Solar Is Getting Low-Cost Incentives

Anyone can get solar now.  Well, not anyone necessarily.  If you are a super-villain living in an underground volcanic lair, then maybe some other type of renewable energy source might be a better option.  But, for the rest of us, there are options. Rooftop solar panels on have been the territory of wealthy, eco-friendly folks willing to shell out extra dollars to be green, but that is all beginning to shift. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the price of putting solar panels on a typical American house has dropped by some 70 percent over the last decade and a half. And a recent statement from Deutsche Bank shows that solar has now achieved so-called “price parity” with fossil fuel-based grid energy in 10 U.S. states. Deutsche Bank goes on to state that solar electricity is on route to be as cheap or affordable than average electricity-bill costs in all but three states by 2016—assuming, that is, that the federal government keeps the 30 percent solar investment tax credit it currently offers homeowners on installation and solar panel equipment prices.

The Solar Issue

But therein could rest the issue. The federal tax credit for domestic solar installations expires in 2016, and it’s anybody’s speculation whether and to what extent the Republican-dominated Congress will restore it. Legislative investigators report that while Congress is unlikely to drop the program entirely, big cutbacks could be on the move. But Deutsche Bank declares that even if the credit is decreased to 10 percent, solar power would still obtain price parity with conventional power in some 36 states by 2016.

Meanwhile, homeowners in states where further local incentives are possible and there’s lots of sunshine, such as across the Southwest, may in fact now be able to power their houses reduced cost sun and not from the grid. Homeowners looking to go solar should examine the Database of State Incentives for Renewable and Efficiency (DSIRE), an open online database of everything the different state and local have for incentives for solar panels and other kinds of renewable energy.

Costs For Solar

And, costs for solar are anticipated to keep dropping as technologies improve and financing becomes more affordable. Solar leasing has assisted hundreds of thousands of Americans to realize the dream of going solar without breaking the bank. 

To be certain, solar is still a touch player in the plan of things regarding U.S. and global electricity generation. But, with costs getting lower, we can expect to see a lot more solar panels going up on rooftops over the land in the coming decade. Environmentalists concerned about our changing climate state the sooner, the better, as our dependency on coal and other fossil fuels for electricity is a significant contributor to climate change.

Congress will be thinking whether or not to lengthen the solar investment tax credit each term.  Those who would like to see the credit extended so that middle-class Americans can advance to manage to convert to solar power, be sure to vocalize up and let your Congressional delegation know.

Just make sure, and promise us here at HahaSmart you will have a look at what we can offer you on the cost of solar panels and cost of solar installations. We will strive to find you the best prices available. Follow the solar experts. Try our price checker tool. It tells you how much solar power you need and how much you can save on your energy bills each month.