2024 Solar Incentives Guide for Aston, PA - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Aston.
You'll learn about:
- Local & State Solar Incentives
- Federal Tax Credits (Updated for 2024 and beyond)
- Ways to optimize your solar investment
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What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Aston?
High Performance Buildings Incentive Program
Commercial loans/loan guarantees: $2 million
Grants: Lesser of 10% of project costs or $500,000
Wind and Geothermal Incentives Program
Manufacturer grants: $5,000 per job created within 3 years
Loans for geothermal systems: $3 per square foot of space served up to $5 million; also limited to 50% of eligible costs for residential systems.
Loans for wind energy production projects: $5 million
Grants for wind energy production projects: $1 million
Grants for feasibility studies: 50% of cost up to $175,000
Loan guarantee grants: Up to 75% of deficient funds up to $5 million
Solar Alternative Energy Credits
High Performance Building Incentives Program
Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/
The term "solar incentives" refers broadly to financial incentives implemented by the government and by solar companies to encourage the adoption and use renewable energy by making installing and using solar panels more affordable. Various types of incentives, like discounts, cash back or credit towards your monthly utility bill, may be available to you. Some incentives may be provided via the state of Pennsylvania, by your utility company or by county or municipality, while others are federal. Some solar incentives you might qualify for are:
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): SRECs and other performance-based incentives might be available to you if your solar system produces more than a specified (generally small) amount of electricity. These types of incentives are usually handled at the state level. You can sell your SRECs to your utility company or other buyers, and the money you receive in return is usually considered part of your taxable income.
- 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 after your solar panels are up and running. If you've signed a net metering agreement with your Aston utility company, the company will subtract the value of the excess energy produced by your solar system from your monthly utility bill. In some locations, this is a dollar-for-dollar credit, while in others you might make back a percentage of the value.
- Tax Exemptions: Tax exemptions can come in two forms. First, there is sales tax exemption, which is applied when you purchase solar panels. The second is property tax exemption, which allows you to ignore the value added by your solar system when paying property tax on your home.
- Rebates: Rebates, or cash back after a purchase, are typically given prior to any solar tax credits being calculated. Solar rebates can be provided by your local utility company, by your state or by your county.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Federal Solar Incentives
Federal solar incentives are likely the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about solar incentives. It's likely that you've heard of the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit, or ITC. The ITC is a tax credit that reduces your taxes by a specified percentage of the money you spend on solar panels for your home.
The ITC is applied to the total cost of solar panel installation, including the panels themselves as well as equipment, labor and accessories. This credit can be claimed 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 understand exactly how much money the ITC could save you, speak with your local Aston solar panel installation expert.
The ITC was renewed and increased in scope after the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in August 2022. It's also now called the Clean Energy Credit. The new Clean Energy Credit now runs until 2035. Homeowners can now receive a 30% credit for solar systems that began installation on or after January 1, 2022, and will be done by December 31, 2032. This credit will then be decreased by a few percentage points every year until the date of expiration. Beginning in 2023, it will also be easier to claim credits for energy storage systems under the new laws.
More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. Your local Aston solar panel company is the best resource for answering your questions regarding the new Clean Energy Credit and how it applies to you.
State & Local Solar Incentives
There are often also state solar incentives in addition to those provided by the federal government. Rebates, tax credits and more can be offered at a more local level. These solar incentives — which might be provided by the state of Pennsylvania, or by your county or municipality — could be offered for only a limited time, or on an ongoing basis.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Aston
Solar incentives may come from the federal government, the Pennsylvania government or your local utility company. The large number of available incentives has helped nationwide use of solar energy increase greatly in the last 15 years. Reaching out to your local Aston solar panel installer is a great first step towards getting the most money possible when you switch to solar energy.
EcoWatch's Aston, PA Solar Incentives FAQs
My home already has solar panels installed. Are there any incentives that I qualify for?
You should plan to talk to a representative from the company that installed your solar panels – or call a local Aston solar installer — to clarify which incentives you may qualify for. If your solar panels were installed after January 1, 2022, you likely qualify for the recently increased 30% tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. Solar systems 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 add solar panels to my house in Aston?
On average, homeowners in Aston who install solar panels save around $818.43 per year, or approximately $15,550.26 over 20 years after making the switch.
Can I qualify for incentives both towards the up-front cost of solar panels, and later as reimbursement?
The order that incentives will be applied in might vary depending on which incentives you receive but usually 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 both solar and another type of renewable energy to power my home?
Yes, you can employ multiple types of renewable energy to power your home, such as a combination of solar and wind power. You can also use both renewable energy sources and a non-renewable backup source of energy. Be sure to discuss the details of your plan with your local Aston solar panel installer, to get an understanding of what will be needed and what types of incentives you may or may not 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.