2023 Solar Incentives Guide for Ashburn, VA - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Ashburn.
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 Ashburn?
Income Tax Deduction for Energy-Efficient Products
Local Option- Renewable Energy Machinery and Tools Property Tax Exemption
Local Option - Residential Property Tax Exemption for Solar
Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/
Solar incentives are meant to encourage homeowners to switch to renewable energy by offering incentives that lower the financial burden of solar panel installation and use. You may be eligible for various kinds of incentives, such as discounts, cash back or credit towards your monthly utility bill, depending on your situation. Certain incentives come from your specific utility company, county or municipality, some from the Virginia government and others from the federal government. Types of solar incentives might include:
- Net Metering: Net metering factors in once your solar system is up and running. If you have a net metering agreement with your Ashburn utility company, the company will subtract the value of the excess energy produced by your solar system from your monthly utility bill. In some areas, this credit is dollar-for-dollar, while in others you might receive a refund equivalent to a percentage of the value.
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): SRECs and similar performance-based incentives are normally handled at the state level. Once your solar panel system meets a certain threshold (generally a small amount of energy production), you can receive SRECs that can then be sold to your utility company or other buyers. The money you make from the sale is usually considered part of your taxable income.
- Rebates: Solar companies may help you claim a rebate, or partial refund of your purchase, for your solar system. Counties or states will also offer limited-time rebates at various times. If you receive a rebate, that amount will usually be deducted from the total price before any tax credits are calculated.
- Tax Credits: Tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions (not deductions) in the amount of tax that you owe the government.
- Tax Exemptions: Sales tax exemptions go into effect at the point of sale for your solar panels. Property tax exemptions let you ignore the added value of your solar system when you're calculating the amount of property tax you need to pay on your home.
Federal Solar Incentives
Federal incentives are the kind of incentives that you are most likely to have some familiarity with. 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 on your solar system.
The ITC applies to solar panels installed after January 1, 2006 on a primary or secondary residence that you own in the United States. Initially, the credit applied to 30% of the total cost — for panels, equipment, labor and accessories — although that amount may range from 26-30%, depending on when your solar system was installed. There is no cap on the amount you can claim.
Your local Ashburn solar panel installer can provide more information about the ITC and how it applies to your situation.
The ITC was renewed and increased in scope after 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 credit percentage will decrease slightly each year until the program expires in 2035. The expansion also makes credits for energy storage systems even easier to claim, starting in 2023.
More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. The easiest way to fully understand how the new Clean Energy Credit applies to you is to talk with your local Ashburn solar panel installation expert.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Tax credits, rebates and more might be provided at multiple levels. In addition to federal solar incentives, there are often state and local ones, too. Incentives might be provided by the state of Virginia, 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 Ashburn
The expanding number of available solar incentives has enormously increased the adoption of solar energy nationwide over the past 15 years. You might qualify for solar incentives from the federal government, the Virginia government or from your local utility company. Reaching out to your local Ashburn solar panel installation company is the best 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
Best Warranty Coverage
Sunpro Solar
- Industry-leading warranty coverage
- Expansive service area
- Some reported communication issues
- No leases or PPAs
EcoWatch's Ashburn, VA Solar Incentives FAQs
How do I learn if I qualify for specific solar incentives?
Generally, solar incentives apply to:
- a new solar system
- installed on property that you own
- within the U.S.
- between the dates specified by a particular incentive.
Specific incentives, including those given out by the Virginia government or by your county/municipality, sometimes have additional qualifications. Speak with your local Ashburn solar installer to learn more about what incentives your project may qualify for.
How much can I save annually on my electric bill if I install solar panels on my Ashburn home?
When you add solar panels to your Ashburn home, you can anticipate savings of about $902.87 per year, or about $17,154.48 over 20 years.
What are some of the environmental benefits of switching to solar?
Solar energy is a renewable energy source — by changing where you get your energy, you help reduce the strain on our planet's resources. You can also lower the CO2 emissions from your home by 300 pounds a year, or around 6,000 pounds in 20 years.
I want to change out my appliances for ones that are more energy-efficient. Are there any incentives I can claim?
The new Inflation Reduction Act creates several new financial incentives that are available when you make eco-friendly improvements to your home. More details regarding these incentives, including information about incentives for purchasing new appliances, can be found here.
Can I receive incentives both towards the up-front cost of solar panels, and later as reimbursement?
The order in which incentives are applied may vary depending on which incentives you are claiming but generally yes, you can receive multiple types of incentives for your solar project. Talk with your solar installer or a local tax professional to verify you are claiming all of the incentives you qualify for and applying them in the correct order.
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.