2024 Solar Incentives Guide for Carpentersville, IL - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Carpentersville.
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 Carpentersville?
Special Assessment for Solar Energy Systems
ComEd - Energy Efficiency Program for Residential
Air Purifier: $50
Clothes Washer: $50
Dehumidifier: $50
Electric Clothes Dryer: $50
Freezer: $50
Refrigerator: $50
Room Air Conditioner: $25
Refrigerator/Freezer Recycling: Free pickup and $50, plus an additional $10 if recycling a room A/C at the same time
Heating & Cooling
Air Source Heat Pump: $400 - $600
Central A/C: $300 - $600
Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pump: $400
Geothermal Heat Pump: Up to $6,000/home
Furnace Blower Motor (ECM): $50 - $100
Miscellaneous
Advanced Power Strip: $10
Air Sealing: Up to $400/home
Attic Insulation: Up to $300/home
Duct Sealing: Up to $500/home
Lighting: In-store discounts, varies
Pool Pump: $275
Smart Thermostat: $100
Wall Insulation: Up to $400/home
Solar Renewable Energy Credits
Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/
Solar incentives mitigate the cost of installing solar panels on your home. This category of financial incentives is in place to encourage more homeowners to switch their home over to renewable energy. Incentives could include things like discounts, cash back or monthly utility bill credits. Some incentives are offered by the federal government, while others are offered by the Illinois government or by your utility company, county or municipality. Some broad categories of solar incentives include:
- Tax Credits: Tax credits reduce, dollar-for-dollar, how much income tax you owe the federal government. Tax credits differ from tax deductions.
- Net Metering: Be sure to talk with your Carpentersville utility company about signing a net metering contract. This allows you to receive credit towards your monthly utility bill for the value of excess energy your solar panels generate. You may receive either a dollar-for-dollar credit or a percentage of the value.
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): Typically, solar systems that produce more than a specified (usually small) amount of electricity can qualify for SRECs or similar performance-based incentives. SRECs and similar incentives are typically provided by your state government. You can sell SRECs to your utility company or another buyer, and this is usually considered part of your taxable income.
- Rebates: Rebates, or cash back after a purchase, are typically given before any solar tax credits are calculated. Solar rebates might be provided by your local utility company, by your county or by your state.
- Tax Exemptions: Your solar system might qualify for exemptions on both sales and property tax. Sales tax exemptions come into effect at the time of purchase. Property tax exemptions let you ignore the value added by your solar panels when calculating property taxes on your house.
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 for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Federal Solar Incentives
Federal incentives are the type of incentives that you are most likely to have some familiarity with. The solar incentive that you're most likely to have heard of is the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which provides a credit on your taxes equal to a certain percentage of your solar system's cost.
The ITC covers 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 apply towards a solar panel system installed on a primary or secondary residence that you own in the United States. The original amount you could claim was 30% of the total cost, although the amount you can claim may range between 26-30%. There is no maximum amount you can claim.
To find out exactly how much money the ITC could save you, contact your local Carpentersville solar panel installer.
The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August 2022, made some changes to the ITC (as well as retitling it the Clean Energy Credit). The new Clean Energy Credit is valid until 2035. Homeowners can now apply 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 the date of expiration. The program expansion also makes credits for energy storage systems even easier to claim, beginning in 2023.
Click here to learn more about the new Inflation Reduction Act. To fully understand how the new Clean Energy Credit might apply to you, reach out to your local Carpentersville solar installation company.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Not all solar incentives are federal; tax credits, rebates and more are often offered at the local or state level. Incentives may be offered by the state of Illinois, or by your county or municipality. Some incentives may be available for only a limited time, while others are ongoing.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Carpentersville
There are a number of different solar incentives: those provided by local utility companies, those offered by the federal government and those provided by the Illinois government, to name a few. Solar energy use has increased tremendously in the last 15 years, partially thanks to these incentives. Your local Carpentersville solar panel installation company can help you learn more about which incentives you may qualify for, and get you feeling good about making the change to renewable energy today.
EcoWatch's Carpentersville, IL Solar Incentives FAQs
If I already have solar panels, can I still claim incentives?
If your solar panels were 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 might qualify for a tax credit between 26% and 30%, depending on the date of installation. Talking to the company that installed your system, or any local Carpentersville solar installer, can help you learn more about what incentives you can apply for.
What are the environmental benefits of switching to solar energy?
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 lower the CO2 emissions from your home by 450 pounds yearly, or around 9,000 pounds in 20 years.
I want to change out my appliances for ones that are more energy-efficient. Are there any credits I can apply for?
The new Inflation Reduction Act creates several new financial incentives to encourage you to make 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 apply for incentives both towards the up-front cost of solar panels, and later as reimbursement?
Yes, you can receive both tax credits and rebates towards the cost of solar panels. Depending on precisely which incentives you are eligible for, they may apply in a different order. Be sure to speak with your solar installer or a local tax professional to verify that you are claiming the correct incentives and getting the most money possible.
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.