2025 Solar Incentives Guide for Bucyrus, OH - Tax Credits & Rebates

What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Bucyrus?

Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/

The term "solar incentives" refers to a wide 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. Different types of incentives, like cash back, discounts or monthly utility bill credits, may be available to you. Some incentives may be provided via the state of Ohio, by your utility company or by county or municipality, while others are federal. Some solar incentives you might qualify for are:

• Rebates: Rebates, or cash back after a purchase, are usually given prior to any solar tax credits being calculated. Solar rebates might be given by your local utility company, by your county or by your state.
• Tax Exemptions: Sales tax exemptions go into effect at the point of sale for your solar panels. Property tax exemptions allow you to exclude the value added by your solar system when you're calculating the amount of property tax you need to pay.
• Tax Credits: Tax credits decrease, dollar-for-dollar, the amount of income tax you owe the government. Tax credits are different from tax deductions.
• Net Metering: Net metering becomes relevant once your solar system is up and running. If you have in place a net metering agreement with your Bucyrus utility company, it will subtract the value of the excess energy your solar system produces from your monthly utility bill. In some areas, this credit is dollar-for-dollar, while in other places you might get refunded a percentage of the value.
• Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): SRECs and other performance-based incentives are typically handled at the state level. Once your solar system meets the qualification threshold (normally a small amount of energy production), you are eligible to receive SRECs that can be sold to your utility company or other buyers. The money you make is generally considered part of your taxable income.

Federal Solar Incentives

Federal incentives are the type of incentives that you are most likely to have some familiarity with. An 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 certain percentage of the cost of your solar system.

The ITC can be applied to solar panels installed after January 1, 2006, on a primary or secondary residence that you own in the United States. The credit initially covered 30% of the total cost – for panels, equipment, labor and accessories – although that amount may range from 26-30%, depending on the installation date of your solar system. There is no cap on the amount you can claim.

To better understand exactly how much the ITC could save you, speak with your local Bucyrus solar panel installation expert.

In August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act made revisions to the ITC, now called the Clean Energy Credit. The new Clean Energy Credit now runs until 2035. You can now receive a 30% credit for solar systems that began installation after January 1, 2022, and are completed by the end of 2032. This credit will then see a slight annual decrease until it expires. Beginning in 2023, it will also be easier to claim credits for energy storage systems with the new act.

More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. To fully understand how the new Clean Energy Credit applies to you, reach out to your local Bucyrus solar installation expert.

State & Local Solar Incentives

In addition to those provided at the federal level, there are often also state solar incentives. Rebates, tax credits and more might be available at a more local level. The incentives — which might be provided by your county or municipality, or by the state of Ohio — may be offered on an ongoing basis, or for only a limited time.

Next Steps for Installing Solar in Bucyrus

The variety of solar incentives available has enormously increased the use of solar power nationwide over the last 15 years. You might qualify for solar incentives from your local utility company, the federal government or the Ohio government. Your local Bucyrus solar panel installation expert can provide you with more details about which incentives you might qualify for, and get you started on the path to switching to renewable energy today.