2023 Solar Incentives Guide for Morrisville, PA - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Morrisville.
You'll learn about:
- Local & State Solar Incentives
- Federal Tax Credits (Updated for 2023 and beyond)
- Ways to optimize your solar investment
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Updated September 15, 2023
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What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Morrisville?
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 to financial incentives put in place by solar companies and the government to encourage people to use renewable energy by making installing and using solar panels more affordable. Solar incentives might include cash back, upfront discounts or monthly credits towards your utility bill. Some incentives are offered by the federal government, some by the state of Pennsylvania and some by your utility company, county or municipality. Categories of solar incentives include:
- Tax Exemptions: Your solar panels could qualify for exemptions on both sales and property tax. Sales tax exemptions come into effect at the time of purchase. Property tax exemptions allow you to exclude the value added by your solar panels when calculating property taxes on your home.
- Tax Credits: Unlike tax deductions, tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions in the amount of income tax that you owe the federal government.
- Net Metering: You may be able to sign a net metering agreement with your Morrisville utility company. This agreement may apply to all or a percentage of the excess electricity your solar panels generate. Your utility company will then deduct this value from your utility bill each month.
- Rebates: Solar rebates may be provided by your county or state, or by your local utility company. These rebates work as partial refunds that are applied after you purchase a solar system and before tax credits are calculated.
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): SRECs are credits that can be sold to your utility company (or other buyers) for money that is generally considered part of your taxable income. In most cases, a certain (small) threshold of energy production must be met before your solar system can earn SRECs or similar performance-based incentives. SRECs and similar incentives are typically handled at the state level.
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Federal Solar Incentives
Federal incentives are the type of incentives that you are most likely to have some knowledge of. An incentive many people are likely to be familiar with is the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). This is a tax credit for a specific percentage of the cost of your solar system.
The ITC applies to solar panels installed after January 1, 2006 on a primary or secondary residence in the United States that you own. Originally, the tax credit was for 30% of the total cost — for panels, labor, equipment and accessories — although that amount may range from 26-30%, depending on when your solar system was installed. There is no cap on the claim amount.
Your local Morrisville solar panel installer can provide more information about the ITC and how it might apply to your situation.
In August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act made revisions to the ITC, now titled the Clean Energy Credit. For solar systems installed between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2032, homeowners can receive a credit equal to 30% of the total cost. This percentage will decrease annually after 2032 until the Clean Energy Credit ends in 2035. Starting in 2023, it will also be easier to get credits for energy storage systems under the new laws.
Click here to learn more about the new Inflation Reduction Act. Your local Morrisville solar panel installer can answer your questions and explain how the new Clean Energy Credit applies to you.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Some solar incentives are often also provided at the state and local level. As with federal incentives, these may include tax credits, rebates and more. Some incentives are offered for only a limited time, while others are ongoing. Your local solar incentives may come from the Pennsylvania government, or from your specific county or municipality.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Morrisville
There are many types of solar incentives: those given by local utility companies, those given by the federal government and those given by the Pennsylvania government, to name a few. The use of solar energy has increased enormously in the last 15 years, thanks to these incentives. Getting in touch with your local Morrisville solar panel installation company is the right first step towards getting the most money possible when you switch to solar energy.
EcoWatch's Morrisville, PA Solar Incentives FAQs
How can I find out if I qualify for specific solar incentives?
It's a good idea to talk to your local Morrisville solar installer to get an understanding of which incentives your project may qualify for. Usually, solar incentives apply to new solar panel systems installed on property you own (in the U.S.) between the dates specified by the incentive. Some incentives, such as those offered by the government of Pennsylvania, might have additional requirements.
What are some environmental benefits of installing solar panels on my house?
You can decrease your carbon footprint by 250 pounds of CO2 annually 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 switching your home over lessens the drain on our planet's resources.
When does the federal solar tax credit end?
The federal solar tax credit, formerly known as the ITC and now called the Clean Energy Credit, is scheduled to end on 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 qualify for incentives both towards the initial cost of solar panels, and later as reimbursement?
The order your incentives will be applied in could vary depending on which incentives you are claiming but generally yes, you can receive multiple types of incentives for your solar project. Talk with your solar installer or a local tax professional to verify you are claiming all the incentives you are eligible for and applying them in the correct order.
Can I use multiple types of renewable energy to power my home?
Yes, you can use multiple types of renewable energy to power your home — for example, a combination of geothermal and solar. You can also combine renewable energy generation with a backup source of non-renewable energy. Make sure that you discuss your plan with your local Morrisville solar panel installer, to make sure you know what you'll need and what types of incentives you will or won't 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.