2025 Solar Incentives Guide for Bithlo, FL - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Bithlo.
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 Bithlo?
Florida PACE programs
Property Tax Abatement for Renewable Energy Property
Non-Residential: 80% of the added value
Lakeland Electric - Residential Energy Efficiency Loan Program
Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/
The phrase "solar incentives" covers a range of financial incentives implemented to make installing and using solar panels more affordable. This is done to encourage people to switch to renewable energy. These incentives can include upfront discounts, cash back or monthly credits towards your utility bill. Some incentives are handled by the federal government, some by the Florida government and some by your utility company, county or municipality. You might qualify for any of the following types of solar incentives:
- Tax Exemptions: Tax exemptions may come in one of two forms. First, there is sales tax exemption, applied at the time you purchase your solar panels. The second is property tax exemption. This allows you to ignore the value added by your solar system when calculating property tax for your home.
- Tax Credits: These credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions (not deductions) in how much income tax you owe the government.
- Net Metering: Be sure to speak with your Bithlo utility company about signing a net metering agreement. This allows you to receive credit towards your utility bill every month for the value of excess energy your solar panels generate. You could receive either a dollar-for-dollar credit or a percentage of the value.
- Rebates: Solar rebates can be offered by your state or county, or by your local utility company. These rebates are essentially partial refunds that are applied after you pay for solar panels and before tax credits are calculated.
Federal Solar Incentives
Federal incentives are the type of incentives that you are most likely to have heard of. The solar incentive that you're most likely to have heard of is the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which gives you a credit on your taxes equal to a predetermined percentage of your solar system's cost.
The ITC was originally for 30% of the cost of solar panel installation, and has fluctuated slightly over the last few years between 26-30%. The percentage you qualify for will depend on when your solar system was installed. The total installation cost includes the panels themselves as well as the cost of labor, equipment and accessories. There is no maximum claim amount. The ITC applies to solar systems installed after January 1, 2006, on your primary or secondary residence. The residence must be in the United States and owned by you.
To best understand how the ITC might apply to you, contact your local Bithlo solar panel installation expert and request more information.
In August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act made revisions to the ITC, now referred to as the Clean Energy Credit. The new Clean Energy Credit now runs until 2035. You are now eligible for a 30% credit for solar systems installed between 2022 and 2032. This new credit will then be decreased by a few percentage points every year until it expires. 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. To better understand how the new Clean Energy Credit applies to you, reach out to your local Bithlo solar installation expert.
State & Local Solar Incentives
There are more than just federal solar incentives; rebates, tax credits and more are often offered at the state and local level. Incentives may be offered by your county or municipality, or by the state of Florida. Certain incentives may be available for only a limited time, while others are ongoing.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Bithlo
You can apply for solar incentives from the Florida government and the federal government, as well as from your local utility company. This increase in availability of solar initiatives over the last 15 years has helped greatly increase nationwide adoption of solar energy. Contact your local solar panel installation expert today to discover more about the various programs and to save the most money possible on solar panels for your Bithlo home.
EcoWatch's Bithlo, FL Solar Incentives FAQs
If my house already has solar panels, can I still claim incentives?
An excellent idea would be to talk to someone from the company that installed your solar panels – or get in touch with a local Bithlo solar installer — to learn about which incentives you might qualify for. If your solar panels were installed after January 1, 2022, you likely qualify for the newly increased 30% tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. Solar systems installed between 2006 and 2021 may qualify for a tax credit of 26-30%.
What are some environmental benefits of installing solar panels on my home?
Solar energy is a renewable energy source — by switching where you get your energy, you help lessen the strain on our planet's resources. Solar panels can also reduce the CO2 emissions from your home by 450 pounds annually, or roughly 9,000 pounds over 20 years.
How long until the federal solar tax credit ends?
The Clean Energy Credit (formerly named the federal solar tax credit, or ITC), currently ends on January 1, 2035. Currently set at 30%, the credit will drop to 26% in 2033 and to 22% in 2034.
I want to change out my appliances for ones that are more energy-efficient. Are there any incentives I can claim?
The new Inflation Reduction Act introduces several incentives designed to reward homeowners for making eco-friendly upgrades. Some of these incentives include tax credits and rebates for installing new electric appliances. You can find more details about these incentives here.
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.