2025 Solar Incentives Guide for St. Marys, OH - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in St. Marys.
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 St. Marys?
Hamilton County - Home Improvement Program
Local Option - Special Energy Improvement Districts
Energy Conservation for Ohioans (ECO-Link) Program
Solar Renewable Energy Certificates Program (SRECs)
Dayton Power and Light - Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
Air Conditioning: $100 - $150, varies by efficiency and equipment application
Air Source Heat Pump: $150 - $250, varies by efficiency and equipment application
Geothermal Heat Pump: $800 - $1,000, varies by efficiency and equipment application
Heat Pump Water Heaters: $400
Airlfow/Climate Control
WiFi Thermostat: $20-$30
Smart Thermostat: $75
Air Insulation & Sealing: Up to $650, must be through approved contractors
Appliance Recycling: $50
Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/
Solar incentives are meant to encourage homeowners to switch to renewable energy by offering financial incentives that lower the burden of solar panel installation and use. Incentives could include things like discounts, cash back or credit on your utility bill each month. Some incentives are handled federally, while others are handled by the Ohio government or by your specific utility company, county or municipality. You might qualify for any of the following types of solar incentives:
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): SRECs and similar performance-based incentives may be available to you if the solar system on your home produces over a specified (typically small) amount of electricity. These types of incentives are usually handled at the state level. You can sell any SRECs you have to your utility company or other buyers, and the money you receive in return is usually considered part of your taxable income.
- Rebates: A rebate is a partial refund given after you've purchased your solar system. These might be offered by your local utility company, your county or your state. The rebates are usually applied before calculating tax credits.
- Tax Exemptions: Sales tax exemptions are effective at the time of purchase for your solar panels. Property tax exemptions allow you to exclude the value that your solar panels add when you're calculating how much property tax you need to pay on your home.
- Net Metering: Net metering is an incentive you can get once your solar system is up and running. If you have a net metering agreement with your St. Marys utility company, the company will subtract the value of the excess energy your solar system produces from your utility bill each month. In some places, this credit is dollar-for-dollar, while in other areas you may receive a refund equivalent to a percentage of the value.
- Tax Credits: Different from tax deductions, tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions in the amount of income tax that you owe the federal government.
Federal Solar Incentives
When you hear the term "solar incentives," federal incentives might be the first thing that comes to mind. The solar incentive that you're most likely to have heard of is the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which provides a credit on your taxes equal to a predetermined percentage of the cost of your solar system.
The ITC applies to the total cost of installing solar panels, including the panels themselves as well as equipment, labor and accessories. You can claim this credit for panels installed after January 1, 2006, on a primary or secondary residence that you own, as long as it is located in the United States. Originally set at 30% of total costs, the credit has fluctuated over time, and you may qualify for different amounts depending on when your project was completed. There is no maximum amount you can claim.
Your local St. Marys solar panel installation expert can provide you with more information about the ITC and how it might apply to your situation.
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. The new Clean Energy Credit extends until 2035. You can now receive a 30% credit for solar systems installed between 2022 and 2032. This credit will then be decreased by a few percentage points every year until its expiration. Starting in 2023, the program expansion will also make it easier to get credit for energy storage systems.
Click here to learn more about the new Inflation Reduction Act. The best way to learn more about how the new Clean Energy Credit will apply to you is to talk with your local St. Marys solar panel installation expert.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Tax credits, rebates and more can be claimed at multiple levels. On top of federal solar incentives, there are often state and local ones as well. These incentives — which may be handled by the state of Ohio, 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 St. Marys
Solar energy use nationwide has gone up tremendously in the past 15 years, in part thanks to the proliferation of solar incentives. You can obtain these incentives from your local utility company, the federal government or the Ohio government. Speaking with your local St. Marys solar panel installer is the right first step towards getting the most money possible when you switch to solar energy.
EcoWatch's St. Marys, OH Solar Incentives FAQs
How do I know if I qualify for specific solar incentives?
It's a smart idea to get in touch with your local St. Marys solar installer to get an understanding of which incentives your project may qualify for. Generally, solar incentives apply to new solar systems installed on a property you own (in the U.S.) between the dates specified by the incentive. Some incentives, like those offered by the government of Ohio, may have additional requirements.
What are the top solar panel installation companies near me?
To find a top-rated solar panel installer, check out our guide to the best solar companies in St. Marys.
How long until the federal solar tax credit ends?
The federal solar tax credit, formerly called the ITC and now titled the Clean Energy Credit, is set to end January 1, 2035. The current 30% credit will end in 2032, replaced by a 26% credit in 2033 and a 22% credit in 2034.
If I change out my appliances for ones that can use solar energy, are there benefits that I can claim?
Under the new Inflation Reduction Act, there are a variety of new financial incentives for making eco-friendly improvements to your home. More details regarding these incentives, including information about incentives for purchasing new appliances, can be found here.
Can I receive incentives both towards the initial cost of solar panels, and later as reimbursement?
The order your incentives will be applied in might vary depending on which incentives you are claiming but typically yes, you can receive multiple types of incentives for your solar project. Talk with your solar installer or a local tax professional to confirm you are claiming all possible incentives and applying them in the correct order.
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.