2023 Solar Incentives Guide for Lafayette, IN - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Lafayette.
You'll learn about:
- Local & State Solar Incentives
- Federal Tax Credits (Updated for 2023 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 Lafayette solar installers to see how much you can save.
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Updated March 14, 2023
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What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Lafayette?
Renewable Energy Property Tax Exemption
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
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
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
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
Duke Energy - Residential and Builder Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
Heat Pump Water Heater: $350
Attic Insulation and Air Sealing: $250/unit
Duct Sealing: $100/unit
Variable Speed Pool Pump: $300
Tipmont REMC - Energy Efficiency Equipment Rebate Program
Nest Thermostat: up to $50
Electric Water Heater: $50 - $100
Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/
Solar incentives are designed to encourage people to switch their home over to renewable energy by providing financial incentives that lower the burden of solar panel installation and use. Solar incentives might include upfront discounts, cash back or monthly credits towards your utility bill. Some incentives are handled by the federal government, some by the state of Indiana and some by your utility company, county or municipality. Some broad categories of solar incentives include:
- Tax Exemptions: Sales tax exemptions go into effect at the time of purchase for your solar panels. Property tax exemptions allow you to ignore the added value of your solar system when you're calculating the amount of property tax you need to pay on your home.
- Tax Credits: Tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions (not deductions) in how much income tax you owe the federal government.
- Rebates: A rebate is a partial refund given after you've purchased your solar panels. Rebates might be offered by your local utility company, your county or your state. The discount that rebates offer is normally applied to the price of solar panels before calculating tax credits.
- Net Metering: You may be able to sign a net metering agreement with your Lafayette utility company that will apply to all or a percentage of the excess electricity your solar panels generate. Your utility company will then subtract this value from your monthly utility bill.
Federal Solar Incentives
When thinking about solar incentives, federal incentives might be the first thing that comes to mind. A federal incentive that most people are probably familiar with is the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). The ITC is a tax credit for a certain percentage of the cost of your solar system.
The ITC applies to the total cost of installing a solar system, including the panels themselves as well as labor, accessories and equipment. You can claim this credit for panels installed after January 1, 2006 on a primary or secondary residence that you own, as long as it 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.
Reaching out to your local Lafayette solar panel installer is the best way to learn more about how the ITC applies to you.
The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August 2022, expanded and extended the ITC (as well as renaming it to the Clean Energy Credit). Homeowners can now qualify for 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. The percentage will then begin to decrease yearly until the Clean Energy Credit ends in 2035. The program expansion also makes claiming credit for energy storage systems easier than ever before, beginning in 2023.
More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. To understand how the new Clean Energy Credit will apply to you, talk to your local Lafayette solar installers.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Rebates, tax credits and more might be provided at multiple levels. In addition to federal solar incentives, there are often state and local ones, too. Certain incentives are ongoing, while others are only available for a limited time. Incentives may be provided by your county or municipality, or by the Indiana government.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Lafayette
The variety of available solar incentives has contributed greatly to the increase in the use of solar power nationwide over the last 15 years. You may receive solar incentives from your local utility company, the federal government or the Indiana government. Your local Lafayette solar panel installer can help you learn more about which incentives you may qualify for, and get you started on the path to switching to renewable energy today.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
EcoWatch's Lafayette, IN Solar Incentives FAQs
How much can I save annually on my electric bill if I add solar panels to my house in Lafayette?
After adding solar panels to your Lafayette home, you can expect to save around $913.14 per year, or around $17,349.57 over 20 years.
What are some environmental benefits of installing solar panels on my home?
You can lower your carbon footprint by 450 pounds of CO2 annually by switching to solar panels. This adds up to around 9,000 pounds over 20 years. In addition, solar power is a renewable energy source, meaning that making the switch reduces the drain on our planet's resources.
If I switch my appliances out for ones that use solar energy, are there credits that I can claim?
The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act includes provisions for several incentives designed to reward homeowners for making 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.
Can I use both solar and another type of renewable energy to power my home?
Yes, you can employ multiple types of renewable energy to power your home, such as a combination of wind and solar. You can also combine renewable energy generation with a non-renewable backup source of energy. You should discuss the details of your plan with your local Lafayette solar panel installer, so that you understand what you'll need and what incentives you may or may not qualify for.
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.