2024 Solar Incentives Guide for East Highland Park, VA - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in East Highland Park.
You'll learn about:
- Local & State Solar Incentives
- Federal Tax Credits (Updated for 2024 and beyond)
- Ways to optimize your solar investment
Solar installers are experts in maximizing your solar tax credits and rebates.
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What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in East Highland Park?
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 help mitigate the cost of installing solar panels on your home. Financial incentives like these are in place to encourage more homeowners to switch to renewable energy. Incentives could include things like discounts, cash back or monthly utility bill credits. Some incentives are offered federally, while others are offered by the Virginia government or by your specific utility company, county or municipality. Some solar incentives you might qualify for are:
- Tax Credits: These credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions (not deductions) in how much income tax you owe the federal government.
- Net Metering: Be sure to talk to your East Highland Park utility company about signing a net metering agreement. This allows you to get a credit towards your utility bill every month for the value of excess energy generated by your solar panels. You could receive either a dollar-for-dollar credit or a percentage of the value.
- 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. The value of a rebate will usually be deducted from the total price before any tax credits are calculated.
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): SRECs can be sold to your utility company (or other buyers) for money that normally counts as part of your taxable income. Typically, 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 generally handled by your state government.
- Tax Exemptions: These may come in the form of property tax exemptions, which would allow you to ignore the value of your solar system when paying property tax on your house. They may also include exemptions on sales tax at the time of purchase.
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 Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
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
When someone says "solar incentives," you probably think of federal incentives first. The solar incentive that you may be most familiar with is the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which gives you a credit on your taxes equal to a certain percentage of the cost of your solar system.
The ITC can be applied to the total cost of solar panel installation, including the panels themselves as well as equipment, accessories and labor. This credit can be claimed for panels installed after January 1, 2006, on a primary or secondary residence that you own, as long as it is located in the United States. Originally set at 30% of total costs, the credit has fluctuated over time, and you may qualify for different amounts depending on when your project was completed. There is no maximum amount you can claim.
Your local East Highland Park solar panel installation expert can provide more information about the ITC and how it applies to your situation.
In August 2022, the ITC (now referred to as the Clean Energy Credit) was bolstered by the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. With the new provisions, solar installation projects that are completed between 2022 and 2032, can qualify for a 30% tax credit. The amount of the credit will then see a slight annual decrease until the current Clean Energy Credit expires in 2035. Beginning in 2023, it will also be easier to claim credits for energy storage systems under the new laws.
More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. The best way to understand how the new Clean Energy Credit might apply to you is to talk with your local East Highland Park solar panel installers.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Some solar incentives are often also offered at the local or state level. Similar to federal incentives, these may include rebates, tax credits and more. Some incentives are ongoing, while others are only available for a limited time. They might be given by the Virginia government, or by your county or municipality.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in East Highland Park
Solar incentives may come from your local utility company, the federal government or the Virginia government. The variety of solar incentives available has facilitated the nationwide growth of solar energy use in the last 15 years. When you're ready to make the change to solar energy, getting in touch with your local East Highland Park solar panel installation expert is a great first step.
EcoWatch's East Highland Park, VA Solar Incentives FAQs
How much can I save on my electric bill annually if I add solar panels to my East Highland Park home?
After adding solar panels to your home in East Highland Park, you can anticipate savings of approximately $491.74 per year, or around $9,834.83 over 20 years.
What are some of the environmental benefits of switching to solar energy?
You can lower your carbon footprint by 100 pounds of CO2 a year by installing solar panels. This adds up to around 2,000 pounds over 20 years. In addition, solar power is a renewable energy source, meaning that switching your home over lessens the drain on our planet's resources.
If I trade in my appliances for ones that can use solar energy, are there incentives I can claim?
The new Inflation Reduction Act creates a variety of new financial incentives that are available when you make eco-friendly improvements to your home. More details about these incentives, including information about incentives for purchasing new appliances, can be found here.
Can I use a combination of solar and another type of renewable energy to power my home?
You can use multiple types of renewable energy, or a combination of renewable and non-renewable energy, to power your home. Make sure you discuss your plan with your local East Highland Park solar installer. They can help you with the plan for your project and educate you on the various incentives that you might or might not 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.