2025 Solar Incentives Guide for Pineville, NC - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Pineville.
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 Pineville?
Duke Energy - NC Solar Rebate Program
Nonresidential: $0.50/W-AC
Nonprofit: $0.75/W-AC
Local Option - Financing Program for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
Local Option - Green Building Incentives
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
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
Property Tax Abatement for Solar Electric Systems
All other systems: 80% of the appraised value
Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/
The phrase "solar incentives" covers a range of financial incentives implemented to make installing and using solar panels more affordable. This is done to encourage people to switch to renewable energy. You may qualify for several kinds of incentives, such as cash back, discounts or monthly utility bill credits, depending on your situation. Certain incentives come from your specific utility company, county or municipality, some from the state of North Carolina and others from the federal government. Categories of solar incentives include:
- Rebates: Rebates, or cash back after a purchase, are usually applied prior to any solar tax credits being calculated. Solar rebates may be provided by your local utility company, by your state or by your county.
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): SRECs and similar other performance-based incentives might be available to you if your solar system produces over a specified (typically small) amount of electricity. Performance-based incentives are typically handled at the state level. You can sell any SRECs you have to your utility company or other buyers, and the money you make is usually considered part of your taxable income.
- Tax Exemptions: Your solar system could qualify for exemptions on both sales and property tax. Sales tax exemptions are effective at the time of purchase. Property tax exemptions allow you to exclude the value that solar panels add when calculating property taxes on your home.
- Net Metering: Make sure you speak to your Pineville utility company about signing a net metering agreement. This allows you to receive credit towards your monthly utility bill for the value of excess energy your solar panels generate. You might receive either a dollar-for-dollar credit or a percentage of the value.
- Tax Credits: Tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions (not deductions) in how much income tax you owe the government.
Federal Solar Incentives
Federal solar incentives are likely the first thing that you think of when you think about solar incentives. An incentive that most people are likely to be familiar with is the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). The ITC is a tax credit for a specific percentage of the cost of your solar system.
The ITC applies to solar panels installed after January 1, 2006, on a primary or secondary residence in the United States that you own. Initially, the credit applied to 30% of the total cost – for panels, accessories, labor and equipment – although that amount may range from 26-30%, depending on when your solar system was installed. There is no cap on the amount you can claim.
Your local Pineville solar panel installation expert can provide more information about the ITC and how it may apply to your situation.
In August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act expanded and extended the ITC, now dubbed the Clean Energy Credit. Homeowners can now receive a credit of 30% of the total solar system installation costs for projects started after January 1, 2022, and completed before the end of 2032. This percentage will then begin to decrease yearly until the Clean Energy Credit expires in 2035. The expansion also makes credits for energy storage systems even easier to claim, starting in 2023.
Click here to learn more about the new Inflation Reduction Act. The easiest way to learn more about how the new Clean Energy Credit applies to you is to talk with your local Pineville solar panel company.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Some solar incentives may be provided by state and local governments. Similar to federal incentives, these could include rebates, tax credits and more. The incentives — which may be given by the state of North Carolina, or by your county or municipality — may be offered for only a limited time, or on an ongoing basis.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Pineville
There are a variety of solar incentives: those given by local utility companies, those provided by the federal government and those offered by the North Carolina government, to name a few. Solar energy use has grown tremendously in the last 15 years, partially due to these incentives. Your local Pineville solar panel installer can help you learn more about which incentives you should apply for, and get you started on the path to switching to renewable energy today.
EcoWatch's Pineville, NC Solar Incentives FAQs
Who installs solar panels near me?
To find the right solar panel installer for you, check out our guide to Pineville's best solar panel companies.
What are some environmental benefits of adding solar panels to my house?
You can lower your carbon footprint by 300 pounds of CO2 annually by installing solar panels. This adds up to around 6,000 pounds over 20 years. In addition, solar power is a renewable energy source, meaning that switching your home over reduces the drain on our planet's resources.
Can I qualify for incentives both towards the up-front cost of solar panels, and later as reimbursement?
Yes, you can claim both tax credits and rebates towards the cost of your solar panels. Depending on precisely which incentives you are claiming, they may apply in a different order. Be sure to speak with your solar installer or a local tax professional to ensure that you are claiming the correct incentives and that you're getting the most money you can.
Can I use a combination of solar and another type of renewable energy to power my home?
Yes, you can use multiple types of renewable energy to power your home — for example, a combination of solar and wind power. You can also use both renewable energy sources and a backup source of non-renewable energy. Be sure to discuss the details of your plan with your local Pineville solar installation expert, to get an understanding of what will be needed and what types of incentives 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.