2024 Solar Incentives Guide for Wheeling, WV - Tax Credits & Rebates

In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Wheeling.

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.
Get a free quote from one of our trusted Wheeling solar installers to see how much you can save.

By EcoWatch Local Advisors

Data Analysis: James Savino

Ranking Methodology: Karsten Neumeister

Updated February 03, 2024

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We work with a panel of solar experts to create unbiased reviews that empower you to make the right choice for your home. No other site has covered renewables as long as us, which means we have more data and insider information than other sites. Our rankings are never affected by revenue or partnerships.

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

Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit

Incentive Type:
Personal Tax Credit
30% federal tax credit for systems placed in service after 12/31/2021 and before 01/01/2033. Good for: solar water heat, solar photovoltaics, biomass, geothermal heat pumps, wind (small), fuel cells using renewable fuels.

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


Solar incentives are intended to encourage homeowners to switch their home over to renewable energy by offering financial incentives that lower the burden of solar panel installation and use. You might be eligible for several types of incentives, such as cash back, discounts 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 state of West Virginia and others from the federal government. Types of solar incentives might include:

  • Tax Credits: Tax credits lower, dollar-for-dollar, the amount of income tax you owe the federal government. These are different from tax deductions.
  • Net Metering: Be sure to speak with your Wheeling utility company about signing a net metering contract. This will allow you to receive credit towards your monthly utility bill for the value of excess energy your solar panels generate. You could receive either a dollar-for-dollar credit or a percentage of the value.
  • Rebates: A solar rebate is a partial refund given after you've purchased your solar panels. These could be offered by your local utility company, your county or your state. The cash back that you get from the rebates is normally applied before calculating tax credits.
  • Tax Exemptions: Tax exemptions may 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 ignore the value added by your solar system when paying property tax on your house.

Best National Provider

SunPower

★★★★★
5.0

  • Most efficient panels on the market
  • National coverage
  • Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
  • Great warranty coverage
  • Expensive
  • Customer service varies by local dealer

Best Technology

Tesla Energy

★★★★★
3.2

  • Price-match guarantee
  • Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
  • Best solar battery on the market
  • Some reported issues with customer service
  • Customer service varies by local dealer

Federal Solar Incentives

Federal incentives are the type of incentives that you are most likely to have some familiarity with. The Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit, or ITC, is likely the best-known federal solar incentive. The ITC offers a tax credit for a set percentage of your solar system's cost.

The ITC can be applied to solar panels installed on your primary or secondary residence in the United States. The solar system must have been installed after January 1, 2006, on a property you own for you to claim the credit. The ITC originally paid out 30% of all system costs (panels, labor, equipment and accessories), although the amount has fluctuated over the years between 26-30%. The amount you qualify for will depend on when your solar system was installed. There is no cap on the claim amount.

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

The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August 2022, expanded and extended the ITC (as well as retitling it the Clean Energy Credit). Under the new program, solar installation projects started after January 1, 2022, and completed by the end of 2032, can qualify for a 30% tax credit. The amount of the credit will then decrease slightly each year until the current Clean Energy Credit expires in 2035. Starting in 2023, it will also be easier to claim credits for energy storage systems under this new program.

Click here to learn more about the new Inflation Reduction Act. The best way to fully understand how the new Clean Energy Credit applies to you is to get in touch with your local Wheeling solar panel company.

State & Local Solar Incentives

Some solar incentives may be provided by state and local governments. As with federal incentives, these can include rebates, tax credits and more. These incentives may be given out by your county or municipality, or by the West Virginia government. Some incentives may be ongoing, while others are available for a limited time.

Next Steps for Installing Solar in Wheeling

Solar incentives may be offered by the federal government, the West Virginia government or your local utility company. The growing number of incentives available has helped nationwide use of solar energy increase greatly in the last 15 years. We recommend talking to your local Wheeling solar installation company to learn more about these incentives and to make sure that you're getting the most money possible for your solar panels.

EcoWatch's Wheeling, WV Solar Incentives FAQs

How can I find out if I qualify for certain solar incentives?

Typically, solar incentives apply to:

  1. a new solar system
  2. installed on property that you own
  3. within the U.S.
  4. between the dates specified by a particular incentive.

Specific incentives, including those run by the West Virginia government or by your county/municipality, might have additional qualifications. Speak with your local Wheeling solar installer to discover what incentives your project will qualify for.

My home already has solar panels. Do I qualify for any incentives?

You should plan to talk to the company that installed your solar system – or reach out to a local Wheeling solar installer — to better understand which incentives you may qualify for. If your solar panels were installed after January 1, 2022, you likely qualify for the newly increased 30% tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. Solar panels installed between 2006 and 2021 may qualify for a tax credit of 26-30%.

How much can I save on my electric bill annually if I install solar panels on my Wheeling home?

After adding solar panels to your house in Wheeling, you can anticipate savings of approximately $858.62 per year, or around $16,313.82 over 20 years.

How long until the federal solar tax credit ends?

The federal solar tax credit, formerly called the ITC and now named the Clean Energy Credit, is slated to end on January 1, 2035. The current 30% credit will end in 2032, replaced by a 26% credit in 2033 and a 22% credit in 2034.

Can I apply for incentives both towards the up-front cost of solar panels, and later as reimbursement?

The order in which incentives are applied might vary depending on which incentives you are eligible for but usually yes, you can claim multiple types of incentives for your solar project. Speak to your solar installer or a local tax professional to verify you are claiming all possible incentives 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.

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