2023 Solar Incentives Guide for Union, OH - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Union.
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 March 14, 2023
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What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Union?
Hamilton County - Home Improvement Program
Local Option - Special Energy Improvement Districts
Energy Conservation for Ohioans (ECO-Link) Program
Solar Renewable Energy Certificates Program (SRECs)
Duke Energy (Gas & Electric) - Residential Efficiency Rebate Program
Central AC or Heat pump: $300-$400
Geothermal Heat Pump: $400
Smart Thermostat: $125
Heat Pump Water Heater: $350
Variable Speed Pool Pumps: $300
Duct Sealing: $100
Duct Insulation: $75
Attic Insulation and Air Sealing: $250
Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/
Solar incentives are designed to mitigate the cost of installing a solar panel system on your home. These financial incentives are intended to encourage more people to switch to renewable energy. Various kinds of incentives, including cash back, discounts or credit towards your monthly utility bill, might be available to you. Some incentives may be offered by 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: Solar rebates might be provided by your state or county, or by your local utility company. These rebates are essentially partial refunds that are applied after you purchase solar panels and before tax credits are calculated.
- Tax Credits: Different from tax deductions, tax credits reduce, dollar-for-dollar, the amount of income tax that you owe the government.
- Net Metering: You can sign a net metering contract with your Union utility company that will apply to all or a percentage of the excess electricity that is generated by your solar panels. They will then subtract this value from your utility bill each month.
- Tax Exemptions: Tax exemptions can come in one of two forms. First, there is sales tax exemption, which is applied at the time you purchase your solar panels. The second is property tax exemption, which allows you to exclude the added value of your solar system when paying property tax on your home.
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): Typically, solar systems that produce over a threshold (usually small) amount of electricity qualify for SRECs or similar performance-based incentives. SRECs and the like are typically given at the state level. SRECs can be sold to your utility company or another buyer, and the money you receive is normally considered part of your taxable income.
Federal Solar Incentives
When thinking about solar incentives, you probably think of federal incentives first. A federal 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 initially applied to 30% of the cost of installing a solar system, and has fluctuated slightly over the last few years between 26-30%. The percentage you qualify for will depend on when your solar system was installed. The cost of installation includes the panels themselves as well as the cost of labor, accessories and equipment. There is no maximum amount you can claim. The ITC can be applied to solar systems installed after January 1, 2006 on your primary or secondary residence. The residence must be in the United States and owned by you.
Speaking with your local Union solar panel installer is the best way to understand how the ITC applies to your situation.
The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August 2022, expanded and extended the ITC (as well as renaming it to the Clean Energy Credit). Homeowners can now receive a credit equal to 30% of the total costs of solar system installation for projects started after January 1, 2022 and completed before the end of 2032. The credit percentage will then begin to decrease yearly until the Clean Energy Credit expires in 2035. Starting in 2023, the expansion to the program will also make credits for energy storage systems even easier to claim.
Click here to learn more about the new Inflation Reduction Act. The best way to understand how the new Clean Energy Credit might apply to you is to talk with your local Union solar panel company.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Some solar incentives may be offered at the local or state level. Similar to federal incentives, these could include tax credits, rebates and more. Some incentives are offered for only a limited time, while others are ongoing. Local solar incentives could come from the Ohio government, or from your specific county or municipality.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Union
You can qualify for solar incentives from the Ohio government and the federal government, as well as from your local utility company. Growing availability of solar initiatives over the last 15 years has helped increase solar adoption nationwide. Your local Union solar panel installation company 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.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
EcoWatch's Union, OH Solar Incentives FAQs
How can I find out if I qualify for specific solar incentives?
Generally, solar incentives apply to:
- a new solar system
- installed on property you own
- within the U.S.
- within the date range specified by a particular incentive.
Specific incentives, including ones handled by the Ohio government or by your county/municipality, may have additional qualifications. Speak with your local Union solar installer to discover what incentives your project may qualify for.
If I already have a solar system installed on my house, can I still claim incentives?
You should plan to talk to a representative from the company that installed your solar panels — or speak to a local Union solar installer — to learn about which incentives you might qualify for. If your solar panels were installed after January 1, 2022, you likely qualify for the newly increased 30% tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. Solar panels installed between 2006 and 2021 may qualify for a tax credit of 26-30%.
How much can I save on my electric bill annually if I install solar panels on my Union home?
Once you add solar panels to your home in Union, you can anticipate savings of around $678.45 per year, or around $12,890.63 over 20 years.
What are some of the environmental benefits of switching to solar?
You can decrease your carbon footprint by 450 pounds of CO2 annually by switching to solar panels. This adds up to around 9,000 pounds in 20 years. Solar is also a renewable energy source, which means that making the switch lessens the drain on our planet's resources.
Can I use a combination of multiple types of renewable energy to power my home?
Yes, you can employ multiple types of renewable energy to power your home — for example, a combination of wind and solar. You can also use both renewable energy sources and a non-renewable backup source of energy. You should discuss your proposed plan with your local Union solar panel installer, so that you understand what you'll need and what kinds 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.
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.