2023 Solar Incentives Guide for Plumstead, PA - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Plumstead.
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 March 14, 2023
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What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Plumstead?
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 solar panels on your home. These financial incentives are designed to encourage more homeowners to convert their home partially or fully to renewable energy. Different kinds of incentives, such as cash back, discounts 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 other incentives are federal. Some solar incentives you might qualify for are:
- Net Metering: Net metering is an incentive you can get after your solar system is up and running. If you've signed a net metering agreement with your Plumstead utility company, they will subtract the value of the excess energy produced by your solar system from your monthly utility bill. In some places, this credit is dollar-for-dollar, while in other places you may make back a percentage of the value.
- Rebates: Rebates, or cash back after a purchase, are usually applied before any solar tax credits are calculated. Rebates might be provided by your local utility company, by your state or by your county.
- Tax Credits: Tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions (not deductions) in how much in taxes you owe the government.
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): SRECs can be sold to your utility company (or other buyers) for cash that is generally considered part of your taxable income. In most cases, you must meet a certain (small) threshold of energy production before your solar system qualifies for SRECs or other performance-based incentives. These kinds of incentives are normally handled by your state government.
- Tax Exemptions: These may come in the form of property tax exemptions, which would allow you to exclude the value added by your solar panels when paying property tax on your house. They may also include exemptions on sales tax at the time of purchase.
Federal Solar Incentives
Federal incentives are the kind of incentives that you are most likely to have some knowledge of. You may have heard of the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit, or ITC. This is a tax credit that reduces your taxes by a specified percentage of the money you spend on your solar system.
The ITC applies to the total cost of solar panel installation, including the panels themselves as well as labor, accessories and equipment. You can claim this credit 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.
Wondering how the ITC applies to your specific situation? Get in touch with your local Plumstead solar panel installer to get more information.
In August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act made revisions to the ITC, now dubbed the Clean Energy Credit. The Clean Energy Credit re-raises the credit up to 30% for solar installations undertaken between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2032. After 2032, the credit percentage will decrease slightly each year until the program expires in 2035. Starting in 2023, it will also be easier to obtain credits for energy storage systems under the new laws.
Click here to learn more about the new Inflation Reduction Act. To understand how the new Clean Energy Credit applies to you, talk to your local Plumstead solar installation company.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Some solar incentives are often also provided by state and local governments. As with federal incentives, these may include rebates, tax credits and more. These incentives — which might be given by the state of Pennsylvania, or by your county or municipality — may be offered on an ongoing basis, or for only a limited time.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Plumstead
Solar incentives can be offered by the federal government, the Pennsylvania government or your local utility company. The large number of available incentives has facilitated the nationwide growth of solar energy use in the last 15 years. We recommend talking to your local Plumstead solar installation expert to learn more about these incentives and to ensure that you're getting the most money possible for your solar panels.
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 Plumstead, PA Solar Incentives FAQs
How can I find out if I qualify for different solar incentives?
It's a smart idea to get in touch with your local Plumstead solar installer for a better understanding of which incentives your project may qualify for. Generally, solar incentives apply to new solar systems installed on a property you own (in the U.S.) within a specified date range. Some incentives, such as those provided at the level of the Pennsylvania government, might have other requirements.
How much will a solar system save me annually on my electric bill in Plumstead?
On average, homeowners in Plumstead who install solar panels save around $790.97 per year, or around $15,028.48 over 20 years after they make 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 annually by switching to solar panels. This adds up to around 5,000 pounds in 20 years. In addition, solar power is a renewable energy source, which means that switching your home over reduces the drain on our planet's resources.
If I change out my appliances for ones that use solar energy, are there benefits that I can claim?
The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act provides multiple incentives that reward homeowners for making eco-friendly upgrades. Some of these incentives include rebates and tax credits for installing new electric appliances. You can find more details about these incentives here.
Can I qualify for incentives both towards the up-front 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 receive multiple types of incentives for your solar project. Talk with your solar installer or a local tax professional to ensure 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.