2024 Solar Incentives Guide for Fayetteville, NC - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Fayetteville.
You'll learn about:
- Local & State Solar Incentives
- Federal Tax Credits (Updated for 2024 and beyond)
- Ways to optimize your solar investment
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What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Fayetteville?
Duke Energy - NC Solar Rebate Program
Nonresidential: $0.50/W-AC
Nonprofit: $0.75/W-AC
Property Tax Abatement for Solar Electric Systems
All other systems: 80% of the appraised value
Active Solar Heating and Cooling Systems Exemption
EnergyUnited (Electric) Residential Energy Efficiency Program
Heat Pumps (16 SEER): $300/unit
NC GreenPower Production Incentive
PV larger than 5 kW: must enter bid process
Wind up to 10 kW: $0.09/kWh
Wind larger than 10 kW: must enter bid process
Local Option - Financing Program for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
Local Option - Green Building Incentives
Duke Energy Progress - Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
Geothermal Heat Pumps: $400 + 50 with smart thermostat
Heat Pump Water Heater: $350
Attic Insulation & Air Sealing: $250
Duct Sealing: $100
Pool Pump: $300
Lumbee River EMC - Residential Weatherization Loan Program
Air-source heat pump - $8,000
Thermal windows and doors - $4,000
Storm windows and doors - $2,000
Insulation (floors, ceilings & walls) - $2,000
Installation/sealing of ducts - $2,000
Attic ventilation fans - $500
Foundation vents - $500
Solar water heater - $7,000
Heat pump water heater - $7,000
Marathon water heater - $2,000
Efficient steel water heater - $500
Four-County EMC - Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
Clothes Washer: $50/unit
Clothes Dryer: $50/unit
Dishwasher: $50/unit
Refrigerator: $50/unit
Freezer: $50/unit
Heat Pump (16 SEER or higher): $100/ton
Solar Water Heater: $1,000/unit
Lumbee River EMC - Residential Energy Efficiency Program
Duct sealing/replacement: $50
Insulation: $100
HERO Home: $200
Central A/C: $15 or 5.90% interest rate for a loan
Heat Pump: $60 or 5.80% interest rate for a loan
Geothermal Heat Pump: $250 or 5.60% interest rate for a loan
South River EMC - Solar Water Heating Rebate Program
South River EMC - Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
ENERGY STAR Appliances: $10/appliance
Heat Pump Water Heater: $200
Solar Water Heater: $150
Air Sealing: $75 (Single Family Homes); $100 - $200 (Manufactured Homes)
Attic Insulation: $75
Duct Sealing: $100 - $200
Roof Insulation: $100 - $200
Floor Insulation: $100 - $200
3rd Party Weatherization: $200
Air Source Heat Pump: $200/unit
Electric Furnace: $400 - $500/unit
Geothermal Heat Pump: $250
Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pump: $200 - $400
HERO Homes: $200 - $600
Smart Thermostat: $20
Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/
Solar incentives mitigate the cost of installing a solar panel system on your home. Financial incentives like these are intended to encourage more Americans to switch to renewable energy. Various kinds of incentives, including cash back, discounts or credit towards your monthly utility bill, might be available to you. Some incentives may be offered by the North Carolina government, by your utility company or by county or municipality, while other incentives are federal. Types of solar incentives might include:
- Net Metering: You may be able to sign a net metering agreement with your Fayetteville utility company, that may apply to all or a percentage of the excess electricity your solar panels generate. They will then deduct this value from your utility bill each month.
- Rebates: A solar rebate is a partial refund given after you've purchased your solar panels. Rebates might be offered by your local utility company, your county or your state. The discount that rebates offer is normally applied to the price of solar panels before calculating tax credits.
- Tax Exemptions: Sales tax exemptions are applied at the time of purchase for your solar panels. Property tax exemptions let you ignore the added value of your solar system when calculating the amount of property tax you need to pay.
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): SRECs can be sold to your utility company (or other buyers) for money that typically becomes part of your taxable income. Typically, you must meet a certain (small) threshold of energy production before your solar system qualifies for SRECs or similar performance-based incentives. These kinds of incentives are typically handled by your state government.
- Tax Credits: Tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions (not deductions) in how much in taxes you owe the federal government.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Outstanding Regional Installer
Renu Energy Solutions
- Excellent reputation
- Many financing options
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- No leases or PPAs
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
Federal Solar Incentives
Federal solar incentives are probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think about solar incentives. A federal incentive many people are likely to be familiar with is the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). This incentive is a tax credit for a given percentage of the cost of your solar system.
The ITC was originally for 30% of the cost of installing a solar system, although that number has fluctuated slightly over the years between 26-30%. The installation date of your solar system will determine what percentage you qualify for. 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 can be applied to solar systems installed after January 1, 2006, on your primary or secondary residence. The residence must be in the United States and owned by you.
To better understand exactly how much the ITC could save you, get in touch with your local Fayetteville solar panel installer.
The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August 2022, added more provisions to the ITC (as well as renaming it to the Clean Energy Credit). For solar systems installed between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2032, homeowners may be eligible for a credit equal to 30% of the total cost. The percentage will then decrease annually until the Clean Energy Credit expires in 2035. The expansion also makes credits for energy storage systems even easier to claim, starting in 2023.
More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. To better understand how the new Clean Energy Credit applies to you, speak with your local Fayetteville solar installation company.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Some solar incentives may be provided at the state and local level. As with federal incentives, these may include rebates, tax credits and more. Certain incentives are ongoing, while others might only be available for a limited time. They might be given by your county or municipality, or by the North Carolina government.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Fayetteville
Solar incentives might come from your local utility company, the federal government or the North Carolina government. The variety of available solar incentives has helped nationwide use of solar energy increase greatly in the last 15 years. If you're prepared to switch over to solar energy, talking to your local Fayetteville solar panel installation expert is an excellent place to start.
EcoWatch's Fayetteville, NC Solar Incentives FAQs
My home already has solar panels installed. Do I qualify for any incentives?
If your solar system was installed after January 1, 2022, you may qualify for the newly increased 30% tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. If you had your system installed between 2006 and 2021, you might 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 Fayetteville solar installer, can help you learn what incentives you qualify for.
How much can I save on my electric bill annually if I add solar panels to my Fayetteville home?
Once you add solar panels to your Fayetteville home, you can expect to save around $944.40 per year, or around $17,943.58 over 20 years.
What are some environmental benefits of adding solar panels to my house?
Solar energy is a renewable energy source — by changing where you get your energy, you can help lessen the strain on our planet's resources. You can also reduce your home's CO2 emissions by 300 pounds a year, or roughly 6,000 pounds in 20 years.
When does the federal solar tax credit end?
The Clean Energy Credit (formerly called the federal solar tax credit, or ITC), is slated to end on January 1, 2035. Currently set at 30%, the credit will drop to 26% in 2033 and to 22% in 2034.
What if I am planning to add a solar system to a vacation home, rental property or commercial property? Can I still qualify for incentives?
While we recommend speaking with your local solar installer and/or tax professional to fully understand what solar incentives apply to you, many incentives will apply to a second home, so long as that home is in the United States and owned by you. There may be additional incentives available specifically for commercial properties, depending on the details.
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.