2023 Solar Incentives Guide for West Caln, PA - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in West Caln.
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 West Caln?
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/
Solar incentives are designed to make renewable energy usage more affordable via financial incentives for those who install solar panels on their homes. These 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. Some broad categories of solar incentives include:
- Rebates: Rebates, or partial refunds after a purchase, are normally given prior to any solar tax credits being calculated. Solar rebates can be given by your local utility company, by your county or by your state.
- Tax Credits: Tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions (not deductions) in how much in taxes you owe the government.
- Tax Exemptions: Tax exemptions may come in one of two forms. The first is sales tax exemption, which is applied when you purchase solar panels. The second is property tax exemption, which allows you to ignore the added value of your solar system when calculating property tax for your home.
- Net Metering: Don't forget to speak with your West Caln utility company about signing a net metering contract. This allows you to get a credit towards your monthly utility bill for the value of excess energy generated by your solar panels. You could receive either a dollar-for-dollar credit or a percentage of the value.
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): SRECs and other performance-based incentives might be available to you if you have a solar system that produces more than a specified (usually small) amount of electricity. Performance-based incentives are typically handled by the state government. You can sell your SRECs to your utility company or other buyers, and the money you make is generally considered part of your taxable income.
Federal Solar Incentives
Federal incentives are the type 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 incentive is a tax credit that reduces your taxes by a specified percentage of the money you spend installing solar panels.
The ITC can be applied to solar systems installed after January 1, 2006 and lets you deduct from your taxes a percentage of the total cost of solar panels, equipment, accessories and labor. This credit can apply towards solar panels installed on a primary or secondary residence that you own in the United States. The original amount you could claim was 30% of the total cost, although certain projects may qualify for only 26%, depending on the details. There is no maximum amount you can claim.
To best understand how the ITC might apply to your situation, reach out to your local West Caln solar panel installer and ask for more information.
The ITC has been renewed and expanded following the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in August 2022. It's also now called the Clean Energy Credit. The Clean Energy Credit bolsters the current credit, increasing it up to 30% for solar installation projects started after January 1, 2022 and completed by the end of 2032. After 2032, the percentage will see a slight decrease annually until the end of the program in 2035. The program expansion also makes it easier to get credit for energy storage systems, beginning in 2023.
Click here to learn more about the new Inflation Reduction Act. Your local West Caln solar panel installation expert is the best person to answer your questions regarding the new Clean Energy Credit and how it applies to you.
State & Local Solar Incentives
There are more than just federal solar incentives; tax credits, rebates and more might also be offered at the local or state level. Incentives may be given by your county or municipality, or by the state of Pennsylvania. Certain incentives may be available for only a limited time, while others are ongoing.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in West Caln
The large number of available solar incentives has enormously increased the use of solar power nationwide over the last 15 years. You might qualify for solar incentives from the Pennsylvania government, the federal government or your local utility company. Contact your local solar panel installation expert today to find out more information and to save as much money as possible on solar panels for your West Caln home.
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EcoWatch's West Caln, PA Solar Incentives FAQs
What if I am planning to add solar panels to a vacation home, rental property or commercial property? Will I still qualify for incentives?
While we recommend speaking with your local solar installer and/or tax professional to best understand what solar incentives apply to you, many incentives apply to a second home, as long as it is in the United States and owned by you. There may be additional incentives available specifically for commercial properties, depending on the specifics.
How can I learn if I qualify for specific solar incentives?
Generally, solar incentives apply to:
- a new solar panel system
- installed on a property that you own
- within the U.S.
- within the date range specified by a particular incentive.
Specific incentives, including those run by the Pennsylvania government or by your county/municipality, could have additional qualifications. Get in touch with your local West Caln solar installer to learn more about what incentives your project may qualify for.
My home already has solar panels installed. Are there any incentives that I qualify for?
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 your system was installed between 2006 and 2021, you might qualify for a tax credit between 26% and 30%, depending on the year it was installed. Talking to the company that installed your solar system, or any local West Caln solar installer, can help you learn what incentives you might want to apply for.
What are the highest-rated solar panel installation companies near me?
To find the right solar panel installer for you, check out our guide to the top solar companies in West Caln.
If I trade in my appliances for ones that can utilize solar energy, are there any incentives that I can claim?
The new Inflation Reduction Act creates a number of new financial incentives that are available when you make eco-friendly improvements to your home. More details on these incentives, including information about incentives for purchasing new appliances, can be found here.
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.