2023 Solar Incentives Guide for Sulphur, LA - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Sulphur.
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.
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Updated May 04, 2023
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What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Sulphur?
Home Energy Loan Program (HELP)
New Orleans City - Energy Smart Program
Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/
Solar incentives mitigate the cost of installing solar panels on your home. These financial incentives are intended to encourage more people to convert their home partially or fully to renewable energy. You may qualify for different types of incentives, including cash back, discounts or credit towards your monthly utility bill, depending on your situation. Some incentives come from your specific utility company, county or municipality, some from the state of Louisiana and others from the federal government. Categories of solar incentives include:
- Rebates: Solar companies may help you claim a rebate, or partial refund of your purchase, for your solar system. States or counties will also sometimes offer limited-time rebates. The value of a rebate will usually be deducted from the total price before tax credits are calculated.
- Tax Exemptions: These might come in the form of property tax exemptions, which let you ignore the value of your solar system when calculating the taxes you pay on your house. You could also look for exemptions on sales tax at the time of purchase.
- Net Metering: Net metering factors in once your solar system is up and running. If you have a net metering agreement with your Sulphur utility company, it will subtract the value of the excess energy produced by your solar system from your monthly utility bill. In some locations, this is a dollar-for-dollar credit, while in others you might get refunded a percentage of the value.
- Tax Credits: Tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions in the amount of income tax that you owe the federal government. (This is different from a tax deduction.)
Federal Solar Incentives
Federal incentives are the kind of incentives that you are most likely to have heard of. 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 solar panels for your home.
The ITC was originally for 30% of the total cost of installing a solar system, and has fluctuated slightly over the years between 26-30%. The percentage you qualify for will depend on when your solar system was installed. The total installation cost includes the panels themselves as well as the cost of labor, accessories and equipment. There is no maximum claim amount. The ITC applies to solar panels installed after January 1, 2006 on your primary or secondary residence. The residence must be in the United States and owned by you.
To know exactly how much the ITC could save you, speak with your local Sulphur solar panel installer.
In August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act made revisions to the ITC, now referred to as the Clean Energy Credit. For solar system installations that begin after January 1, 2022 and are completed by the end of 2032, homeowners may be eligible for a credit for 30% of the total cost. The percentage will then decrease annually until the Clean Energy Credit expires in 2035. The 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. Your local Sulphur solar panel installers are the best people to answer your questions about the new Clean Energy Credit and how it applies to you.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Federal solar incentives are not your only option; tax credits, rebates and more might also be offered at the local or state level. The incentives — which might be provided by your county or municipality, or by the state of Louisiana — may be offered on an ongoing basis, or for only a limited time.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Sulphur
The large number of solar incentives available 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 Louisiana government or the federal government. Speak with your local solar panel installation company today to find out more information and to save as much money as possible on solar panels for your Sulphur home.
Best Warranty Coverage
Sunpro Solar
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- Some reported communication issues
- No leases or PPAs
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
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- Customer service varies by local dealer
EcoWatch's Sulphur, LA Solar Incentives FAQs
How can I learn if I qualify for specific solar incentives?
Typically, solar incentives apply to:
- a new solar panel system
- installed on property that you own
- within the U.S.
- within the date range specified by a particular incentive.
Specific incentives, including those given out by the Louisiana government or by your county/municipality, sometimes have additional qualifications. Speak with your local Sulphur solar installer to find out what incentives your project may qualify for.
Who installs solar panels near me?
To find the right solar panel installer for you, check out our guide to the top solar companies in Sulphur.
What are some environmental benefits of adding solar panels to my home?
You can decrease your carbon footprint by 400 pounds of CO2 a year when you install solar panels. This adds up to roughly 8,000 pounds in 20 years. Solar is also a renewable energy source, meaning that making the switch reduces the drain on our planet's resources.
When does the federal solar tax credit end?
The Clean Energy Credit (previously referred to as the federal solar tax credit, or ITC), is scheduled to end on January 1, 2035. Currently set at 30%, the credit will drop to 26% in 2033 and to 22% in 2034.
If I change out my appliances for ones that can use solar energy, are there credits that I can claim?
The new Inflation Reduction Act provides several incentives that 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.
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.