2023 Solar Incentives Guide for Park Ridge, IL - Tax Credits & Rebates

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

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

Solar incentives are designed to mitigate the cost of installing a solar panel system on your home. These financial incentives are in place to encourage more homeowners to convert their home partially or fully to renewable energy. Incentives may include things like discounts, cash back or credit on your utility bill each month. Some incentives are handled federally, while others are handled by the Illinois government or your specific utility company, county or municipality. You might qualify for any of the following types of solar incentives:

• Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): In general, solar systems that produce over a threshold (usually small) amount of electricity will qualify for SRECs or similar performance-based incentives. SRECs and the like are typically offered at the state level. When you receive an SREC, you can sell it to your utility company or another buyer, and this is usually considered part of your taxable income.
• Rebates: Solar companies may help you claim a rebate, or partial refund after purchase, for your solar panels. States or counties will also sometimes offer limited-time rebates. The value of a rebate will usually be deducted from your total price before any tax credits are calculated.
• Tax Exemptions: Sales tax exemptions go into effect at the point of sale for your solar panels. Property tax exemptions let you exclude the added value of your solar system when you're calculating the amount of property tax you need to pay on your house.
• Tax Credits: Tax credits reduce, dollar-for-dollar, how much income tax you owe the government. Tax credits differ from tax deductions.
• Net Metering: Don't forget to speak to your Park Ridge 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 generated by your solar panels. You may receive either a dollar-for-dollar credit or a percentage of the value.

Best National Provider

SunPower

★★★★★

5.0

• Most efficient panels on the market
• National coverage
• Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
• Great warranty coverage
• Expensive
• Customer service varies by local dealer

Get Quote

Best Solar Financing

Blue Raven Solar

★★★★★

4.5

• Industry-leading in-house financing
• Competitive pricing
• Excellent reputation
• Doesn't offer solar batteries

Get Quote

Best Warranty Coverage

ADT Solar

★★★★★

4.0

• Industry-leading warranty coverage
• Expansive service area
• Some reported communication issues
• No leases or PPAs

Get Quote

Federal Solar Incentives

When people think of solar incentives, federal incentives might be the first thing that comes to mind. You might have heard of the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit, or ITC. This is a tax credit equal to a specified percentage of the money you spend installing solar panels.

The ITC applies to the value of a solar system installed on your primary or secondary residence in the United States. The solar system must have been installed after January 1, 2006 on a property owned by you for you to be eligible for the credit. The ITC originally paid out 30% of all system installation costs (panels, equipment, labor and accessories), although the amount has fluctuated slightly over the last few years between 26-30%. The amount you qualify for will depend on when your solar system was installed. There is no cap on the amount you can claim.

To better understand how the ITC will apply to you, contact your local Park Ridge solar panel installation expert and ask for more information.

The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August 2022, expanded and extended the ITC (as well as retitling it the Clean Energy Credit). The Clean Energy Credit is valid until 2035. Any solar installation project that is completed between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2032 may qualify for a 30% tax credit. The amount will be decreased slightly each year until the current program ends. The expansion to the program also makes it easier to get credit for energy storage systems, starting in 2023.

Click here to learn more about the new Inflation Reduction Act. The easiest way to fully understand how the new Clean Energy Credit applies to you is to speak with your local Park Ridge solar panel company directly.

State & Local Solar Incentives

There are often state solar incentives available in addition to federal ones. Tax credits, rebates and more may be available at a more local level. Incentives might be handled by the state of Illinois, or by your county or municipality. Some incentives are available for only a limited time, while others are ongoing.

Next Steps for Installing Solar in Park Ridge

There are many types of solar incentives: those provided by local utility companies, those provided by the Illinois government and those provided by the federal government, to name a few. Solar energy use has grown enormously in the last 15 years, partially due to these incentives. Talking to your local Park Ridge solar panel installer is an excellent first step towards getting the most money possible when you switch to solar energy.