2024 Solar Incentives Guide for Alexandria, MN - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Alexandria.
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 Alexandria?
Wind and Solar-Electric (PV) Systems Exemption
Wind: 100% exemption from real and personal property taxes
Wind Energy Sales Tax Exemption
Brainerd Public Utilities - Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
Clothes Washer: $35
Electric Clothes Dryer: $35
Refrigerator: $35
Freezer: $35
Dehumidifier: $20
Room/Window A/C: $35
High Efficiency Electric Water Heater: $35
Central A/C Tune-Up: $35
Central A/C: $200-$350
Mini Split/Ductless A/C: $250
ECM Replacement Motor: $100
Furnaces: $200-$375
Heat Pump Water Heater: $250
Air Source Heat Pump: $250
Geothermal Heat Pump: $100/ton
Connexus Energy - Residential Energy Efficiency Loan Program
OR
$20,000
Great River Energy (28 Member Cooperatives) - Energy Wise Residential Efficiency Rebates
Home Energy Loan Program
Fix-Up Loan
Renewable Energy Production Incentive
1.0¢/kWh for certain hydro facilities in need of repair
Missouri River Energy Services (23 Member Cooperatives) - Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate
ENERGY STAR:
Clothes Washer: $25
Dehumidifier: $25
LED Lighting: $1.50-$4.00
Refrigerator: $25
Room A/C: $25
Heating and Cooling:
Central A/C or Heat Pump Tune-Up: $30
Air-Source Heat Pump: $250 - $950
Mini Split/Ductless Air Source Heat Pump/Air Conditioner: $250 /Outdoor Condensing Unit
Central A/C: $250 - $450/unit
Geothermal Heat Pump: $200/ton
Heat Pump Water Heater: $150
Programmable thermostat: $25
Alexandria Light and Power - Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
Refrigerator: $25
Dehumidifier: $25
Room Air Conditioner: $25
Central A/C: $250 - $450
Geothermal Heat Pumps: $200 per ton
Natural Gas or Electric Furnace with Electronically Commutated Motor (ECM) Rebate: $150
Programmable Thermostats controlling Central Air Conditioning: $25
Heat Pump Water Heaters: $100
Air Conditioner or Heat Pump Tune-up: $30
Screw-in LED bulb: $1.50
LED Fixture or Retrofit Kit: $4.00
Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/
Solar incentives are meant to help mitigate the cost of installing solar panels on your home. This category of financial incentives is in place to encourage more people to switch to renewable energy. Different kinds of incentives, including discounts, cash back or credit towards your monthly utility bill, might be available to you. Some incentives may be offered by the state of Minnesota, by your utility company or by county or municipality, while others are federal. Some solar incentives you might qualify for are:
- Tax Exemptions: Your solar system may qualify for exemptions on both sales and property tax. Sales tax exemptions are applied at the time of purchase. Property tax exemptions allow you to ignore the value added by your solar panels when you are calculating property taxes on your home.
- Net Metering: You may be able to sign a net metering agreement with your Alexandria utility company, that may apply to all or a percentage of the excess electricity that is generated by your solar panels. Your utility company will then subtract this value from your monthly utility bill.
- Tax Credits: Unlike tax deductions, tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions in the amount of income tax that you owe the government.
- Rebates: A rebate is a partial refund after the purchase of your solar panels. Rebates may be offered by your local utility company, your state or your county. The discount that rebates offer is normally applied to the price of solar panels before calculating tax credits.
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. A federal incentive many people are likely familiar with is the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). The ITC is a tax credit for a predetermined percentage of your solar system's cost.
The ITC can be credited towards the value of solar panels installed on your primary or secondary residence in the United States. The solar system has to have been installed on a property you own after January 1, 2006, for you to be eligible for the credit. Initially, the ITC applied to 30% of all installation costs (panels, accessories, equipment and labor), although the covered amount has fluctuated slightly over the years between 26-30%. The installation date of your solar system will determine what percentage you are eligible for. There is no cap on the claim amount.
To better understand how the ITC may apply to your situation, get in touch with your local Alexandria solar panel installation expert and ask for more information.
The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August 2022, added more provisions to the ITC (as well as renaming it to the Clean Energy Credit). The Clean Energy Credit re-raises the credit up to 30% for solar installation projects started after January 1, 2022, and completed by the end of 2032. After 2032, the percentage will see a slight decrease annually until the end of the program in 2035. Beginning in 2023, it will also be easier to get credits for energy storage systems under this new program.
Click here to learn more about the new Inflation Reduction Act. Your local Alexandria solar panel installer can answer your questions and explain how the new Clean Energy Credit will apply to you.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Some solar incentives are often also offered at the local or state level. As with federal incentives, these might include tax credits, rebates and more. These incentives may be provided by your county or municipality, or by the Minnesota government. Some incentives may be ongoing, while others are available for a limited time.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Alexandria
You can qualify for solar incentives from the federal government and the Minnesota 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. Call your local solar panel installer today to find out more information and to save the most money possible on a solar system for your Alexandria home.
EcoWatch's Alexandria, MN Solar Incentives FAQs
I already have solar panels installed. Do I qualify for any incentives?
If your solar panels were installed after January 1, 2022, you may qualify for the recently increased 30% tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. If you installed your system between 2006 and 2021, you may qualify for a tax credit between 26% and 30%, depending on the exact installation date. Speaking with a representative from the company that installed your system, or any local Alexandria solar installer, can help you learn more about what incentives you can apply for.
How much can I save on my electric bill annually if I add solar panels to my Alexandria home?
Typically, Alexandria homeowners who install solar panels save approximately $810.29 per year, or around $15,395.48 over 20 years after making the switch.
If I change out my appliances for ones that can utilize solar energy, are there credits that I can claim?
The new Inflation Reduction Act creates a number of new financial incentives to encourage you to make eco-friendly improvements to your home. More details regarding these incentives, including information about incentives for purchasing new appliances, can be found here.
Can I qualify for incentives both towards the initial cost of solar panels, and later as reimbursement?
The order in which incentives are applied could vary depending on which incentives you are eligible for but generally yes, you can receive multiple types of incentives for your solar project. Speak to your solar installer or a local tax professional to verify you are claiming all the incentives you're eligible for and applying them in the correct order.
What if I add a solar system to a vacation home, rental property or commercial property? Will I still qualify for incentives?
Many solar incentives apply to a property you own that is located within the United States, and most secondary residences will fall into this category. Other solar incentives may be available for commercial properties, depending on the specifics. We recommend reaching out to your local solar installer and/or tax professional to better understand what incentives may 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.