2023 Solar Incentives Guide for Bensalem, PA - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Bensalem.
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 May 04, 2023
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What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Bensalem?
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 phrase "solar incentives" broadly refers to financial incentives put in place by solar companies and the government to encourage increased use of renewable energy by making installing and using solar panels more affordable. Various kinds of incentives, like cash back, discounts or monthly utility bill credits, may be available to you. Some incentives may be offered by the state of Pennsylvania, by your utility company or by county or municipality, while others are federal. Some broad categories of solar incentives include:
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): In general, solar systems that produce over a specific (usually small) amount of electricity can qualify for SRECs or other similar performance-based incentives. SRECs and the like are typically offered by your state government. SRECs can be sold to your utility company or another buyer, and generally the money you make is normally considered part of your taxable income.
- Net Metering: Net metering is an incentive you can get after your solar panels are up and running. If you have a net metering agreement with your Bensalem utility company, the company will subtract the value of the excess energy your solar system produces from your monthly utility bill. In some locations, this credit is dollar-for-dollar, while in other places you may receive a refund equivalent to a percentage of the value.
- Rebates: Some solar companies will help you claim a rebate, or partial refund after purchase, for your solar system. States or counties will also sometimes offer limited-time rebates. The value of a rebate will usually be deducted from the total price before any tax credits are calculated.
- Tax Exemptions: Sales tax exemptions are applied at the time of purchase for your solar panels. Property tax exemptions let you exclude the added value of your solar system when you're calculating the amount of property tax you need to pay.
- Tax Credits: These credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions (not deductions) in how much income tax you owe the federal government.
Federal Solar Incentives
When thinking about solar incentives, federal incentives are likely the first thing that comes to mind. The Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit, or ITC, is likely the most well-known federal solar incentive. The ITC offers a tax credit for a predetermined percentage of the cost of your solar system.
The ITC can be applied to solar panels installed on your primary or secondary residence in the United States. The solar system has to have been installed after January 1, 2006 on a property owned by you for you to be eligible for the credit. Originally, the ITC covered 30% of all costs (panels, accessories, labor and equipment), although the amount has fluctuated slightly over the last few years between 26-30%. The amount you qualify for will depend on when your solar system was installed. There is no cap on the claim amount.
To better understand exactly how much money the ITC could save you, contact your local Bensalem solar panel installer.
The ITC was both renewed and expanded by the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in August 2022. It's also now called the Clean Energy Credit. Homeowners are now eligible for a credit of 30% of the total solar system installation costs for projects started after January 1, 2022 and completed before the end of 2032. This percentage will then begin to decrease annually until the Clean Energy Credit ends in 2035. The expansion to the program also makes it easier to get credit for energy storage systems, beginning in 2023.
More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. To better understand how the new Clean Energy Credit might apply to you, get in touch with your local Bensalem solar installers.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Some solar incentives are often also provided by state and local governments. Similar to federal incentives, these can include rebates, tax credits and more. Certain incentives are ongoing, while others are offered for only a limited time. Your local solar incentives might come from your county or municipality, or from the Pennsylvania government.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Bensalem
There are many types of solar incentives: those offered by local utility companies, those offered by the federal government and those offered by the Pennsylvania government, to name a few. Solar energy use has grown tremendously in the last 15 years, partially due to these incentives. Your local Bensalem solar panel installer can give you more information about which incentives you may qualify for, and get you started on the path to switching to renewable energy today.
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EcoWatch's Bensalem, PA Solar Incentives FAQs
How much can I save annually on my electric bill if I install solar panels on my house in Bensalem?
When you add solar panels to your Bensalem home, you can anticipate savings of approximately $809.47 per year, or approximately $15,379.89 over the next 20 years.
What are the top solar panel installation companies near me?
To discover the best solar panel installers near you, take a look at our article on the top solar companies in Bensalem.
What are the environmental benefits of switching to solar energy?
You can reduce your carbon footprint by 250 pounds of CO2 a year when you switch to solar panels. This adds up to roughly 5,000 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.
If I switch my appliances out for ones that utilize solar energy, are there benefits I can claim?
The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act introduces a number of incentives meant to reward homeowners for making eco-friendly upgrades. Some of these incentives include tax credits and rebates for installing new electric appliances. You can find more details about these incentives here.
Can I qualify for incentives both towards the initial cost of solar panels, and later as reimbursement?
The order your incentives will be applied in may vary depending on which incentives you are eligible for but usually yes, you can claim multiple types of incentives for your solar project. Check with your solar installer or a local tax professional to make sure you are claiming all the incentives you are 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.
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.