2023 Solar Incentives Guide for Woodburn, VA - Tax Credits & Rebates

What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Woodburn?

Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/

Solar incentives are intended to make renewable energy usage more affordable through financial incentives for those who install solar panels on their homes. The incentives could include cash back, upfront discounts or monthly credits towards your utility bill. Some incentives are given by the federal government, some by the state of Virginia and some by your 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 the amount of tax that you owe the government.
• Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): In most cases, solar systems that produce more than a specified (usually small) amount of electricity will qualify for SRECs or other similar performance-based incentives. SRECs and the like are typically offered at the state level. You can sell SRECs to your utility company or another buyer, and the money you receive is normally considered part of your taxable income.
• Net Metering: Net metering becomes relevant after your solar system is up and running. If you have in place a net metering agreement with your Woodburn utility company, it will subtract the value of the excess energy your solar system produces from your utility bill each month. In some locations, this is a dollar-for-dollar credit, while in other places you may receive a refund equivalent to a percentage of the value.
• Rebates: Solar companies may help you claim a rebate, or partial refund after purchase, for your solar system. Counties or states will also sometimes offer limited-time rebates. The value of a rebate will usually be deducted from your total price before any tax credits are calculated.
• Tax Exemptions: Tax exemptions can come in two forms. First, there is sales tax exemption, applied at the time you purchase your solar panels. The second is property tax exemption. This allows you to exclude the value added by your solar system when paying property tax on your home.

Federal Solar Incentives

Federal solar incentives are likely to be the first thing that you think of when thinking about solar incentives. An incentive that most people are probably familiar with is the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). This is a tax credit for a specified percentage of the cost of your solar system.

The ITC initially applied to 30% of the total cost of solar system installation, and has fluctuated slightly over time between 26-30%. The percentage you qualify for will depend on when your solar system was installed. The total cost of installation includes the panels themselves as well as the cost of labor, equipment and accessories. There is no maximum amount you can claim. The ITC can be applied to solar systems installed after January 1, 2006 on your primary or secondary residence. The residence must be in the United States and owned by you.

Have questions about how the ITC applies to your specific situation? Reach out to your local Woodburn solar panel installer to get more information.

The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August 2022, added more provisions to the ITC (as well as renaming it to the Clean Energy Credit). Under the new program, solar installation projects that are completed between 2022 and 2032 may be eligible for a 30% tax credit. This credit amount will then decrease slightly each year until the end of the current Clean Energy Credit in 2035. Starting in 2023, the program expansion will also make it easier to get credit for energy storage systems.

More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. To fully understand how the new Clean Energy Credit will apply to you, speak with your local Woodburn solar installers.

State & Local Solar Incentives

Some solar incentives may be offered at the local or state level. Similar to federal incentives, these could include tax credits, rebates and more. Incentives may be offered by the state of Virginia, or by your county or municipality. Some incentives may be available for only a limited time, while others are ongoing.

Next Steps for Installing Solar in Woodburn

There are a number of different solar incentives: those provided by local utility companies, those provided by the federal government and those provided by the Virginia government, to name a few. The use of solar energy has increased enormously in the last 15 years, partially thanks to these incentives. If you're ready to switch over to solar energy, getting in touch with your local Woodburn solar panel installation expert is a great first step.