2023 Solar Incentives Guide for East Cleveland, OH - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in East Cleveland.
You'll learn about:
- Local & State Solar Incentives
- Federal Tax Credits (Updated for 2023 and beyond)
- Ways to optimize your solar investment
Solar installers are experts in maximizing your solar tax credits and rebates.
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Updated May 04, 2023
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What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in East Cleveland?
Hamilton County - Home Improvement Program
Local Option - Special Energy Improvement Districts
Energy Conservation for Ohioans (ECO-Link) Program
Solar Renewable Energy Certificates Program (SRECs)
Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/
Solar incentives are designed to encourage people to switch their home over to renewable energy by providing financial incentives that lower the burden of solar panel installation and use. Different types of incentives, including discounts, cash back or credit towards your monthly utility bill, might be available to you. Some incentives may be handled by the Ohio government, by your utility company or by county or municipality, while other incentives are federal. Some solar incentives you might qualify for are:
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): SRECs and other similar performance-based incentives are normally handled by your state government. Once your solar system meets the threshold (usually a small amount of energy production), you are eligible to receive SRECs that can then be sold to your utility company or other buyers. The money you receive is usually considered part of your taxable income.
- Net Metering: Net metering is an incentive you can get after your solar system is up and running. If you have a net metering agreement in place with your East Cleveland utility company, the company will subtract the value of the excess energy your solar system produces from your utility bill each month. In some areas, this credit is dollar-for-dollar, while in other places you may make back a percentage of the value.
- Tax Exemptions: These can come in the form of property tax exemptions, which would allow you to ignore the value added by your solar panels when paying taxes on your house. They may also include exemptions on sales tax at the time of purchase.
- Rebates: A rebate is a partial refund after the purchase of your solar system. Rebates may be offered by your local utility company, your state or your county. The rebates are usually applied before calculating tax credits.
- Tax Credits: Tax credits lower, dollar-for-dollar, the amount of income tax you owe the federal government. These differ from tax deductions.
Federal Solar Incentives
Federal solar incentives are likely the first thing that comes to mind when you think about solar incentives. The solar incentive that you may be most familiar with is the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which provides a credit on your taxes equal to a certain percentage of the cost of your solar system.
The ITC applies to the total cost of solar panel installation, including the panels themselves as well as accessories, labor and equipment. You can claim this credit for panels installed after January 1, 2006 on a primary or secondary residence located in the United States that you own. The tax credit ranges from 26-30% of total costs depending on when your project was completed. There is no maximum claim amount.
Contacting your local East Cleveland solar panel installer is the best way to understand how the ITC applies to your situation.
In August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act laid out new provisions for the ITC, now called the Clean Energy Credit. For solar systems installed between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2032, homeowners can receive a credit equal to 30% of the total cost. After 2033, the percentage will decrease annually until the Clean Energy Credit expires in 2035. Starting in 2023, the expansion to the program will also make claiming credit for energy storage systems easier than ever before.
Click here to learn more about the new Inflation Reduction Act. Your local East Cleveland solar panel installer can answer any questions you have and explain how the new Clean Energy Credit applies to you.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Some solar incentives are often also provided at the state and local level. Similar to federal incentives, these might include rebates, tax credits and more. Incentives may be given by your county or municipality, or by the state of Ohio. Certain incentives might only be available for a limited time, while others are ongoing.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in East Cleveland
You can apply for solar incentives from the Ohio government and the federal government, as well as from your local utility company. The increased availability of solar initiatives in the past 15 years has helped greatly increase nationwide adoption of solar energy. Reach out to your local solar panel installation expert today to learn more and to save as much money as possible on a solar system for your East Cleveland home.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Best Warranty Coverage
Sunpro Solar
- Industry-leading warranty coverage
- Expansive service area
- Some reported communication issues
- No leases or PPAs
EcoWatch's East Cleveland, OH Solar Incentives FAQs
Can I get any financial incentives when I add solar panels to a rental property, vacation home or commercial property?
While we recommend talking to your local solar installer and/or tax professional to best understand what solar incentives apply to you, many incentives can be claimed on a second home, as long as it is in the United States and owned by you. There may be additional incentives available specifically for commercial properties, depending on the details.
How do I learn if I qualify for certain solar incentives?
Generally, solar incentives apply to:
- a new solar system
- installed on a property that you own
- within the U.S.
- within the date range specified by a particular incentive.
Specific incentives, including those given out by the Ohio government or by your county/municipality, might have additional qualifications. Speak with your local East Cleveland solar installer to find out what incentives your project will qualify for.
Who installs solar panels near me?
To find the right solar panel installer for you, check out our guide to East Cleveland's best solar panel companies.
What are some environmental benefits of installing solar panels on my home?
Solar energy is a renewable energy source — by changing where you get your energy, you can help reduce the strain on our planet's resources. Solar panels can also lower the CO2 emissions from your home by 400 pounds annually, or roughly 8,000 pounds over 20 years.
If I change out my appliances for ones that can use solar energy, are there any incentives that I can claim?
The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act includes provisions for multiple incentives designed to reward homeowners who make eco-friendly upgrades. Some of these incentives include rebates and tax credits for installing new electric appliances. You can find more details about these incentives here.
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.