2023 Solar Incentives Guide for Cumberland, MD - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Cumberland.
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 March 14, 2023
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What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Cumberland?
Residential Clean Energy Rebate Program
SWH: $500/project (flat per installation/household incentive)
New GHC: $3,000/project
GHC Replacement: $500/project
Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs)
Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Residential Solar and Wind Electricity Sales
Property Tax Exemption for Solar and Wind Energy Systems
Clean-Burning Wood Stove Grant Program
Pellet Burning Stove: $700
Local Option - Property Tax Credit for High Performance Buildings
Local Option - Property Tax Credit for Renewables and Energy Conservation Devices
Residential/Community Wind Grant Program
Community: $1000/kW - $4000/kW, depending on the system capacity
FirstEnergy (Potomac Edison) - Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
Refrigerator/Freezer Recycling: $50
Lighting
LED Fixtures: Up to $8/unit
LED Bulbs: Up to $5/bulb
Occupancy Sensors: Up to $7/unit
HVAC & Other
Air-to-Air Heat Pump: $400 - $650
Central A/C: $300 - $500
Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pump: $250 (Tier 2); $400 (Multi Zone)
Geothermal Heat Pump: $1,500
Packaged Terminal Heat Pump: $125
Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner: $125
Furnace Fans: $100
Smart Thermostat: $100
Circulating Pump: $30
Variable-Speed Pool Pump: $400
Two Speed Pool Pump: $150
Home Performance Audit: 75% of home improvements cost, up to $7,500
Quick Home Energy Checkup: Up to $75 in Energy-Saving Products
Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/
Solar incentives are intended to make renewable energy usage more affordable via financial incentives for individuals who install solar panels on their homes. Various types of incentives, like discounts, cash back or credit towards your monthly utility bill, may be available to you. Some incentives may be provided via the Maryland government, by your utility company or by county or municipality, while other incentives are federal. You might qualify for any of the following types of solar incentives:
- Rebates: Solar rebates might be offered by your local utility company, or by your state or county. These rebates are essentially partial refunds that are applied after you pay for a solar system and before tax credits are calculated.
- Net Metering: Net metering is an incentive you can get once your solar panels are up and running. If you've signed a net metering agreement with your Cumberland utility company, the company will subtract the value of the excess energy your solar system produces from your monthly utility bill. In some areas, this credit is dollar-for-dollar, while in others you might receive a refund equivalent to a percentage of the value.
- Tax Exemptions: Sales tax exemptions are applied at the point of sale for your solar panels. Property tax exemptions allow you to exclude the value added by your solar system when you calculate how much property tax you need to pay on your house.
- Tax Credits: Unlike tax deductions, tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions in the amount of income tax that you owe the federal government.
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): SRECs and similar performance-based incentives are normally handled by your state government. Once your solar system meets the qualification threshold (generally a small amount of energy production), you are eligible to receive SRECs that you can then sell to your utility company or other buyers. The money you make from the sale is generally considered part of your taxable income.
Federal Solar Incentives
Federal incentives are the type of incentives that you are most likely to have some familiarity with. The solar incentive that you're most likely to have heard of is the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which provides a credit on your taxes equal to a certain percentage of your solar system's cost.
The ITC is applied to the total cost of solar panel installation, including the panels themselves as well as equipment, accessories and labor. You can claim this credit for panels installed after January 1, 2006 on a primary or secondary residence located in the United States that you own. The tax credit ranges from 26-30% of total costs depending on when your project was completed. There is no maximum claim amount.
Reaching out to your local Cumberland solar panel installation expert is the best way to learn more about how the ITC may apply to your situation.
The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August 2022, expanded and extended the ITC (as well as renaming it to the Clean Energy Credit). Under the new program, solar installation projects started after January 1, 2022 and completed by the end of 2032 might qualify for a 30% tax credit. This percentage will then decrease slightly each year until the current Clean Energy Credit expires in 2035. Beginning in 2023, it will also be easier to obtain credits for energy storage systems under this new program.
More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. Your local Cumberland solar panel installers are the best people to answer your questions regarding the new Clean Energy Credit and how it may apply to you.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Federal solar incentives are not your only option; tax credits, rebates and more may be offered at the state and local level. Incentives may be provided by the state of Maryland, or by your county or municipality. Certain incentives are available for only a limited time, while others are ongoing.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Cumberland
You can apply for and receive solar incentives from the Maryland government and the federal government, as well as from your local utility company. This increase in availability of solar initiatives in the past 15 years has helped increase nationwide solar energy use enormously. We recommend talking to your local Cumberland solar installation expert to learn more about these incentives and to make sure that you're getting the most money possible for your solar system.
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EcoWatch's Cumberland, MD Solar Incentives FAQs
If my house already has solar panels, can I still claim incentives?
Your best bet is to talk to the company that installed your system — or call a local Cumberland solar installer — to learn about which incentives you may qualify for. If your system was installed after January 1, 2022, you likely qualify for the newly increased 30% tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. Solar systems installed between 2006 and 2021 may qualify for a tax credit of 26-30%.
How much can I save on my electric bill annually if I install solar panels on my house in Cumberland?
After adding solar panels to your home in Cumberland, you can expect to save about $562.98 per year, or about $10,696.56 over the next 20 years.
What are the top solar panel installation companies near me?
To learn about the top solar panel installers near you, take a look at our article on Cumberland's top solar panel companies.
What are some environmental benefits of installing solar panels on my house?
Solar energy is renewable — by changing where you get your energy, you help lessen the strain on our planet's resources. Solar panels can also reduce your home's CO2 emissions by 450 pounds yearly, or around 9,000 pounds over 20 years.
If I switch my appliances out for ones that can use solar energy, are there credits I can claim?
The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act provides a number of incentives designed to reward homeowners who make eco-friendly upgrades. Some of these incentives include rebates and tax credits 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.