2024 Solar Incentives Guide for East Wenatchee, WA - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in East Wenatchee.
You'll learn about:
- Local & State Solar Incentives
- Federal Tax Credits (Updated for 2024 and beyond)
- Ways to optimize your solar investment
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What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in East Wenatchee?
Renewable Energy Cost Recovery Incentive Payment
Renewable Energy Sales and Use Tax Exemption
100% exemption for solar photovoltaic systems 10 kilowatts or less, and solar thermal systems;
75% exemption for other qualified systems
Evergreen Sustainable Development Standard for Affordable Housing
Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/
Solar incentives are designed to mitigate the cost of installing solar panels on your home. Financial incentives like these are intended to encourage more Americans to convert their home partially or fully to renewable energy. The incentives might include upfront discounts, cash back or monthly credits towards your utility bill. Some incentives are handled by the federal government, some by the Washington government and some by your utility company, county or municipality. Some broad categories of solar incentives include:
- Rebates: A solar rebate is a partial refund given after you've purchased your solar panels. Rebates may be offered by your local utility company, your state or your county. The cash back that you get from the rebates is normally applied before calculating tax credits.
- Tax Exemptions: Tax exemptions can come in two forms. First, there is sales tax exemption, which is applied when you purchase solar panels. The second is property tax exemption, which allows you to exclude the added value of your solar system when calculating property tax for your home.
- Tax Credits: These credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions (not deductions) in the amount of tax that you owe the government.
- Net Metering: Net metering is an incentive you can get once your solar panels are up and running. If you've signed a net metering agreement with your East Wenatchee utility company, it 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 get refunded a percentage of the value.
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Federal Solar Incentives
When people think of 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 gives you a credit on your taxes equal to a specified percentage of the cost of your solar system.
The ITC applies towards 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, equipment, labor and accessories. You can receive this credit for solar panels installed on a primary or secondary residence that you own in the United States. Originally, you could claim 30% of the total cost, although the amount you can claim may range between 26-30%. There is no maximum claim amount.
Contacting your local East Wenatchee solar panel installer is the best way to understand how the ITC may apply to you.
In August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act laid out new provisions for the ITC, now titled the Clean Energy Credit. Under the new program, solar installation projects started after January 1, 2022, and completed by the end of 2032, might qualify for a 30% tax credit. This percentage will then see a slight annual decrease until the current Clean Energy Credit expires in 2035. Starting in 2023, the program expansion will also make claiming credit for energy storage systems easier than ever before.
Click here to learn more about the new Inflation Reduction Act. To fully understand how the new Clean Energy Credit will apply to you, reach out to your local East Wenatchee solar installation company.
State & Local Solar Incentives
In addition to federal solar incentives, there are often also state ones. Tax credits, rebates and more may be available at a more local level. Some incentives are ongoing, while others are offered for only a limited time. These local incentives might come from the Washington government, or from your specific county or municipality.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in East Wenatchee
Solar incentives can be offered by the federal government, the Washington government or your local utility company. The variety of incentives available has helped nationwide use of solar energy increase greatly in the last 15 years. Your local East Wenatchee solar panel installation expert can provide you with more details about which incentives you can apply for, and get you on track to switch to renewable energy today.
EcoWatch's East Wenatchee, WA Solar Incentives FAQs
How can I find out if I qualify for specific solar incentives?
It's a good idea to talk to your local East Wenatchee 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, such as those provided by the Washington government, might have additional requirements.
My home already has solar panels installed. Do I qualify for any incentives?
If your solar system was installed after January 1, 2022, you may qualify for the recently increased 30% tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. If you installed your system between 2006 and 2021, you might qualify for a tax credit between 26% and 30%, depending on the date of installation. Reaching out to the company that installed your system, or any local East Wenatchee solar installer, can help you learn what incentives you might want to apply for.
What are 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. A solar system can also reduce your home's CO2 emissions by 50 pounds annually, or roughly 1,000 pounds over 20 years.
Can I claim incentives both towards the initial cost of solar panels, and later as reimbursement?
The order your incentives will be applied in might vary depending on which incentives you are claiming but typically yes, you can claim multiple types of incentives for your solar project. Talk with your solar installer or a local tax professional to confirm you are claiming all the incentives you're eligible for and applying them in the correct order.
Can I use both solar and another type of renewable energy to power my home?
Yes, you can use multiple types of renewable energy to power your home — for example, a combination of wind and solar. You can also use both renewable energy sources and a non-renewable backup source of energy. Be sure to discuss your plan with your local East Wenatchee solar panel installer, to make sure you know what you'll need and what types of incentives you will or won't 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.