2024 Solar Incentives Guide for Lehigh Acres, FL - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Lehigh Acres.
You'll learn about:
- Local & State Solar Incentives
- Federal Tax Credits (Updated for 2024 and beyond)
- Ways to optimize your solar investment
Solar installers are experts in maximizing your solar tax credits and rebates.
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What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Lehigh Acres?
Property Tax Abatement for Renewable Energy Property
Non-Residential: 80% of the added value
Florida PACE programs
Lakeland Electric - Residential Energy Efficiency Loan Program
Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/
Solar incentives are designed to encourage homeowners to make the switch to renewable energy by providing incentives meant to lower the financial burden of solar panel installation and use. Incentives could include things like discounts, cash back or monthly utility bill credits. Some incentives are handled federally, while others are handled by the state of Florida or your specific utility company, county or municipality. Categories of solar incentives include:
- Tax Exemptions: Sales tax exemptions are applied at the point of sale for your solar panels. Property tax exemptions allow you to ignore the value that your solar panels add when calculating how much property tax you need to pay on your home.
- Tax Credits: Tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions that lower the amount of income tax you owe the federal government. (This is different from a tax deduction.)
- Rebates: Solar rebates might be offered by your county or state, or by your local utility company. These rebates work as partial refunds that are applied after you purchase solar panels and before tax credits are calculated.
- Net Metering: Don't forget to speak with your Lehigh Acres utility company about signing a net metering agreement. This allows 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.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Federal Solar Incentives
Federal solar incentives are likely the first thing that comes to mind when you think about solar incentives. The Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit, or ITC, is the most well-known federal solar incentive. The ITC provides you with a tax credit for a specific percentage of your solar system's cost.
The ITC covers solar systems installed after January 1, 2006, and allows you to deduct from your taxes a percentage of the total cost of solar panels, labor, equipment and accessories. You can claim this credit for 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 more fully understand how the ITC could apply to your situation, speak to your local Lehigh Acres solar panel installer and ask for more information.
The ITC was both renewed and expanded by the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in August 2022. It's also now called the Clean Energy Credit. For solar system installations that begin after January 1, 2022, and are completed by the end of 2032, homeowners can apply for a credit equal to 30% of the total cost. The percentage will then decrease annually until the Clean Energy Credit ends in 2035. Starting in 2023, the program 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. Your local Lehigh Acres solar panel company can answer your questions and explain how the new Clean Energy Credit will apply to you.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Some solar incentives may be provided by state and local governments. Like with federal incentives, these can include tax credits, rebates and more. These incentives may be offered by your county or municipality, or by the Florida government. Some incentives may be ongoing, while others are available for a limited time.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Lehigh Acres
You can receive solar incentives from the Florida government and the federal government, as well as from your local utility company. Growing availability of solar initiatives in the past 15 years has helped increase nationwide solar energy use enormously. We suggest talking to your local Lehigh Acres solar installation company for more information about these incentives and to make sure that you're getting all the money you can for your solar panels.
EcoWatch's Lehigh Acres, FL Solar Incentives FAQs
I already have solar panels. Do I qualify for any incentives?
You should plan to talk to the company that installed your system – or call a local Lehigh Acres solar installer — to better understand which incentives you may qualify for. If your solar panels were installed after January 1, 2022, you likely qualify for the recently 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 adding solar panels to my house?
You can decrease your carbon footprint by 450 pounds of CO2 a year by installing solar panels. This adds up to roughly 9,000 pounds in 20 years. Solar is also a renewable energy source, meaning that switching your home over lessens the drain on our planet's resources.
How long until the federal solar tax credit ends?
The Clean Energy Credit (previously called the federal solar tax credit, or the ITC), is scheduled to end on January 1, 2035. Currently set at 30%, the credit will drop to 26% in 2033 and to 22% in 2034.
I want to trade in my old appliances for ones that are more energy-efficient. Are there any incentives I can get?
The new Inflation Reduction Act includes provisions for multiple incentives designed to reward homeowners who make 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.
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.