2023 Solar Incentives Guide for Lower Macungie, PA - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Lower Macungie.
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 Macungie solar installers to see how much you can save.
Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code!
Updated March 14, 2023
Why you can trust EcoWatch
What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Lower Macungie?
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 are designed to encourage homeowners to switch their home over to renewable energy by offering financial incentives meant to lower the burden of solar panel installation and use. Various kinds of incentives, such as discounts, cash back or credit towards your monthly utility bill, might be available to you. Some incentives may be handled 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:
- Rebates: Solar rebates can be provided by your state or county, or by your local utility company. These rebates work as cash back that is applied after you purchase a solar system and before tax credits are calculated.
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): SRECs and other performance-based incentives might be available to you if the solar system on your home produces more than a specified (generally small) amount of electricity. Performance-based incentives are typically handled by the state government. You can sell SRECs to your utility company or other buyers, and the money you make is usually considered part of your taxable income.
- Tax Credits: Tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions that lower the amount of income tax you owe the government. (This is different from a tax deduction.)
- Tax Exemptions: Sales tax exemptions are applied at the point of sale for your solar panels. Property tax exemptions let you ignore the value added by your solar system when you calculate the amount of property tax you need to pay on your home.
- 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 Macungie utility company, they will subtract the value of the excess energy produced by your solar system from your utility bill each month. In some places, this credit is dollar-for-dollar, while in other places you might be refunded a percentage of the value.
Federal Solar Incentives
Federal incentives are the kind of incentives that you are most likely to have some knowledge of. The solar incentive that you're most familiar with is probably the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which gives you a credit on your taxes equal to a percentage of the cost of your solar system.
The ITC covers solar systems installed after January 1, 2006 and allows you to deduct from your taxes a percentage of the total cost of solar panels, labor, accessories and equipment. You can claim this credit for a solar panel system installed on a primary or secondary residence in the United States that you own. Originally, you could claim 30% of the total cost, although depending on when the project was completed, your credit may range from 26-30%. There is no maximum amount you can claim.
To find out exactly how much the ITC could save you, contact your local Lower Macungie solar panel installer.
The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August 2022, added more provisions to the ITC (as well as retitling it the Clean Energy Credit). The new Clean Energy Credit is valid until 2035. American homeowners are now eligible for a 30% credit for solar systems installed between 2022 and 2032. This credit will then decrease annually until the date of expiration. The program expansion also makes it easier to get credit for energy storage systems, starting in 2023.
More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. To fully understand how the new Clean Energy Credit applies to you, reach out to your local Lower Macungie solar installation company.
State & Local Solar Incentives
In addition to federal solar incentives, there are often also state ones. Rebates, tax credits and more may be available at a more local level. These incentives may be handled by your county or municipality, or by the Pennsylvania government. Some incentives may be available for a limited time, while others are ongoing.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Lower Macungie
You can qualify for solar incentives from the federal government and the Pennsylvania government, as well as from your local utility company. This increase in availability of solar initiatives over the last 15 years has helped increase nationwide solar energy use enormously. We suggest talking to your local Lower Macungie solar installation expert for more information about these incentives and to ensure that you're getting the most money possible 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 Macungie, PA Solar Incentives FAQs
If my house already has solar panels, can I still claim incentives?
If your solar system was installed after January 1, 2022, you may qualify for the newly increased 30% tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. If you installed your system between 2006 and 2021, you might qualify for a tax credit between 26% and 30%, depending on the date of installation. Talking to the company that installed your solar system, or any local Lower Macungie solar installer, can help you learn what incentives you can apply for.
How much can I save annually on my electric bill if I add solar panels to my house in Lower Macungie?
Typically, homeowners in Lower Macungie who install solar panels save around $738.74 per year, or around $14,036.15 over 20 years after they make the switch.
What are some of the environmental benefits of switching to solar energy?
You can reduce your carbon footprint by 250 pounds of CO2 annually when you install solar panels. This adds up to roughly 5,000 pounds in 20 years. Solar is also a renewable energy source, which means that switching your home over lessens the drain on our planet's resources.
How long until the federal solar tax credit ends?
The federal solar tax credit, formerly known as the ITC and now called the Clean Energy Credit, is slated 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 use a combination of multiple types of renewable energy to power my home?
You can use multiple types of renewable energy, or a combination of renewable and non-renewable energy, to power your home. Make sure you discuss your plan with your local Lower Macungie solar installation expert. They can help you as you plan for your project and also help you understand the various incentives that 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.