2023 Solar Incentives Guide for Newport News, VA - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Newport News.
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 Newport News?
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 designed to make renewable energy usage more affordable through financial incentives for individuals who install solar panels on their homes. Different kinds of incentives, like cash back, discounts or credit towards your monthly utility bill, may be available to you. Certain incentives may be offered by the Virginia government, by your utility company or by county or municipality, while other incentives are federal. Types of solar incentives might include:
- Net Metering: You can sign a net metering agreement with your Newport News utility company. This agreement may apply to all or a percentage of the excess electricity that is generated by your solar panels. They will then deduct this value from your monthly utility bill.
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): SRECs and other performance-based incentives are normally handled by your state government. Once your solar system meets a certain threshold (typically a small amount of energy production), you are eligible to 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.
- Tax Credits: These credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions (not deductions) in how much in taxes you owe the government.
- Tax Exemptions: Tax exemptions may come in one of two forms. The first is sales tax exemption, which is 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.
- Rebates: A solar rebate is a partial refund after the purchase of your solar system. Rebates might be offered by your local utility company, your county or your state. The discount that rebates offer is normally applied to the price of solar panels before tax credits are calculated.
Federal Solar Incentives
When thinking about solar incentives, federal incentives might be the first thing that comes to mind. The Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit, or ITC, is probably the most commonly known federal solar incentive. The ITC provides you with a tax credit for a set percentage of the cost of your solar system.
The ITC covers solar systems installed after January 1, 2006 and under this program you can deduct from your taxes a percentage of the total cost of solar panels, labor, equipment and accessories. This credit can be claimed on a solar panel system installed on a primary or secondary residence in the United States that you own. Originally, you could claim 30% of the total cost, although depending on when the project was completed, your credit may range from 26-30%. There is no maximum amount you can claim.
Have questions about how the ITC applies to your specific situation? Reach out to your local Newport News solar panel installer to get more information.
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. Homeowners are now eligible for a credit equal to 30% of the total solar system installation costs for projects started after January 1, 2022 and completed before the end of 2032. This percentage will then decrease yearly until the Clean Energy Credit ends in 2035. The expansion to the program also makes it easier to get credit for energy storage systems, beginning in 2023.
Click here to learn more about the new Inflation Reduction Act. Your local Newport News solar panel company 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 offered at the local or state level. Similar to federal incentives, these can include tax credits, rebates and more. Some incentives are ongoing, while others are offered for only a limited time. Local solar incentives could come from the Virginia government, or from your specific county or municipality.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Newport News
You can apply for solar incentives from the Virginia government and the federal government, as well as from your local utility company. The increased availability of solar initiatives in the past 15 years has helped increase nationwide solar energy use enormously. Getting in touch with your local Newport News 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
Best Warranty Coverage
Sunpro Solar
- Industry-leading warranty coverage
- Expansive service area
- Some reported communication issues
- No leases or PPAs
EcoWatch's Newport News, VA Solar Incentives FAQs
What if I want to add a solar system to a rental property, vacation home or commercial property? Will I still qualify for incentives?
Many solar incentives are intended to apply to a property located within the United States that you own, and most secondary residences will fall under this distinction. Other solar incentives may be available for commercial properties, depending on the details. We recommend reaching out to your local solar installer and/or tax professional to fully understand what incentives may apply to your specific situation.
How can I learn if I qualify for specific solar incentives?
It's a smart idea to get in touch with your local Newport News solar installer to get an understanding of which incentives your project may qualify for. In most cases, solar incentives apply to new solar systems installed on a property you own (in the U.S.) between the dates specified by the incentive. Some incentives, like those provided by the Virginia government, may have additional requirements.
How much can I save annually on my electric bill if I add solar panels to my house in Newport News?
When you add solar panels to your house in Newport News, you can anticipate savings of approximately $984.49 per year, or approximately $18,705.39 over the next 20 years.
What are some environmental benefits of installing solar panels on my home?
Solar energy is a renewable energy source — by switching where you get your energy, you can help reduce the strain on our planet's resources. A solar system can also reduce the CO2 emissions from your home by 300 pounds yearly, or roughly 6,000 pounds over 20 years.
If I switch my appliances out for ones that can use solar energy, are there any benefits that I can claim?
The new Inflation Reduction Act introduces multiple incentives designed to 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.
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.