solar-panel-rebate

US States with Best Solar Panel Rebates

Most of the US states offer incentives to install solar panels in the form of a tax exemption, grant, low-interest loan, or similar. But not as many of the states offer an actual solar panel rebate, which is an effective way to cut the initial set-up costs of going solar.

Listed alphabetically, here are some of the states which offer the best solar panel rebates:

  • Arizona – Several of the utility companies offer individual rebate programs, with highly impressive upfront rebates given for the installation of a photovoltaic (PV) system. Actual incentives vary based on the individual utilities and installation size. Arizona rebate schemes are funded by the consumer and managed by the participating utility companies. Arizona Public Service (APS) and Tucson Electric Power (TEP) are two of the companies to offer rebates. More on Arizona solar panel rebates.
  • California – Through its California Solar Initiative (CSI), a tiered rebate program, residents of California, who are customers of Southern California Edison (SCE), Pacific Gas & Electric (PGE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE), are offered extensive cash back incentives after installing a solar system. CSI is the largest of the solar initiatives in the state, with several of the small municipal utilities also offering a choice of solar rebates as well. California’s ten-year program to invest $3.2 billion in solar rebates is being depleted faster than expected; now is a good time for Californian residents to benefit from this scheme. More on California solar panel rebates.
  • Connecticut – Generous rebates for photovoltaics equipment are available through the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF), up to a total of 10kW. Upfront or performance related rebates are possible. Connecticut’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) has an aggressive aim to supply as much as 23% of their energy via a renewable means by the year 2020.
  • Delaware – The Green Energy Program offers a very strong rebate proposal to help residents reclaim some of the initial costs of installing a photovoltaics system, with the scheme split into three separate programs to incorporate the different types of electricity companies.
  • Maryland – The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is the states grant system for offering residents a rebate for the installation of a home solar power system, with the incentive valid on solar panels at 20kW or less. More on Maryland panel solar rebates.
  • Massachusetts – The Commonwealth Solar II stimulus, a state-wide rebate program, offers a very generous residential or commercial rebate for the installation of a photovoltaic system, with the exact figure based on certain criteria. The solar energy initiative in Massachusetts has been a great success, with the initial Commonwealth Solar Rebate Program set-up in 2007, exhausting its full budget of $68 million within its first two years. The Solar II program continues to feed up to $1 million per quarter to finance solar photovoltaics. More on Massachusetts solar panel rebates.
  • New Jersey – the incentive scheme in NJ is quite different to most other states, with its creation of the solar renewable energy certificates (SREC) to help promote the use of clean energy. SRECs are received based on amount of energy produced, which may be traded or cashed-in on the SREC marketplace. New Jersey is attempting a highly aggressive target, with an aim to achieve up to 22.5% of its electricity from renewable sources by the year 2021. More on New Jersey solar panel rebates.
  • New York – solar incentives in NY are administrated by the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA), with the state aiming for at least a 30% reduction in its electricity use from non-renewable sources by the year 2015. Cash rebates are possible for any resident installing a solar panel system on the roof of their property. The Budget for solar photovoltaic systems is set at $144 million between the years 2010 to 2015. More on New York State solar panel rebates.

[Photo Credit via Flickr under CC License]