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May 29 2018
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2018 Solar Incentives, Rebates, and Pricing in Florida

By Solar Incentives by State No Comments

 

With the nickname “The Sunshine State,” you would think that Florida would be one of the best states in the country for going solar.

In reality, it has been trickier to switch to solar than one would hope.

There are several reasons why it has not been easy to install solar panels in Florida in the past, but as solar continues to drop in price year by year, lawmakers and consumers alike are putting their attention on this initiative.

There is no better time to look into a solar panel system in Florida than in 2018.

New laws are being passed, more incentives and rebates are being offered and prices are steadily dropping. This post will give you all of the details you need for going solar in Florida.

Buying a Solar Panel System in Florida

Not everyone wants to purchase a solar panel system all at once in cash, but for those that do, here are the details for doing so in Florida.

No matter what state you are in, you can always take advantage of the 30% federal tax credit. Otherwise known as the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), this incentive allows solar customers to receive a tax credit equal to 30% of the cost of their solar panel system. A typical sized solar panel system of 5 kW would cost you about $16,250 in Florida. With the 30% tax credit, that drops all the way down to $11,375.

Check this video for more details on the federal solar tax credit.

There are also a couple of state incentives that will help you maximize your solar ROI such as Florida’s property tax exemption for residential renewable energy property and Florida’s solar and CHP sales tax exemption.

Florida’s Solar Property Tax Exemption

In some states, when you install a solar panel system the value of your property assessment rises and therefore, the amount you pay in property taxes goes up as well. (The Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing programs even allow consumers to pay solar loans back through these additional property taxes.)

In Florida, however, a 100% property tax exemption is provided for residential renewable energy property as well as an 80% property tax abatement for non-residential property.

This means that when you purchase and install a solar panel system at your home, your property assessment will not change and you will not be paying any additional taxes. Overall, this leads to more savings than if that same consumer was located in a different state that included the taxes.

Solar and CHP Sales Tax Exemption

The second state incentive for solar consumers in Florida is an exemption from paying use and the sales tax on their solar panel systems.

The state’s 6% sales tax rate would make a $16,250 solar panel system cost an additional $975, making it cost a total of $17,225. On top of this, there are no additional taxes associated with any use of the solar energy system.

As you can see, these exemptions help save hundreds and even thousands of dollars for the consumer.

Solar Loans in Florida

Until recently, it was not possible to take a loan out for a solar project in Florida. In 2018 however, it is different, and for those who do want to go down this path, it is now possible.

The benefits of taking a solar loan is that there is no down-payment, and you still can make use of the 30% federal tax credit. In addition, the loan payments are often lower than your original, non-solar electricity bill.

As long as you continue to pay off your loan over the next several years, you will still end up saving thousands of dollars in the long-run.

Solar Leasing in Florida

Solar leasing is done differently in Florida than anywhere else in the country.

The laws do not make it impossible to lease a solar panel system, but they make it more difficult by not allowing the power-purchase agreement (PPA). This agreement is used across the country to allow a utility company or solar company to own a home’s solar panel system and simply sell that home their electricity cheaper than the normal rate.

Florida doesn’t like this model, which ultimately led to local utility companies to petition for a new model to still allow them to lease these systems.

In the current model, the customers pay a monthly lease fee to be able to use the panel system and all of the electricity it produces. They also pay their monthly (significantly reduced) electric bill on top of the lease payment. The total savings amount to the electric bill savings minus the lease payment.

Solar in the Sunshine State

2018 is a great year to go solar in Florida. Whether you want to buy your system in cash, take out a loan, or lease your solar panels, there are great options for anyone. You are guaranteed to save money in the long-term by installing a solar panel system on your home, so get started today!

May 23 2018
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Sam Jammal on People Empowering Solar

By 5 Ways That Solar Energy Benefits the Environment No Comments


Solar and clean energy industries continue to grow in the United States, despite new challenges these days from Capitol Hill.

The EPA drastically shifted priorities away from renewables, emissions standards look to reduce, and solar tariffs pose an uphill battle for solar companies across the U.S.

For the environmentally conscious, the cost-conscious, and the tech-forward, the current policy can be frustrating, to say the least. When there’s so much potential for solar and other clean energy options to transform the grid, it’s hard to see some politicians cling to the ways we solved problems a hundred years ago.

Sam Jammal is one such frustrated citizen — who also happens to have a background in both politics and the solar industry.

In fact, Sam is running for Congress in California’s 39th District.

Sam Jammal’s Political and Solar Industry Background

Sam is back in his hometown of Orange County, California, but he’s spent much of his career in Washington, D.C. His work in government includes the Senate, the Commerce Department, and Chief of Staff for a member of Congress.

He went on to work with SolarCity and Tesla. Sam says his experience revealed a disconnect between government and the vast potential of clean energy.

For consumers, lowering electricity bills while supporting a cleaner environment is a major appeal of solar. But old political interests tend to favor fossil fuel power generation and have taken a stronghold over the past two years.

Sam Jammal’s Clean Energy Platform

A clean energy economy is a priority for Sam Jammal. Broadly speaking, he’s focused on transitioning from fossil fuels, investing in green jobs, removing the solar tariff, and developing targeted incentives to encourage solar and energy storage manufacturing and deployment.

More specifically, the clean energy page on his website states that he advocates for:

  • Establishing a green infrastructure bank for schools
  • Involving more veterans in the clean energy industry
  • Using US Postal Service facilities to host community solar systems
  • Building greater electric vehicle charging capacity in infrastructure projects

What You Can Do Today

While the news coming out of Washington is discouraging, Sam sees more people taking action by getting their solar projects rolling. Rather than wait anxiously and hope for obstacles to resolving themselves, many people are actively participating in supporting the shift to renewables.  

Sam notes, “We can actually take steps right now to do our small part and help fight climate change. It is concerning that we’re going to have a four-year pause in our government on any sort of climate policy. But people are becoming more aware that [solar is] affordable. They’re acting on it. And that’s encouraging to see.”

From Government Policy to the Solar Industry

Sam sees empowering the voices of everyday people as an important skill he translated from politics to the solar industry and back again.

Having seen both sides of the issue, Sam has a unique grasp on the necessities needed to move decision-making along for solar. He sees the action of citizens as a huge part of that.

In the current political climate, “We’re not going to have regulatory structures that help drive adoption. It’s going to have to be consumers adopting it.”

Americans Vote With Ballots, Time, and Dollars

If you’re one of the U.S. citizens wanting to see clean energy gain more traction, there are lots of ways to support solar.

Apart from voting for environmental and reduced emission policies, you can also volunteer with clean energy organizations, help educate your friends and family about the advantages of solar and clean energy, advocate for them to choose clean power, and take steps to install your own rooftop solar system.

As many of the solar rebates and incentives expire over the next few years, they won’t likely be renewed or extended with the current political climate.

By voting with your dollars, you can help break down the outdated interests slowing policy and propel innovation forward. It’s incredible how powerful we really are, especially when we all work together.

For more info on Sam Jammal and his platform, visit Sam4Congress.com.

If you’re interested in more information about the first steps for your own rooftop solar project, chat with an energy advisor today.