like discounts, cash back or credit on your utility bill each month. Some incentives are offered federally, while others are offered by the state of California or by your utility company, county or municipality. Some broad categories of solar incentives include:
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): SRECs and other performance-based incentives are typically handled at the state level. Once your solar panel system meets a certain threshold (typically a small amount of energy production), you are eligible to receive SRECs that you can then sell to your utility company or other buyers. The money you receive is usually considered part of your taxable income.
- Tax Exemptions: These could come in the form of property tax exemptions, which would allow you to ignore the value of your solar system when paying taxes on your house. You could also look for exemptions on sales tax at the time of purchase.
- Rebates: A rebate is a partial refund credited to your account after you've paid for your solar system. Rebates may be offered by your local utility company, your county or your state. The rebates are usually applied before calculating tax credits.
- Tax Credits: Tax credits reduce, dollar-for-dollar, how much income tax you owe the federal government. Tax credits are different from tax deductions.
- Net Metering: Net metering factors in after your solar panels are up and running. If you have a net metering agreement with your Nipomo utility company, they will subtract the value of the excess energy produced by your solar system from your utility bill each month. In some locations, this is a dollar-for-dollar credit, while in others you might receive a refund equivalent to a percentage of the value.
Federal Solar Incentives
When thinking about solar incentives, federal incentives may be the first thing that comes to mind. It's likely that you've heard of the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit, or ITC. This incentive is a tax credit that reduces your taxes by a specified percentage of the money you spend on solar panels for your home.
The ITC can be applied to solar systems installed after January 1, 2006, and under this program you can deduct from your taxes a percentage of the total cost of solar panels, accessories, labor and equipment. You can receive this credit for solar panels installed on a primary or secondary residence that you own in the United States. Originally, you could claim 30% of the total cost, although certain projects may qualify for only 26%, depending on the details. There is no maximum claim amount.
Your local Nipomo solar panel installer can provide more information about the ITC and how it might apply to your situation.
The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August 2022, added more provisions to the ITC (as well as retitling it the Clean Energy Credit). The Clean Energy Credit re-raises the credit up to 30% for solar systems installed between 2022 and 2032. After this, the credit percentage will decrease slightly each year until the program expires in 2035. The expansion to the program also makes it easier to get credit for energy storage systems, starting in 2023.
More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. Your local Nipomo solar panel company can answer your questions and explain how the new Clean Energy Credit may apply to you.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Federal solar incentives are not your only option; rebates, tax credits and more might also be offered at the state and local level. Some incentives are ongoing, while others are offered for only a limited time. These local incentives might come from your county or municipality, or from the California government.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Nipomo
Solar incentives may be provided by your local utility company, the California government or the federal government. The growing number of available solar incentives has facilitated the nationwide growth of solar energy use in the last 15 years. It is a good idea to talk to your local Nipomo solar installer for more information about these incentives and to ensure that you're getting the largest number possible for your solar panels.
EcoWatch's Nipomo, CA Solar Incentives FAQs
How can I find out if I qualify for specific solar incentives?
Typically, solar incentives apply to:
- a new solar panel system
- installed on property that you own
- within the U.S.
- within the date range specified by a particular incentive.
Specific incentives, including ones handled by the California government or by your county/municipality, might have additional qualifications. Get in touch with your local Nipomo solar installer to learn more about what incentives your project may qualify for.
If I already have a solar system installed on my house, can I still claim incentives?
An excellent idea would be to talk to the company that installed your system – or speak to a local Nipomo solar installer — to learn about which incentives you may qualify for. If your system was installed after January 1, 2022, you likely qualify for the recently increased 30% tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. Systems installed between 2006 and 2021 may qualify for a tax credit of 26-30%.
When does the federal solar tax credit end?
The federal solar tax credit, previously called the ITC and now called the Clean Energy Credit, is set to end January 1, 2035. The current 30% credit will end in 2032, replaced by a 26% credit in 2033 and a 22% credit in 2034.
Can I qualify for incentives both towards the up-front cost of solar panels, and later as reimbursement?
Yes, you can receive both rebates and tax credits towards the cost of solar panels. Depending on which incentives you are applying for, they may apply in a different order. Make sure that you talk to your solar installer or a local tax professional to verify that you are claiming incentives correctly and that you're getting the most money you can.
Can I use multiple types of renewable energy to power my home?
Yes, you can utilize multiple types of renewable energy to power your home, such as a combination of geothermal and solar. You can also use both renewable energy sources and a non-renewable backup source of energy. Make sure that you discuss your plan with your local Nipomo solar panel installer, to get an understanding of what will be needed and what incentives you might or might not qualify for.
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