2023 Solar Incentives Guide for West Greenwich, RI - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in West Greenwich.
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.
Get a free quote from one of our trusted West Greenwich solar installers to see how much you can save.
Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code!
Updated May 04, 2023
Why you can trust EcoWatch
What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in West Greenwich?
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/
Solar incentives help mitigate the cost of installing a solar panel system on your home. This category of financial incentives is in place to encourage more people to convert their home partially or fully to renewable energy. Solar incentives can include upfront discounts, cash back or monthly credits towards your utility bill. Some incentives are provided by the federal government, some by the state of Rhode Island and some by your specific utility company, county or municipality. Types of solar incentives might include:
- Net Metering: Net metering is an incentive you can get after your solar system is up and running. If you have a net metering agreement with your West Greenwich utility company, the company will subtract the value of the excess energy produced by your solar system from your monthly utility bill. In some locations, this is a dollar-for-dollar credit, while in other areas you may be refunded a percentage of the value.
- Rebates: A solar rebate is a partial refund credited to your account after you've paid for your solar panels. Rebates could be offered by your local utility company, your state or your county. The discount that rebates offer is normally applied to the price of solar panels before tax credits are calculated.
- Tax Credits: These credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions (not deductions) in how much in taxes you owe the government.
- Tax Exemptions: Tax exemptions can come in 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 house.
Federal Solar Incentives
Federal incentives are the type of incentives that you are most likely to have heard of. It's likely that you've heard of the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit, or ITC. This incentive is a tax credit equal to a certain percentage of the money you spend on your solar system.
The ITC applies towards solar systems installed after January 1, 2006 and allows you to deduct from your taxes a percentage of the total cost of solar panels, equipment, accessories and labor. You can claim this credit for 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 depending on when the project was completed, your credit may range from 26-30%. There is no maximum claim amount.
Wondering how the ITC applies to your specific situation? Reach out to your local West Greenwich solar panel installation expert to get more information.
In August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act expanded and extended the ITC, now titled the Clean Energy Credit. Homeowners are now eligible for a credit of 30% of the total solar system installation costs for projects that began after January 1, 2022 and will be finished by the end of 2032. This percentage will then decrease yearly until the Clean Energy Credit expires in 2035. Beginning in 2023, it will also be easier to qualify for credits for energy storage systems under the new laws.
Click here to learn more about the new Inflation Reduction Act. Your local West Greenwich solar panel installation experts can answer any questions you have and explain how the new Clean Energy Credit applies to you.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Some solar incentives are often also provided by state and local governments. Similar to federal incentives, these could include rebates, tax credits and more. Incentives may be given by the state of Rhode Island, or by your county or municipality. Some incentives are available for only a limited time, while others are ongoing.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in West Greenwich
Solar incentives may be offered by the federal government, the Rhode Island government or your local utility company. The growing number of solar incentives available has facilitated the nationwide growth of solar energy use in the last 15 years. Getting in touch with your local West Greenwich solar panel installation expert is the right first step towards getting all the incentives you qualify for when you switch to solar energy.
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
EcoWatch's West Greenwich, RI Solar Incentives FAQs
Can I get any financial incentives when I add solar panels to a vacation home, rental property or commercial property?
Many solar incentives apply to a property you own that is located within the United States; most secondary residences fall into this category. Other solar incentives may be available for commercial properties, depending on the specifics. We recommend talking to your local solar installer and/or tax professional to better understand what incentives will apply to your specific situation.
My home already has solar panels installed. Are there any incentives that I qualify for?
You should plan to talk to a representative from the company that installed your solar system — or get in touch with a local West Greenwich solar installer — to learn about which incentives you may qualify for. If your solar panels were 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%.
What are the environmental benefits of switching to solar energy?
You can reduce your carbon footprint by 200 pounds of CO2 annually when you install solar panels. This adds up to around 4,000 pounds over 20 years. Solar is also a renewable energy source, meaning that switching your home over reduces the drain on our planet's resources.
If I trade in my appliances for ones that can utilize solar energy, are there any benefits that I can claim?
The new Inflation Reduction Act provides a number of 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 qualify for incentives both towards the up-front cost of solar panels, and later as reimbursement?
Yes, you can receive both rebates and tax credits towards the cost of solar panels. Depending on which incentives you are applying for, they may apply in a different order. Make sure that you talk to your solar installer or a local tax professional to confirm that you are claiming incentives correctly and that you're getting the most money you can.
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.