2023 Solar Incentives Guide for Garden City, SC - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Garden City.
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 Garden City?
Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Property Tax Exemption
Santee Cooper - Rooftop Solar Rebate Program
Non-Profit: $1.30/W
Solar Energy, Small Hydropower, and Geothermal Tax Credit (Corporate)
Solar Energy, Small Hydropower, and Geothermal Tax Credit (Personal)
Santee Cooper - Renewable Energy Resource Loans
Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/
Solar incentives are intended to encourage homeowners to make the switch to renewable energy by providing financial incentives that lower the burden of solar panel installation and use. Incentives may include things like discounts, cash back or monthly utility bill credits. Some incentives are handled federally, while others are offered by the South Carolina government or your utility company, county or municipality. Some solar incentives you might qualify for are:
- Rebates: Solar rebates can be provided by your county or state, or by your local utility company. These rebates are essentially cash back that is applied after you purchase a solar system and before tax credits are calculated.
- Net Metering: Net metering is an incentive you can get once your solar system is up and running. If you have a net metering agreement with your Garden City 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 is a dollar-for-dollar credit, while in others you might make back a percentage of the value.
- Tax Exemptions: Sales tax exemptions are effective at the point of sale for your solar system. Property tax exemptions allow you to exclude the added value of your solar system when you're calculating the amount of property tax you need to pay on your house.
- Tax Credits: Tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions in the amount of income tax that you owe the government. (A tax credit is different from a tax deduction.)
Federal Solar Incentives
When thinking about solar incentives, federal incentives may be the first thing that comes to mind. The solar incentive that you're most likely to have heard of is the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which provides a credit on your taxes equal to a specified percentage of your solar system's cost.
The ITC can be credited towards the value of solar panels installed on your primary or secondary residence in the United States. The solar system has to have been installed on a property you own after January 1, 2006 for you to be eligible for the credit. Originally, the ITC covered 30% of all system costs (panels, labor, equipment and accessories), although the amount has fluctuated over the last few years between 26-30%. The amount you qualify for will depend on when your solar system was installed. There is no cap on the claim amount.
Reaching out to your local Garden City solar panel installer is the best way to understand how the ITC applies to you.
The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August 2022, expanded and extended the ITC (as well as retitling it 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. The percentage will then decrease on a yearly basis until the Clean Energy Credit expires in 2035. Starting in 2023, it will also be easier to get credits for energy storage systems under this new program.
More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. To understand how the new Clean Energy Credit will apply to you, speak with your local Garden City solar installers.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Rebates, tax credits and more might be provided at multiple levels. On top of federal solar incentives, there are often state and local ones as well. These solar incentives — which might be handled by the state of South Carolina, 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 Garden City
The expanding number of solar incentives available has contributed greatly to the increase in the nationwide adoption of solar energy over the past 15 years. You can get solar incentives from your local utility company, the South Carolina government or the federal government. Talking to your local Garden City solar panel installation expert is the right first step towards getting all the incentives you qualify for when you switch to solar energy.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
Outstanding Regional Installer
Renu Energy Solutions
- Excellent reputation
- Many financing options
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- No leases or PPAs
EcoWatch's Garden City, SC Solar Incentives FAQs
How do I learn if I qualify for solar incentives?
It's best to speak with your local Garden City solar installer for a better understanding of which incentives your project may qualify for. Usually, solar incentives apply to new solar panel systems installed on a property you own (in the U.S.) within a specified date range. Some incentives, like those offered by the government of South Carolina, might have other requirements.
If I already have a solar system installed on my house, can I still claim incentives?
An excellent idea would be to talk to someone from the company that installed your system — or call a local Garden City solar installer — to better understand which incentives you might qualify for. If your solar panels were installed after January 1, 2022, you likely qualify for the recently increased 30% tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. Solar panels installed between 2006 and 2021 may qualify for a tax credit of 26-30%.
Who installs solar panel systems near me?
To discover the top solar panel installation companies near you, read our article on the top solar companies in Garden City.
What are some environmental benefits of installing solar panels on my home?
You can reduce your carbon footprint by 350 pounds of CO2 a year by switching to solar panels. This adds up to roughly 7,000 pounds in 20 years. In addition, solar power is a renewable energy source, which means that switching your home over lessens the drain on our planet's resources.
I want to trade in my old appliances for ones that are more energy-efficient. Are there any incentives I can claim?
With the passage of the new Inflation Reduction Act, there are several new financial incentives to encourage you to make eco-friendly improvements to your home. More details about 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.