2023 Solar Incentives Guide for Walnut Park, CA - Tax Credits & Rebates

In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Walnut Park.

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.
Get a free quote from one of our trusted Walnut Park solar installers to see how much you can save.

By EcoWatch Local Advisors

Data Analysis: James Savino

Ranking Methodology: Karsten Neumeister

Updated May 04, 2023

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We work with a panel of solar experts to create unbiased reviews that empower you to make the right choice for your home. No other site has covered renewables as long as us, which means we have more data and insider information than other sites. Our rankings are never affected by revenue or partnerships.

What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Walnut Park?

Property Tax Exclusion for Solar Energy Systems and Solar Plus Storage System

Incentive Type:
Property Tax Incentive
100% of system value; 75% of system value exemption for dual-use equipment

Western Riverside Council of Governments - Home Energy Renovation Opportunity (HERO) Financing Program

Incentive Type:
PACE Financing
Eligible products can be financed for up to 25 years, depending on the useful life of the eligible product.
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

Incentive Type:
PACE Financing
Locally determined

Self-Generation Incentive Program

Incentive Type:
Rebate Program
For projects 30 kW or larger, 50% of incentive will be received up-front; 50% will be received based on actual kWh production over the first 5 years. For projects under 30kW, 100% of the incentive will be paid up front.
Incentives will step down over time. See below for incentive amounts.

Renewable Market Adjusting Tariff (ReMAT)

Incentive Type:
Feed-in Tariff

LADWP - Feed-in Tariff (FiT) Program

Incentive Type:
Feed-in Tariff
$0.17/kWh adjusted by a time of delivery multiplier
Base price will step down over time as certain MW goals are met

California Solar Initiative - Solar Thermal Program

Incentive Type:
Rebate Program
Step 1 Incentive Rates (contact utility to determine current incentive levels):
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

Incentive Type:
Personal Tax Credit
30% federal tax credit for systems placed in service after 12/31/2021 and before 01/01/2033. Good for: solar water heat, solar photovoltaics, biomass, geothermal heat pumps, wind (small), fuel cells using renewable fuels.

Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/


Solar incentives encourage homeowners to make the switch to renewable energy by offering financial incentives meant to lower the burden of solar panel installation and use. Different kinds of incentives, including discounts, cash back or monthly utility bill credits, might be available to you. Some incentives may be handled by the California government, by your utility company or by county or municipality, while others are federal. Types of solar incentives might include:

  • Rebates: Solar rebates can be offered by your local utility company, or by your county or state. These rebates work as cash back that is applied after you purchase a solar system and before tax credits are calculated.
  • Net Metering: Don't forget to speak to your Walnut Park utility company about signing a net metering agreement. This will allow you to get a credit towards your utility bill every month for the value of excess energy generated by your solar panels. You could receive either a dollar-for-dollar credit or a percentage of the value.
  • Tax Credits: Different from tax deductions, tax credits reduce, dollar-for-dollar, the amount of income tax that you owe the government.
  • Tax Exemptions: These could come in the form of property tax exemptions, which let you exclude the value of your solar system when paying property tax on your home. You could also look for exemptions on sales tax at the time of purchase.
  • Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): SRECs and other similar performance-based incentives are generally handled by your state government. Once your solar system meets the qualification threshold (normally a small amount of energy production), you can receive SRECs that can be sold to your utility company or other buyers. The money you make is usually considered part of your taxable income.

Federal Solar Incentives

Federal incentives are the kind of incentives that you are most likely to have some familiarity with. A federal incentive that most people are likely to be familiar with is the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). This incentive is a tax credit for a certain percentage of your solar system's cost.

The ITC applies towards 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, labor, accessories and equipment. This credit can be claimed on a solar panel system installed on a primary or secondary residence in the United States that you own. 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.

To know exactly how much the ITC could save you, get in touch with your local Walnut Park solar panel installer.

The ITC was renewed and increased in scope after the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in August 2022. It's also now called the Clean Energy Credit. The new Clean Energy Credit is valid until 2035. American homeowners can now receive a 30% credit for solar systems installed between 2022 and 2032. The total credit will then decrease annually until it expires. Starting in 2023, it will also be easier to get credits for energy storage systems with the new act.

More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. Your local Walnut Park solar panel company can answer any questions you have and explain how the new Clean Energy Credit applies to you.

State & Local Solar Incentives

Rebates, tax credits and more can be provided at multiple levels. Along with federal solar incentives, there are often state and local ones as well. Certain incentives are offered for only a limited time, while others are ongoing. These local incentives could come from your county or municipality, or from the California government.

Next Steps for Installing Solar in Walnut Park

There are many kinds of solar incentives: those given by local utility companies, those given by the California government and those given by the federal government, to name a few. Solar energy use has increased tremendously in the last 15 years, partially due to these incentives. Reach out to your local solar panel installation expert today to find out more information and to save the most money possible on a solar system for your Walnut Park home.

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EcoWatch's Walnut Park, CA Solar Incentives FAQs

Can I claim incentives for adding solar panels to a vacation home, rental property or commercial property?

While we recommend speaking with your local solar installer and/or tax professional to fully understand what solar incentives apply to you, many can be claimed on a second home, as long as it is in the United States and owned by you. There may be other incentives available for commercial properties specifically, depending on the specifics.

If my house already has solar panels, can I still claim incentives?

If your solar system was installed after January 1, 2022, you may qualify for the recently increased 30% tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. If you installed your system between 2006 and 2021, you may qualify for a tax credit between 26% and 30%, depending on the exact installation date. Reaching out to the company that installed your solar system, or any local Walnut Park solar installer, can help you understand what incentives you can apply for.

How much can I save on my electric bill annually if I add solar panels to my house in Walnut Park?

After adding solar panels to your house in Walnut Park, you can expect to save around $1,284.26 per year, or around $24,400.88 over the next 20 years.

What are some of the environmental benefits of switching to solar energy?

Solar energy is renewable — by changing where you get your energy, you help lessen the strain on our planet's resources. Solar panels can also lower your home's CO2 emissions by 250 pounds annually, or around 5,000 pounds over 20 years.

When does the federal solar tax credit end?

The federal solar tax credit, formerly known as the ITC and now called the Clean Energy Credit, is scheduled to end on January 1, 2035. The current 30% credit will end in 2032, replaced by a 26% credit in 2033 and a 22% credit in 2034.

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.

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