Solar Rebates
The good thing about solar is that the government will help pay for it. The idea is that solar is better for the environment. Since solar has historically been more expensive than natural gas and coal, the government has helped bridge the gap by rebating the differences between what solar will cost and what you might have paid otherwise.
Rebates can be given federally, by individual states, by cities, and by individuals. There are so many variations based on where you live that you really need to do some research to find out. One great database to check is called the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE). This web site will allow you to quickly see many of the rebate programs in your local area.
To give you an idea, you can get guaranteed government mortgage loans to add solar to your home. You can also get the solar equipment without paying sales tax (tax exempt). Then, the power company or city will often offer you a per kilowatt incentive that can add up to around $6000.00. If that’s not good enough, the federal government will even offer an additional 30% income tax rebate incentive. It’s hard to say how much you will save because it depends on how much you pay for electricity and how much the installers will charge you.
One tip I can give you is to understand the rebates. Some contractors will try and use up all of the rebate money for themselves. For example, they may offer to do something for free that only takes them a few minutes. Then, they will get the rebate and make a lot of money. The fact is that the rebate is yours and you should spend it wisely, not allow someone else to get it out of your own misunderstanding.
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