2024 Solar Incentives Guide for Grant, IL - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Grant.
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 Grant?
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/
The phrase "solar incentives" includes a wide 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. Incentives can include things like discounts, cash back or monthly utility bill credits. Some incentives are offered federally, while others are provided by the Illinois government or by your utility company, county or municipality. Some broad categories of solar incentives include:
- Tax Exemptions: These might come in the form of property tax exemptions, which would allow you to exclude the value added by your solar panels when calculating the taxes you pay on your house. They may also include exemptions on sales tax at the time of purchase.
- Tax Credits: Tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions that lower the amount of income tax you owe the federal government. (A tax credit is different from a tax deduction.)
- Net Metering: Be sure to speak with your Grant utility company about signing a net metering agreement. This will allow you to receive credit towards your utility bill every month 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): SRECs and similar performance-based incentives may be available to you if your solar system produces over a specified (typically small) amount of electricity. These types of incentives are generally handled at the state level. You can sell your SRECs to your utility company or other buyers, and the money you receive in return is typically considered part of your taxable income.
- Rebates: Rebates, or cash back after a purchase, are usually given before any solar tax credits are calculated. Solar rebates might be given by your local utility company, by your state or by your county.
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 kind of incentives that you are most likely to have heard of. You may have heard of the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit, or ITC. The ITC is a tax credit that reduces your taxes by a predetermined percentage of the money you spend installing solar panels.
The ITC applies to the value of solar panels installed on your primary or secondary residence in the United States. The solar panels have to have been installed after January 1, 2006, on a property owned by you for you to be eligible for the credit. Originally, the ITC covered 30% of all installation costs (panels, equipment, accessories and labor), although this amount has fluctuated slightly over the years between 26-30%. The installation date of your solar system will determine what percentage you are eligible for. There is no cap on the claim amount.
To best understand how the ITC will apply to your situation, get in touch with your local Grant solar panel installation expert and ask for more information.
The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August 2022, added more provisions to the ITC (as well as retitling it the Clean Energy Credit). Homeowners can now receive a credit equal to 30% of the total solar system installation costs for projects started after January 1, 2022, and completed before the end of 2032. This percentage will then decrease yearly until the Clean Energy Credit expires in 2035. The expansion also makes credits for energy storage systems even easier to claim, starting in 2023.
Click here to learn more about the new Inflation Reduction Act. To better understand how the new Clean Energy Credit might apply to you, get in touch with your local Grant solar installation company.
State & Local Solar Incentives
There are more than just federal solar incentives; rebates, tax credits and more might also be offered at the state and local level. These solar incentives — which may be provided by your county or municipality, or by the state of Illinois — might be offered on an ongoing basis, or for only a limited time.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Grant
There are a variety of solar incentives: those given by local utility companies, those given by the Illinois government and those provided by the federal government, to name a few. The use of solar energy has increased tremendously in the last 15 years, partially thanks to these incentives. Your local Grant solar panel installation expert can help you learn more about which incentives you should apply for, and get you feeling good about making the change to renewable energy today.
EcoWatch's Grant, IL Solar Incentives FAQs
What are the highest-rated solar panel installation companies near me?
To discover the best solar panel installation companies near you, read our article on Grant's top solar panel companies.
What are the environmental benefits of switching to solar?
Solar energy is renewable — by switching where you get your energy, you can help lessen the strain on our planet's resources. Solar panels can also lower your home's CO2 emissions by 450 pounds a year, or around 9,000 pounds over 20 years.
Can I qualify for incentives both towards the initial cost of solar panels, and later as reimbursement?
The order in which incentives are applied might vary depending on which incentives you receive but usually yes, you can receive multiple types of incentives for your solar project. Talk with your solar installer or a local tax professional to confirm you are claiming all possible incentives and applying them in the correct order.
Can I use multiple types of renewable energy to power my home?
You can use multiple types of renewable energy, or a combination of renewable and non-renewable energy, to power your home. Make sure you go over your plan with your local Grant solar installation expert. They can help you as you plan for your project and also help you understand the various incentives that you may or may not qualify for.
What if I add a solar system to a rental property, vacation home or commercial property? Can I still qualify for incentives?
While we recommend speaking with your local solar installer and/or tax professional to better understand what solar incentives apply to you, many incentives apply to a second home, so long as that home is in the United States and owned by you. There may be other incentives available specifically for commercial properties, depending on the specifics.
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.