2024 Solar Incentives Guide for Cedar Lake, IN - Tax Credits & Rebates

In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Cedar Lake.

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.
Get a free quote from one of our trusted Cedar Lake solar installers to see how much you can save.

By EcoWatch Local Advisors

Data Analysis: James Savino

Ranking Methodology: Karsten Neumeister

Updated June 24, 2024

Why you can trust EcoWatch

We work with a panel of solar experts to create unbiased reviews that empower you to make the right choice for your home. No other site has covered renewables as long as us, which means we have more data and insider information than other sites. Our rankings are never affected by revenue or partnerships.

What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Cedar Lake?

Renewable Energy Property Tax Exemption

Incentive Type:
Property Tax Incentive
Solar energy systems used for heating or cooling: out-of-pocket expenditures by the owner for the components and labor
Wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, solar thermal, solar PV, and other solar energy systems: the assessed value of the system

Noble REMC - Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Incentives

Incentive Type:
Rebate Program
Dual Fuel Heat Pump: $500
Variable Speed Pool Pump: $250
Air-Source Heat Pump: $250-$750
Ground Source Heat Pump: $1500
Heat Pump Water Heater: $400

Wabash Valley Power Association (28 Member Cooperatives) - Residential Energy Efficiency Program

Incentive Type:
Rebate Program
Dual Fuel Heat Pump: $500
Variable Speed Pool Pump: $250
Air-Source Heat Pump: $250 - $750
Geothermal Heat Pump: $1,500
Heat Pump Water Heater: $400/unit
HVAC: Varies depending on ZIP code. See program website

NIPSCO - Feed-In Tariff

Incentive Type:
Feed-in Tariff
Wind 3 - 10 kW: $0.23 - $0.25/kWh
Wind 10 kW-200 kW: $0.15 - $0.138/kWh
Solar 5 kW - 10 kW: $0.17 - $0.1564/kWh
Solar 10 - 200 kW: $0.15/kWh - $0.138/kWh
Biomass 100kW - 1 MW: $0.0918/kWh

Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit

Incentive Type:
Personal Tax Credit
30% federal tax credit for systems placed in service after 12/31/2021 and before 01/01/2033. Good for: solar water heat, solar photovoltaics, biomass, geothermal heat pumps, wind (small), fuel cells using renewable fuels.

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


Solar incentives help mitigate the cost of installing solar panels on your home. These financial incentives are designed to encourage more homeowners to switch their home over to renewable energy. Incentives may include things like discounts, cash back or credit on your utility bill each month. Some incentives are offered by the federal government, while others are offered by the state of Indiana or by your specific utility company, county or municipality. Categories of solar incentives include:

  • Net Metering: Net metering becomes relevant once your solar panels are up and running. If you have a net metering agreement in place with your Cedar Lake utility company, the company will subtract the value of the excess energy produced by your solar system from your monthly utility bill. In some places, this is a dollar-for-dollar credit, while in other areas you might make back a percentage of the value.
  • Tax Credits: Tax credits decrease, dollar-for-dollar, the amount of income tax you owe the federal government. These are different from tax deductions.
  • Rebates: Rebates, or cash back after a purchase, are usually applied before any solar tax credits are calculated. These rebates may be offered by your local utility company, by your state or by your county.
  • Tax Exemptions: These could come in the form of property tax exemptions, which allow you to ignore the value added by your solar panels when paying taxes on your home. They may also include exemptions on sales tax at the time of purchase.
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Federal Solar Incentives

When someone says "solar incentives," you likely think of federal incentives first. It's likely that you've heard of the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit, or ITC. This is a tax credit that reduces your taxes by a predetermined percentage of the money you spend on your solar system.

The ITC is applied to the total cost of installing a solar system, including the panels themselves as well as equipment, accessories and labor. This credit can be claimed for panels installed after January 1, 2006, on a primary or secondary residence that you own and that is located in the United States. From its original value of 30% of the total cost, the credit has fluctuated slightly between 26-30%, and you may qualify for varying percentages depending on when your project was completed. There is no maximum amount you can claim.

To best understand how the ITC could apply to your situation, get in touch with your local Cedar Lake solar panel installation expert and request more information.

In August 2022, the ITC (now referred to as the Clean Energy Credit) was bolstered by the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. Homeowners can now receive a credit of 30% of the total solar system installation costs for projects that began after January 1, 2022, and will be finished by the end of 2032. The percentage will then decrease on a yearly basis until the Clean Energy Credit expires in 2035. The expansion to the program 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. The best way to learn more about how the new Clean Energy Credit applies to you is to reach out to your local Cedar Lake solar panel company with your questions.

State & Local Solar Incentives

Rebates, tax credits and more might be claimed at multiple levels. On top of federal solar incentives, there are often state and local ones, too. Incentives may be handled by your county or municipality, or by the state of Indiana. Some incentives are available for only a limited time, while others are ongoing.

Next Steps for Installing Solar in Cedar Lake

You can receive solar incentives from the federal government and the Indiana government, as well as from your local utility company. Growing availability of solar initiatives over the last 15 years has helped increase nationwide solar energy use enormously. Your local Cedar Lake solar panel installer can give you more information about which incentives you may qualify for, and get you on track to switch to renewable energy today.

EcoWatch's Cedar Lake, IN Solar Incentives FAQs

How can I find out if I qualify for solar incentives?

Typically, solar incentives apply to:

  1. a new solar system
  2. installed on property you own
  3. within the U.S.
  4. within the date range specified by a particular incentive.

Specific incentives, including ones handled by the Indiana government or by your county/municipality, could have additional qualifications. Talk to your local Cedar Lake solar installer to learn more about what incentives your project will qualify for.

How much can I save on my electric bill annually if I install solar panels on my Cedar Lake home?

After adding solar panels to your house in Cedar Lake, you can anticipate savings of approximately $1,041.48 per year, or about $19,788.07 over 20 years.

Who installs solar panels near me?

To learn about the top solar panel installation companies near you, take a look at our article on Cedar Lake's top solar panel companies.

When does the federal solar tax credit end?

The Clean Energy Credit (formerly called the federal solar tax credit, or ITC), is slated to end on January 1, 2035. Currently set at 30%, the credit will drop to 26% in 2033 and to 22% in 2034.

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.

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