2023 Solar Incentives Guide for Cranston, RI - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Cranston.
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 September 15, 2023
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What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Cranston?
Local Option - Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Systems
Renewable Energy Products Sales and Use Tax Exemption
Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Equipment
Small Scale Solar Grants (Commerce RI)
Direct Ownership: $1.05/W
Third Party Ownership: $0.70/W
Solar Domestic Hot Water Heating
Direct Ownership: 25% of project contract price
Third Party Ownership: 10% of total contract price
Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/
The term "solar incentives" broadly refers to financial incentives implemented by the government and by solar companies to encourage increased use of renewable energy by making installing and using solar panels more affordable. Different types of incentives, such as cash back, discounts or credit towards your monthly utility bill, might be available to you. Certain incentives may be offered by the Rhode Island government, by your utility company or by county or municipality, while others are federal. Some broad categories of solar incentives include:
- Rebates: Solar companies may help you claim a rebate, or partial refund of your purchase, for your solar panels. Counties or states will also sometimes offer limited-time rebates. If you receive a rebate, that amount will usually be deducted from your total price before tax credits are calculated.
- Net Metering: Net metering factors in after your solar panels are up and running. If you've signed a net metering agreement with your Cranston utility company, it 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 others you may get refunded a percentage of the value.
- Tax Exemptions: Tax exemptions can come in one of two forms. First, there is sales tax exemption, applied when you purchase solar panels. The second is property tax exemption. This allows you to ignore the value added by your solar system when paying property tax on your house.
- Tax Credits: Unlike tax deductions, tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions in the amount of income tax that you owe the government.
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
Federal Solar Incentives
Federal incentives are the type of incentives that you are most likely to have some familiarity with. One of the incentives that most people are probably familiar with is the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). The ITC is a tax credit for a given percentage of your solar system's cost.
The ITC applies towards solar systems installed after January 1, 2006 and lets you deduct from your taxes a percentage of the total cost of solar panels, equipment, labor and accessories. This credit can be claimed on solar panels installed on a primary or secondary residence that you own in the United States. The original claim amount was 30% of the total cost, although the amount you can claim may range between 26-30%. There is no maximum amount you can claim.
To know exactly how much the ITC could save you, get in touch with your local Cranston solar panel installation expert.
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. The Clean Energy Credit re-raises the credit up to 30% for solar installations undertaken between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2032. At this point, the percentage will see a slight decrease annually until the end of the program in 2035. The expansion to the program also makes claiming credit for energy storage systems easier than ever before, beginning in 2023.
More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. To understand how the new Clean Energy Credit will apply to you, get in touch with your local Cranston solar installers.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Some solar incentives are often also offered at the local or state level. Like with federal incentives, these could include rebates, tax credits and more. These solar incentives — which might be given by the state of Rhode Island, or by your county or municipality — could be offered for only a limited time, or on an ongoing basis.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Cranston
There are a number of different solar incentives: those given by local utility companies, those given by the federal government and those given by the Rhode Island government, to name a few. The use of solar energy has grown enormously in the last 15 years, thanks to these incentives. Getting in touch with your local Cranston solar panel installation expert is the right first step towards getting all the incentives you qualify for when you switch to solar energy.
EcoWatch's Cranston, RI Solar Incentives FAQs
What if I add solar panels to a rental property, vacation home or commercial property? Will I still qualify for incentives?
Many solar incentives apply to a property you own that is located within the United States, and most secondary residences fall into this category. Other solar incentives may be available for commercial properties, depending on the details. We recommend talking to your local solar installer and/or tax professional to better understand what incentives apply to your specific situation.
What are the best solar panel installation companies near me?
To find the best solar panel installer in your area, check out our guide to the top solar companies in Cranston.
What are some environmental benefits of installing solar panels on my house?
Solar energy is a renewable energy source — by changing where you get your energy, you help lessen the strain on our planet's resources. A solar system can also reduce the CO2 emissions from your home by 200 pounds a year, or roughly 4,000 pounds in 20 years.
If I change out my appliances for ones that can utilize solar energy, are there any incentives that I can claim?
The new Inflation Reduction Act includes provisions for a number of incentives meant to reward homeowners for making eco-friendly upgrades. Some incentives include tax credits and rebates for installing new electric appliances. You can find more details about these incentives here.
Can I use multiple types of renewable energy to power my home?
You can power your home with multiple types of renewable energy, or a combination of renewable and non-renewable energy. Make sure you go over your plan with your local Cranston solar installation expert. They can help you as you plan for your project and also help you understand the various incentives that 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.