2024 Solar Incentives Guide for Hickory, NC - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Hickory.
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 Hickory?
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
Duke Energy (Electric) - Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
Geothermal Heat Pump: $400 + $50 with added smart thermostat
Heat Pump Water Heater: $350
Attic Insulation or Attic Air Sealing: $250
Duct Sealing: $100
Variable-Speed Pool Pumps: $300
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
Catawba County - Green Construction Permitting Incentive Program
Existing structures installing geothermal heat pumps, PV, solar water heating, or gray/rain water collection: 50% rebate
Plan review for commercial buildings seeking LEED certification, Energy Star, and/or NC HealthyBuilt Homes: 50% rebate
Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/
Solar incentives are meant to help mitigate the cost of installing a solar panel system on your home. This category of financial incentives is designed to encourage more Americans to convert their home partially or fully to renewable energy. Various kinds of incentives, like cash back, discounts or monthly utility bill credits, may be available to you. Certain incentives may be provided via the North Carolina government, by your utility company or by county or municipality, while others are federal. Types of solar incentives might include:
- Tax Exemptions: These might come in the form of property tax exemptions, which let you ignore the value added by your solar panels when paying property tax on your home. You may also qualify for an exemption on sales tax at the time of purchase.
- Rebates: A rebate is a partial refund given after you've purchased your solar panels. Rebates may 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.
- Net Metering: Make sure you speak to your Hickory utility company about signing a net metering agreement. This allows you to receive credit towards your utility bill every month for the value of excess energy generated by your solar panels. You might receive either a dollar-for-dollar credit or a percentage of the value.
- Tax Credits: Unlike tax deductions, tax credits reduce, dollar-for-dollar, the amount of income tax that you owe the government.
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): SRECs and other performance-based incentives may be available to you if your solar system produces over a specified (generally small) amount of electricity. Performance-based incentives are typically handled by the state government. You can sell the SRECs you receive to your utility company or other buyers, and the money you make is generally considered part of your taxable income.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
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
Federal Solar Incentives
When people think of solar incentives, federal incentives are likely the first thing that comes to mind. 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 specified percentage of the cost of your solar system.
The ITC initially applied to 30% of the cost of installing a solar system, although that number has fluctuated slightly over time between 26-30%. The percentage you qualify for will depend on when your solar system was installed. The cost of installation 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 owned by you and in the United States.
Speaking with your local Hickory solar panel installer is the best way to understand how the ITC could apply to you.
The ITC has been renewed and expanded following the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in August 2022. It's also now called the Clean Energy Credit. For solar system installations that begin after January 1, 2022, and are completed by the end of 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 program expansion also makes it easier to get credit for energy storage systems, beginning in 2023.
More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. The best way to learn more about how the new Clean Energy Credit applies to you is to speak with your local Hickory solar panel company directly.
State & Local Solar Incentives
There are more than just federal solar incentives; tax credits, rebates and more are often offered at the local or state level. These incentives may be provided by the North Carolina government, or by your county or municipality. Certain incentives are ongoing, while others are available for a limited time.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Hickory
The expanding number of solar incentives available has contributed greatly to the increase in the nationwide adoption of solar energy over the past 15 years. You might qualify for solar incentives from the federal government, the North Carolina government or from your local utility company. We recommend talking to your local Hickory solar installer for more information about these incentives and to make sure that you're getting the most money possible for your solar system.
EcoWatch's Hickory, NC Solar Incentives FAQs
I already have solar panels installed. Are there any incentives that I qualify for?
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 may qualify for a tax credit between 26% and 30%, depending on the date of installation. Talking to the company that installed your solar system, or any local Hickory solar installer, can help you understand what incentives you can apply for.
How much can I save on my electric bill annually if I install solar panels on my Hickory home?
Typically, Hickory homeowners who install solar panels save about $940.50 per year, or around $17,869.42 over 20 years after they make the switch.
Can I receive incentives both towards the initial cost of solar panels, and later as reimbursement?
The order your incentives will be applied in could vary depending on which incentives you are eligible for but in most cases yes, you can receive multiple types of incentives for your solar project. Talk with your solar installer or a local tax professional to make sure you are claiming all the incentives you qualify for and applying them in the correct order.
Can I use a combination of solar and another type of renewable energy to power my home?
You can use multiple types of renewable energy, or a combination of renewable and non-renewable energy, to power your home. Be sure to talk through your plan with your local Hickory solar installation expert. They can help you with the plan for your project and educate you on the various incentives that you may or may not qualify for.
Can I receive any incentives when I add solar panels to a rental property, vacation home or commercial property?
Many solar incentives apply to a property located within the United States that you own; most secondary residences will fall under this distinction. Other solar incentives may be 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 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.