2024 Solar Incentives Guide for Willistown, PA - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Willistown.
You'll learn about:
- Local & State Solar Incentives
- Federal Tax Credits (Updated for 2024 and beyond)
- Ways to optimize your solar investment
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What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Willistown?
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 phrase "solar incentives" includes a wide range of financial incentives implemented to make installing and using solar panels more affordable. This is done to encourage people to switch to renewable energy. Different types of incentives, like cash back, discounts or monthly utility bill credits, may 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. Types of solar incentives might include:
- Net Metering: Don't forget to talk to your Willistown utility company about signing a net metering agreement. This will allow you to receive credit towards your utility bill every month for the value of excess energy generated by your solar panels. You may receive either a dollar-for-dollar credit or a percentage of the value.
- Rebates: A rebate is a partial refund after the purchase of your solar panels. Rebates could be offered by your local utility company, your state or your county. The cash back that you get from the rebates is normally applied before calculating tax credits.
- Tax Exemptions: Sales tax exemptions are effective at the point of sale for your solar panels. Property tax exemptions let you exclude the added value of your solar system when calculating how much property tax you need to pay on your house.
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): SRECs can be sold to your utility company (or other buyers) for cash that normally counts as part of your taxable income. In most cases, a certain (small) threshold of energy production must be met before your solar system qualifies for SRECs or similar performance-based incentives. Incentives like these are typically handled at the state level.
- Tax Credits: Tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions that lower the amount of income tax you owe the federal government. (A tax credit is different from a tax deduction.)
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Federal Solar Incentives
Federal solar incentives are probably the first thing that you think of when you think about solar incentives. You may have heard of the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit, or ITC. This is a tax credit that reduces your taxes by a certain percentage of the money you spend on your solar system.
The ITC can be applied to solar panels installed after January 1, 2006, on a primary or secondary residence in the United States that you own. The credit initially covered 30% of the total cost – for panels, labor, equipment and accessories – although that amount may range from 26-30%, depending on when your solar project was undertaken. There is no cap on the claim amount.
Wondering how the ITC applies to your specific situation? Get in touch with your local Willistown solar panel installation expert to get more information.
The ITC was both renewed and expanded by the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in August 2022. It's also now called the Clean Energy Credit. Under the new program, solar installation projects begun after January 1, 2022, and finished by December 31, 2032, might qualify for a 30% tax credit. This credit amount will then see a slight annual decrease until the end of the current Clean Energy Credit in 2035. Starting in 2023, the expansion will also make claiming credit for energy storage systems easier than ever before.
More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. The best way to understand how the new Clean Energy Credit applies to you is to get in touch with your local Willistown solar panel company.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Rebates, tax credits and more can be provided at multiple levels. Along with federal solar incentives, there are often state and local ones as well. Some incentives are ongoing, while others are only available for a limited time. These incentives may be offered by your county or municipality, or by the Pennsylvania government.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Willistown
Solar energy use nationwide has increased enormously in the last 15 years, in part due to the increase in availability of solar incentives. You may get these incentives from your local utility company, the federal government or the Pennsylvania government. We suggest talking to your local Willistown solar installation company for more information about these incentives and to ensure that you're getting the most money possible for your solar system.
EcoWatch's Willistown, PA Solar Incentives FAQs
I already have solar panels installed. Do I qualify for any incentives?
Your best bet is to talk to a representative from the company that installed your system – or call a local Willistown solar installer — to clarify which incentives you may qualify for. If your system was installed after January 1, 2022, you likely qualify for the newly increased 30% tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. Systems installed between 2006 and 2021 may qualify for a tax credit of 26-30%.
When does the federal solar tax credit end?
The federal solar tax credit, formerly called the ITC and now named the Clean Energy Credit, is slated 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.
If I change out my appliances for ones that utilize solar energy, are there benefits I can claim?
The new Inflation Reduction Act includes provisions for several incentives that reward homeowners for making eco-friendly upgrades. Some of these incentives include tax credits and rebates for installing new electric appliances. You can find more details about these incentives here.
Can I claim incentives for adding solar panels to a vacation home, rental property or commercial property?
While we recommend talking to your local solar installer and/or tax professional to fully understand what solar incentives apply to you, many incentives can be claimed on a second home, provided that it is in the United States and owned by you. There may be other incentives available for commercial properties specifically, depending on the details.
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.