2025 Solar Incentives Guide for Lincoln City, OR - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Lincoln City.
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 Lincoln City?
Renewable Energy Systems Exemption
Consumers Power, Inc - Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
Duct Sealing: $250
Insulation: 25% of cost up to $500
Heat Pumps: $500 (Upgrades); $2,000 (New)
Heat Pump Commissioning and Controls: $300
Ductless Heat Pumps: $500 - $1,000
Marathon Water Heater: $749 - $1,359
Heat Pump Water Heater: $300 - $600
Low Flow Shower Heads: Free
Clothes Washers: $30
Clothes Dryer: $50
Smart Power Strips: Free
LED Light bulbs: discounts vary
Smart Thermostat: $100
Energy Star New Home: $1,200
Custom Renewable Energy Projects
Solar Electric Incentive Program
Solar + Storage Rebate Program
State Energy Loan Program
Columbia River PUD - Solar PV Net Metering Rebate
New Homes Incentive Program
Solar ready incentive: up to $200
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 in place to encourage more homeowners to switch to renewable energy. Incentives may include things like discounts, cash back or credit on your utility bill each month. Some incentives are offered federally, while others are offered by the Oregon government or by your utility company, county or municipality. Some broad categories of solar incentives include:
- Net Metering: You can sign a net metering contract with your Lincoln City utility company, that may apply to all or a percentage of the excess electricity your solar panels generate. They will then deduct this value from your utility bill each month.
- Tax Exemptions: Your solar panels could qualify for exemptions on both sales and property tax. Sales tax exemptions are applied at the time of purchase. Property tax exemptions allow you to ignore the added value of the solar panels when calculating property taxes on your house.
- Tax Credits: Tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions that lower the amount of income tax you owe the federal government. (A tax credit is different from a tax deduction.)
- Rebates: Rebates, or cash back after a purchase, are normally given before any solar tax credits are calculated. These rebates may be provided by your local utility company, by your state or by your county.
Federal Solar Incentives
Federal solar incentives are likely to be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about solar incentives. One of the incentives many people are probably familiar with is the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). This incentive is a tax credit for a specified percentage of your solar system's cost.
The ITC applies to the total cost of installing a solar system, including the panels themselves as well as accessories, equipment and labor. You can claim this credit for panels installed after January 1, 2006, on a primary or secondary residence that you own and that is located in the United States. From its original value of 30% of the total cost, the credit has fluctuated slightly between 26-30%, and you may qualify for varying percentages depending on when your project was completed. There is no maximum claim amount.
To more fully understand how the ITC could apply to your situation, speak to your local Lincoln City solar panel installation expert and request more information.
In August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act made revisions to the ITC, now referred to as the Clean Energy Credit. For solar system installations that begin after January 1, 2022, and are completed by the end of 2032, homeowners can apply for a credit for 30% of the total cost. After 2033, the percentage will decrease annually until the Clean Energy Credit expires in 2035. The program expansion also makes credits for energy storage systems even easier to claim, beginning in 2023.
More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. To understand how the new Clean Energy Credit applies to you, talk to your local Lincoln City solar installers.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Federal solar incentives are not your only option; rebates, tax credits and more may be offered at the state and local level. Certain incentives are ongoing, while others might only be available for a limited time. These incentives might be given by the Oregon government, or by your county or municipality.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Lincoln City
There are many kinds of solar incentives: those given by local utility companies, those offered by the federal government and those given by the Oregon government, to name a few. Solar energy utilization has grown enormously in the last 15 years, partially due to these incentives. Your local Lincoln City solar panel installation company can help you learn more about which incentives you may qualify for, and get you started on the path to switching to renewable energy today.
EcoWatch's Lincoln City, OR Solar Incentives FAQs
If I already have solar panels, can I still claim incentives?
If your solar panels were installed after January 1, 2022, you may qualify for the newly increased 30% tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. If your system was installed between 2006 and 2021, you might qualify for a tax credit between 26% and 30%, depending on the year it was installed. Speaking with the company that installed your system, or any local Lincoln City solar installer, can help you understand what incentives you can apply for.
What are the top solar panel installation companies near me?
To find the right solar panel installer for you, check out our guide to Lincoln City's best solar panel companies.
What are some environmental benefits of installing solar panels on my house?
Solar energy is a renewable energy source — by changing where you get your energy, you help lessen the strain on our planet's resources. Solar panels can also lower your home's CO2 emissions by 40 pounds a year, or around 800 pounds over 20 years.
When does the federal solar tax credit end?
The federal solar tax credit, formerly called the ITC and now named 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.
Can I claim incentives both towards the initial cost of solar panels, and later as reimbursement?
The order in which incentives are applied might vary depending on which incentives you receive but typically yes, you can receive multiple types of incentives for your solar project. Get in touch with your solar installer or a local tax professional to ensure you are claiming all the incentives you're eligible for 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.