2023 Solar Incentives Guide for Falmouth, ME - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Falmouth.
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 Falmouth solar installers to see how much you can save.
Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code!
Updated September 15, 2023
Why you can trust EcoWatch
What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Falmouth?
Solar and Wind Energy Property Tax Exemption
Efficiency Maine - Home Energy Loans
Efficiency Maine Residential Home Energy Savings Program
Air Sealing (6 hrs): $400
Insulation: 30% of project costs, up to $1,000 per zone
Air-Source Heat Pumps: $500 for single or first zone heating; an additional $250 is available for second zone heating
Biomass Boilers and Furnaces: One third of the installation cost up to $6,000
See rebate application for full list of rebate bonuses
Local Option - Property Assessed Clean Energy
Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/
Solar incentives are intended to make renewable energy usage more affordable through financial incentives for those who install solar panels on their homes. Various types of incentives, including cash back, discounts or credit towards your monthly utility bill, may be available to you. Certain incentives may be handled by the state of Maine, by your utility company or by county or municipality, while other incentives are federal. Some solar incentives you might qualify for are:
- Tax Credits: Tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions (not deductions) in how much in taxes you owe the federal government.
- Rebates: Rebates, or partial refunds after a purchase, are normally given prior to any solar tax credits being calculated. Solar rebates might be provided by your local utility company, by your county or by your state.
- Tax Exemptions: Sales tax exemptions are applied at the point of sale for your solar system. Property tax exemptions let you ignore the added value of your solar system when calculating how much property tax you need to pay on your house.
- 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 Falmouth utility company, the company will subtract the value of the excess energy your solar system produces from your monthly utility bill. In some locations, this credit is dollar-for-dollar, while in other areas you might make back a percentage of the value.
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
Federal incentives are the kind of incentives that you are most likely to have some familiarity with. You may have heard of the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit, or ITC. The ITC is a tax credit that reduces your taxes by a predetermined percentage of the money you spend on your solar system.
The ITC can be applied to solar panels 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, equipment, labor and accessories — although the percentage may range from 26-30%, depending on the installation date of your solar system. There is no cap on the claim amount.
To more fully understand how the ITC might apply to you, reach out to your local Falmouth solar panel installer and request more information.
The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August 2022, expanded and extended the ITC (as well as retitling it the Clean Energy Credit). Under the new program, solar installation projects that are completed between 2022 and 2032 may be eligible for a 30% tax credit. This percentage will then decrease slightly each year until the current Clean Energy Credit expires in 2035. Starting in 2023, the expansion to the program will also make claiming credit for energy storage systems easier than ever before.
More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. Your local Falmouth 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
Not all solar incentives are federal; tax credits, rebates and more may be offered at the state and local level. These incentives — which might be handled by your county or municipality, or by the state of Maine — could be offered on an ongoing basis, or for only a limited time.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Falmouth
There are a variety of solar incentives: those provided by local utility companies, those provided by the Maine government and those provided by the federal government, to name a few. Solar energy use has grown tremendously in the last 15 years, thanks to these incentives. Your local Falmouth solar panel installation expert can help you learn more about which incentives you can apply for, and get you on track to switch to renewable energy today.
EcoWatch's Falmouth, ME Solar Incentives FAQs
I already have solar panels installed. Do I qualify for any incentives?
An excellent idea would be to talk to the company that installed your system — or reach out to a local Falmouth solar installer — to better understand which incentives you might 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. Solar panels installed between 2006 and 2021 may qualify for a tax credit of 26-30%.
How much will a solar system save me on my electric bill in Falmouth annually?
Once you add solar panels to your Falmouth home, you can anticipate savings of around $863.31 per year, or around $16,402.81 over the next 20 years.
What are the top solar panel installation companies near me?
To find a top-rated solar panel installer, check out our guide to the best solar companies in Falmouth.
What are the environmental benefits of switching to solar energy?
You can decrease your carbon footprint by 200 pounds of CO2 annually by switching to solar panels. This adds up to roughly 4,000 pounds over 20 years. Solar is also a renewable energy source, meaning that making the switch reduces the drain on our planet's resources.
Can I use solar and another type of renewable energy in combination to power my home?
You can power your home with multiple types of renewable energy, or a combination of renewable and non-renewable energy. Make sure you talk through your plan with your local Falmouth solar installation expert. They can help you plan your project and also help you understand the various incentives that you will or won't 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.