2024 Solar Incentives Guide for Garden City, KS - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Garden City.
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 Garden City?
Renewable Energy Property Tax Exemption
Wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, solar thermal, solar PV, and other solar energy systems: the assessed value of the system
Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/
Solar incentives are intended to encourage homeowners to switch to renewable energy by offering incentives meant to lower the financial burden of solar panel installation and use. Different kinds of incentives, like discounts, cash back or credit towards your monthly utility bill, might be available to you. Some incentives may be provided via the Kansas government, by your utility company or by county or municipality, while others are federal. You might qualify for any of the following types of solar incentives:
- Net Metering: Net metering becomes relevant after your solar panels are up and running. If you have in place a net metering agreement with your Garden City utility company, it will subtract the value of the excess energy produced by your solar system from your utility bill each month. In some places, this credit is dollar-for-dollar, while in other places you might receive a refund equivalent to a percentage of the value.
- Tax Exemptions: Your solar panel system could qualify for both sales tax and property tax exemptions. Sales tax exemptions are effective at the time of purchase. Property tax exemptions allow you to ignore the value that solar panels add when you are calculating property taxes on your home.
- Tax Credits: These credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions (not deductions) in how much income tax you owe the government.
- Rebates: Rebates, or cash back after a purchase, are usually applied prior to any solar tax credits being calculated. Solar rebates might be given by your local utility company, by your county or by your state.
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 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
Federal Solar Incentives
When thinking about solar incentives, federal incentives are likely the first thing that comes to mind. The Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit, or ITC, is probably the most commonly known federal solar incentive. The ITC offers a tax credit for a predetermined percentage of your solar system's cost.
The ITC can be applied to solar systems installed after January 1, 2006, on a primary or secondary residence that you own in the United States. Initially, the credit applied to 30% of the total cost – for panels, accessories, equipment and labor – although that amount may range from 26-30%, depending on the installation date of your solar system. There is no cap on the amount you can claim.
Your local Garden City solar panel installation expert can provide more information about the ITC and how it may apply to your situation.
In August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act laid out new provisions for the ITC, now dubbed the Clean Energy Credit. For solar system installations that begin after January 1, 2022, and are completed by the end of 2032, homeowners can receive a credit for 30% of the total cost. After 2033, the percentage will decrease annually until the Clean Energy Credit ends in 2035. Starting in 2023, the expansion will also make credits for energy storage systems even easier to claim.
More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. Your local Garden City solar panel installers are the best people to answer your questions about the new Clean Energy Credit and how it will apply to you.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Some solar incentives are often also offered at the local or state level. Similar to federal incentives, these might include rebates, tax credits and more. These incentives may be handled by your county or municipality, or by the Kansas government. Certain incentives are available for a limited time, while others are ongoing.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Garden City
Solar incentives can come from the Kansas government, the federal government or your local utility company. The variety of incentives available has facilitated the nationwide growth of solar energy use in the last 15 years. Your local Garden City solar panel installation expert can help you learn more about which incentives you can apply for, and get you feeling good about making the change to renewable energy today.
EcoWatch's Garden City, KS Solar Incentives FAQs
I already have solar panels. Do I qualify for any incentives?
An excellent idea would be to talk to a representative from the company that installed your solar system – or reach out to a local Garden City solar installer — to clarify which incentives you may qualify for. If your solar panels were installed after January 1, 2022, you likely qualify for the recently increased 30% tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. Systems installed between 2006 and 2021 may qualify for a tax credit of 26-30%.
Who installs solar panels near me?
To find a top-rated solar panel installer, check out our guide to the top solar companies in Garden City.
How long until the federal solar tax credit ends?
The federal solar tax credit, previously called the ITC and now called the Clean Energy Credit, is slated to end on January 1, 2035. The current 30% credit will end in 2032, replaced by a 26% credit in 2033 and a 22% credit in 2034.
What if I am planning to add solar panels to a vacation home, rental property or commercial property? Will I still qualify for incentives?
While we recommend talking to your local solar installer and/or tax professional to better understand what solar incentives apply to you, many can be claimed on a second home, as long as it 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.