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

In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Lawrence.

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.
Get a free quote from one of our trusted Lawrence solar installers to see how much you can save.

By EcoWatch Local Advisors

Data Analysis: James Savino

Updated January 24, 2025

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

Hamilton County - Home Improvement Program

Incentive Type:
Loan Program
$50,000

Local Option - Special Energy Improvement Districts

Incentive Type:
PACE Financing
Low-interest, 30-year loan

Energy Conservation for Ohioans (ECO-Link) Program

Incentive Type:
Loan Program
Rate reduction available for up to $50,000 and 7 years of the bank loan

Solar Renewable Energy Certificates Program (SRECs)

Incentive Type:
Solar Renewable Energy Credit Program
SREC prices vary based on market conditions

Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit

Incentive Type:
Personal Tax Credit
30% federal tax credit for systems placed in service after 12/31/2021 and before 01/01/2033. Good for: solar water heat, solar photovoltaics, biomass, geothermal heat pumps, wind (small), fuel cells using renewable fuels.

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


Solar incentives are intended to make renewable energy usage more affordable via financial incentives for those who install solar panels on their homes. Incentives might include things like discounts, cash back or monthly utility bill credits. Some incentives are provided by the federal government, while others are handled by the Ohio government or your utility company, county or municipality. Some broad categories of solar incentives include:

  • Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): SRECs and similar performance-based incentives are typically handled at the state level. Once your solar system meets a certain threshold (usually a small amount of energy production), you can receive SRECs that can then be sold to your utility company or other buyers. The money you make is generally considered part of your taxable income.
  • Tax Exemptions: Sales tax exemptions are effective at the time of purchase for your solar system. Property tax exemptions let you ignore the added value of your solar system when you're calculating how much property tax you need to pay.
  • Tax Credits: Tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions in the amount of income tax that you owe the federal government. (This is different from a tax deduction.)
  • Net Metering: Net metering factors in once your solar panels are up and running. If you have in place a net metering agreement with your Lawrence utility company, it will subtract the value of the excess energy produced by your solar system from your monthly utility bill. In some places, this is a dollar-for-dollar credit, while in other areas you may receive a refund equivalent to a percentage of the value.
  • Rebates: Solar rebates can be provided by your county or state, or by your local utility company. These rebates are essentially cash back that is applied after your purchase of a solar system and before tax credits are calculated.
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Federal Solar Incentives

When you think about solar incentives, you likely think of federal incentives first. The solar incentive that you're most likely to have heard of is the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which gives you a credit on your taxes equal to a percentage of the cost of your solar system.

The ITC applies to solar systems 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, accessories, equipment and labor – although that amount may range from 26-30%, depending on the installation date of your solar system. There is no cap on the claim amount.

To know exactly how much money the ITC could save you, talk to your local Lawrence solar panel installer.

In August 2022, the ITC (now titled the Clean Energy Credit) was expanded and extended by the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. The Clean Energy Credit re-raises the credit up to 30% for solar systems installed between 2022 and 2032. At this point, the credit percentage will see a slight decrease annually until the end of the program in 2035. Starting in 2023, the expansion to the program will also make credits for energy storage systems even easier to claim.

More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. Your local Lawrence solar panel installer can answer any questions you have and explain how the new Clean Energy Credit will apply to you.

State & Local Solar Incentives

There are often state solar incentives available in addition to federal ones. Rebates, tax credits and more can be offered at a more local level. Certain incentives are ongoing, while others are available for a limited time. Incentives might be given by the Ohio government, or by your county or municipality.

Next Steps for Installing Solar in Lawrence

The nationwide use of solar energy has significantly increased in the last 15 years, in part thanks to the increase in availability of solar incentives. You can obtain these incentives from your local utility company, the Ohio government or the federal government. We recommend talking to your local Lawrence solar installation company to learn more about these incentives and to make sure that you're getting all the money you can for your solar system.

EcoWatch's Lawrence, OH Solar Incentives FAQs

How do I learn if I qualify for certain solar incentives?

Broadly, solar incentives apply to:

  1. a new solar system
  2. installed on property that you own
  3. within the U.S.
  4. within the date range specified by a particular incentive.

Specific incentives, including ones handled by the Ohio government or by your county/municipality, sometimes have additional qualifications. Get in touch with your local Lawrence solar installer to learn more about what incentives your project will qualify for.

What are some environmental benefits of installing solar panels on my house?

Solar energy is renewable — by changing where you get your energy, you can help lessen the strain on our planet's resources. You can also reduce the CO2 emissions from your home by 400 pounds a year, or around 8,000 pounds over 20 years.

Can I apply for incentives both towards the up-front cost of solar panels, and later as reimbursement?

The order that incentives will be applied in could vary depending on which incentives you are claiming but generally yes, you can receive multiple types of incentives for your solar project. Check with your solar installer or a local tax professional to ensure you are claiming all possible incentives and applying them in the correct order.

Can I use a combination of multiple types 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. Make sure you discuss your plan with your local Lawrence solar installation expert. They can help you plan your project and educate you on the various incentives that 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.

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