Solar Nerd articles about: Incentives

New York state, despite being situated in the northeastern United States instead of the Sunbelt that people normally think of when it comes to solar, was the 6th largest state for solar photovoltaic installations in 2018. This is helped in a large part by some of very best solar incentives in the country. Summary of solar rebates available to New York residents: Federal tax credit26% off system price through 2020 (22% in 2021) New York income tax credit for solar 25% off system price, up to $5,000 NYSERDA NY-Sun rebateRebate of $0.

The Garden State has one of the most aggressive clean energy goals in the nation: 22.5% of its electricity must be renewable by 2021, and 100% by 2050. Because of that, it’s not surprising that New Jersey is ranked 7th in the nation (PDF) when it comes to solar power deployments. That’s good news if you’re a homeowner who is thinking of adding solar panels to their house, because it means that there are several policies that make solar more attractive for New Jersey residents.

Got some old appliances around your house? Perhaps a refrigerator that’s a couple decades old, or a rattling air conditioner that came with the house? Or maybe it’s winter and your just furnace died and you need a replacement NOW or you’ll freeze to death right in your home. These are big ticket items that make a big hit to your pocketbook, often at unexpected times when they suddenly stop working on you.

Did you know that many utility companies give sizable rebates when you purchase a Nest, Ecobee, or other smart thermostat? In fact, you can sometimes get one completely free. They do this because smart thermostats help reduce energy loads, and dealing with peak power demands is one of the most difficult challenges for a utility. Reducing demand through improved efficiency is the easiest and most economical way to deal with this challenge, and it can help the utilities delay or avoid costly infrastructure upgrades.

In 2016, the Arizona Corporation Commission (the public utility commission for the state) voted to end net metering. What this means for the solar owner is that new systems that are added to the grid will be reimbursed at a wholesale rate for any excess electricity they send into the grid. The upshot of this is that if you consume less energy than your panels produce during the day, and draw power from the grid during the evening, solar will be less financially advantageous for you.

Is net metering available in California? It depends on your utility. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) requires the three private (investor-owned) utilities in Calfornia to offer net metering: San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), and Southern California Edison (SCE). This rule by CPUC does not apply to municipal utilities in the state. However, the largest municipal utility in the state, the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP), does offer net metering to its customers.

Big news! The Inflation Reduction Act has increased the federal tax credit for solar to 30% and extended it for another decade. That’s a big deal for anyone who wants to install solar on their home or business. Disclaimer: I'm a solar nerd, not a tax nerd. Please consult a tax professional for authoritative advice on this issue. This tax credit, often called the Solar Investment Tax Credit, gives homeowners and businesses a break on their federal taxes worth 30% of the gross price of a solar photovoltaic system.