2024 Solar Incentives Guide for Dearborn, MI - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Dearborn.
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.
Get a free quote from one of our trusted Dearborn solar installers to see how much you can save.
Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code!
Why you can trust EcoWatch
What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Dearborn?
Michigan Saves - Home Energy Loan Program
Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/
Solar incentives help mitigate the cost of installing a solar panel system on your home. These financial incentives are designed to encourage more Americans to convert their home partially or fully to renewable energy. The incentives might include upfront discounts, cash back or credit towards your monthly utility bill. Some incentives are given by the federal government, some by the state of Michigan and some by your utility company, county or municipality. Categories of solar incentives include:
- Tax Exemptions: Tax exemptions may come in two forms. The first is sales tax exemption, applied when you purchase solar panels. The second is property tax exemption, which allows you to ignore the value added by your solar system when calculating property tax for your house.
- Rebates: Some solar companies will help you claim a rebate, or partial refund after purchase, for your solar system. States or counties will also offer limited-time rebates at various times. Any rebates you receive will usually come off the total price before tax credits are calculated.
- Net Metering: Net metering factors in after your solar system is up and running. If you have a net metering agreement with your Dearborn 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 receive a refund equivalent to a percentage of the value.
- Tax Credits: Tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions (not deductions) in how much income tax you owe the federal government.
Solar Veteran
Michigan Solar Solutions
- Great warranty coverage
- Outstanding customer service
- Offers products from leading manufacturers
- Slightly limited service offerings
- No leases or PPAs
Outstanding Local Installer
Strawberry Solar
- Outstanding customer service
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Educational, no-pressure sales approach
- Limited warranty coverage
- No leases or PPAs
- Limited brands of solar equipment available
Outstanding Local Installer
The Green Panel
- Outstanding customer service
- Excellent reputation
- Great warranty coverage
- No leases or PPAs
Federal Solar Incentives
When thinking about solar incentives, you likely think of federal incentives first. The solar incentive that you may be most familiar with is the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which gives you a credit on your taxes equal to a percentage of your solar system's cost.
The ITC applies to a solar system installed on your primary or secondary residence in the United States. The solar system must have been installed after January 1, 2006, on a property you own for you to claim the credit. Originally, the ITC covered 30% of all installation costs (panels, equipment, labor and accessories), although this amount has fluctuated slightly over time between 26-30%. The amount you qualify for will depend on when your solar system was installed. There is no cap on the claim amount.
Have questions about how the ITC applies to your specific situation? Contact your local Dearborn solar panel installation expert to get more information.
The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August 2022, made some changes to the ITC (as well as renaming it to the Clean Energy Credit). Now, solar installation projects begun after January 1, 2022, and finished by December 31, 2032, may be eligible for a 30% tax credit. This credit amount will then decrease slightly each year until the end of the current Clean Energy Credit in 2035. Starting in 2023, it will also be easier to claim credits for energy storage systems under this new program.
More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. Your local Dearborn solar panel installation experts can answer your questions and explain how the new Clean Energy Credit will apply to you.
State & Local Solar Incentives
In addition to federal solar incentives, there are often also state ones. Tax credits, rebates and more may be available at a more local level. The incentives — which might be provided by your county or municipality, or by the state of Michigan — could be offered on an ongoing basis, or for only a limited time.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Dearborn
There are many types of solar incentives: those offered by local utility companies, those offered by the federal government and those provided by the Michigan government, to name a few. The use of solar energy has increased enormously in the last 15 years, partially thanks to these incentives. Your local Dearborn solar panel installer can provide you with more details about which incentives you can apply for, and get you on track to switch to renewable energy today.
EcoWatch's Dearborn, MI Solar Incentives FAQs
I already have solar panels installed. Do I qualify for any incentives?
Your best bet is to talk to the company that installed your system – or call a local Dearborn 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 recently 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 will a solar system save me annually on my electric bill in Dearborn?
On average, homeowners in Dearborn who install solar panels save around $821.56 per year, or about $15,609.63 over 20 years after they make the switch.
I want to change out my appliances for ones that are more energy-efficient. Are there any incentives I can get?
Under the new Inflation Reduction Act, there are a number of new financial incentives that are available when you make eco-friendly improvements to your home. More details on these incentives, including information about incentives for purchasing new appliances, can be found here.
Can I qualify for incentives both towards the up-front cost of solar panels, and later as reimbursement?
The order in which incentives are applied may vary depending on which incentives you receive but in most cases yes, you can claim multiple types of incentives for your solar project. Get in touch with your solar installer or a local tax professional to ensure you are claiming all possible incentives and applying them in the correct order.
What if I add solar panels to a vacation home, rental property or commercial property? Will I still qualify for incentives?
Many solar incentives are intended to apply to a property located within the United States that you own; most secondary residences will fall under this distinction. There may be other solar incentives available for commercial properties, depending on the specifics. We recommend talking to your local solar installer and/or tax professional to better understand what incentives will apply to your specific situation.
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.