Solar Powered Home: Government incentives
Renewable energy is here to stay. In fact some estimates have 25% of our electricity coming from renewable sources by 2025. That’s just 15 years from now. One of the best choices for powering your home is solar energy. With the incentives from of our Federal and state governments it is becoming the smart choice for many home owners.
The Federal Government gives home owners a 30% tax credit for installing a solar energy system in their home. This alone is a great incentive to switch to solar power. But there is more, state governments have their own incentives for installing solar panels, in the form of:
- Cash rebates
- Tax credits
- Tax deductions
- Sales tax incentives
- Property tax incentives
- Local options to provide tax incentives
It gets better still. Most utility companies give rebates to home owners who install solar electric systems. Check the DSIRE web site for more information about your electric company’s incentives for solar power.
Just in case all these financial incentives are not enough to convince you to switch to solar power. There is one more. Most utility companies have a plan for you to sell back to them your excess electricity. You can actually make money from the electric company.
Solar energy is clean and is well suited for most places in the country. For more information on which states have a better climate for solar technology check out the solar resources map from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) . Basically the sunnier the climate the better. Think southwest for example (Arizona and New Mexico).
To summarize all the incentives available for installing solar power in your home:
- 30% Federal tax credit
- Cash rebates, tax credits and more from states
- Rebates from Utility company
- Sell back excess electricity
- Clean power (Green Power) no emissions
- Added resale value of your home
- Less dependence on foreign oil
I urge you to at least explore installing solar electric in your home. Remember the Green age is here to stay. Fossil fuels days are numbered.