2023 Solar Incentives Guide for Lower Alsace, PA - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Lower Alsace.
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.
Get a free quote from one of our trusted Lower Alsace solar installers to see how much you can save.
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Updated March 14, 2023
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What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Lower Alsace?
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
First Energy (MetEdison, Penelec, Penn Power, West Penn Power) - Residential Solar Water Heating Program
FirstEnergy (MetEdison, Penelec, Penn Power, West Penn Power) - Residential Energy Efficiency Programs
Refrigerator: $75
Clothes Washer: $25- $50
Clothes Dryer: $50
Freezers: $25
Dehumidifiers: $25
Fridge/Freezer Recycling: $50
HVAC
HVAC tune up: $50
Furnace Fan Motor: $150
Ductless Minisplit AC : $200
Central AC: $100 - $200
Air Source Heat pump: $250 - $500
Geothermal Heat Pump: $600
Packaged Terminal AC: $75
Packaged Terminal Heat Pump: $150
Programmable Thermostat: $25
Others
Solar Water Heat: $500
Heat Pump Water Heater: $500
Home Energy Audit: $250
Lighting: Available as in-store discount in participating stores
Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/
Solar incentives help mitigate the cost of installing a solar panel system on your home. Financial incentives like these are in place to encourage more homeowners to switch their home over to renewable energy. Different kinds of incentives, including cash back, discounts or monthly utility bill credits, might be available to you. Some incentives may be provided via the Pennsylvania government, by your utility company or by county or municipality, while other incentives are federal. Categories of solar incentives include:
- Net Metering: Net metering becomes relevant after your solar system is up and running. If you've signed a net metering agreement with your Lower Alsace utility company, the company will subtract the value of the excess energy produced by your solar system from your monthly utility bill. In some places, this is a dollar-for-dollar credit, while in other areas you might make back a percentage of the value.
- Tax Exemptions: Your solar panel system may qualify for both sales tax and property tax exemptions. Sales tax exemptions come into effect at the time of purchase. Property tax exemptions let you ignore the value that solar panels add when you are calculating property taxes on your home.
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): SRECs and similar other performance-based incentives may be available to you if the solar system on your home produces over a specified (usually small) amount of electricity. This category of incentives is normally handled at the state level. You can sell SRECs to your utility company or other buyers, and the money you receive in return is typically considered part of your taxable income.
- Rebates: Solar rebates might be provided by your local utility company, or by your county or state. These rebates are essentially partial refunds that are applied after your purchase of a solar system and before tax credits are calculated.
- Tax Credits: Tax credits decrease, dollar-for-dollar, how much income tax you owe the federal government. Tax credits differ from tax deductions.
Federal Solar Incentives
When people think of solar incentives, federal incentives might be the first thing that comes to mind. A federal incentive that most people are likely familiar with is the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). This incentive is a tax credit for a predetermined percentage of the cost of your solar system.
The ITC was originally for 30% of the cost of installing solar panels, although that number has fluctuated slightly over the last few years between 26-30%. The installation date of your solar system will determine what percentage you qualify for. The cost of installation includes the panels themselves as well as the cost of equipment, labor and accessories. 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.
To better understand how the ITC could apply to your situation, speak to your local Lower Alsace solar panel installer and ask for more information.
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 is valid until 2035. You are now eligible for a 30% credit for solar systems that began installation on or after January 1, 2022 and will be done by December 31, 2032. The credit will then decrease annually until it expires. The expansion also makes claiming credit for energy storage systems easier than ever before, starting in 2023.
More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. To best understand how the new Clean Energy Credit might apply to you, speak with your local Lower Alsace solar installation expert.
State & Local Solar Incentives
There are more than just federal solar incentives; tax credits, rebates and more are often offered at the state and local level. These incentives might be given out by the Pennsylvania government, or by your county or municipality. Certain incentives are available for a limited time, while others are ongoing.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Lower Alsace
Solar incentives can come from the Pennsylvania government, the federal 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. We recommend talking to your local Lower Alsace solar installer to learn more about these incentives and to be sure that you're getting all of the money you can for your solar system.
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
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 Lower Alsace, PA Solar Incentives FAQs
Can I claim incentives for adding solar panels to a vacation home, rental property or commercial property?
While we recommend getting in touch with your local solar installer and/or tax professional to best understand what solar incentives apply to you, many can be claimed on a second home, so long as that home is in the United States and owned by you. There may be other incentives available for commercial properties specifically, depending on the details.
How much can I save on my electric bill annually if I install solar panels on my house in Lower Alsace?
Generally, homeowners in Lower Alsace who install solar panels save approximately $769.72 per year, or approximately $14,624.65 over 20 years after making the switch.
What are some environmental benefits of adding solar panels to my house?
You can lower your carbon footprint by 250 pounds of CO2 a year by switching to solar panels. This adds up to roughly 5,000 pounds over 20 years. In addition, solar power is a renewable energy source, which means that making the switch reduces the drain on our planet's resources.
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.
Can I claim 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 claim multiple types of incentives for your solar project. Get in touch with your solar installer or a local tax professional to confirm you are claiming all of the incentives you qualify 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.