Home to Michigan’s largest solar panel array of 1.1 MW and one of the top green research universities in the country, Ann Arbor has a lot to offer when it comes to solar energy. In fact, solar has become the fastest growing segment of the economy in the state of Michigan during the last decade (MLive.com).
Recently, the Ann Arbor Climate Action Plan called for reducing community carbon emissions by 25% by 2025. As a result, the town has pledged 2.4 MW worth of solar photovoltaic installations each year for the next 10 years, making solar energy an extremely viable alternative for homeowners (a2energy.org).
To further understand why solar is an appealing option for people looking to reduce their energy bills and save money, let us explore some of the financial incentives and rebates that are offered in this “solar ready community.”
Federal Tax Credit: A 30 percent federal tax credit is available for the purchase and installation of solar photovoltaics. There is no cap on the dollar amount of these credits; however, this 30% credit reduces to 26% after 2019. From there, the 26% tax credit stays in place until 2021 and eventually decreases to 22%. This credit is calculated by taking 30% of the total cost of the solar PV system, including installation, permitting, etc. For example, if the total cost of your solar PV project was $20,000, you would be eligible to receive a $6,000 tax credit at 30% (michigan.gov).
True Net Metering: Net metering refers to when your system is connected to a public-utility power grid and the surplus of power generated from your home is transferred onto the grid, offsetting the cost of power taken from the utility for the full retail rate. This perk is available to any Ann Arbor customer with a solar PV system size smaller than 20 kW. The utility will either use your existing meter if it is capable of spinning backwards or install an upgraded meter at no additional cost. Credits from excess net metering generation can also carry forward indefinitely which is a huge incentive for homeowners, who can pay $0 for their energy bill, or even receive compensation for the excess power that their system produces.
Rebates: DTE Energy, the primary power supplier for Ann Arbor, offers a number of solar incentives through their Solar Currents program. According to the utility, “the program offers [residential customers] both an up-front rebate of $0.20 per DC watt and a production incentive of $0.03 per kWh for the renewable energy credit (RECs) produced by the system through August 31, 2029” (energy.gov). The up-front rebate is payable upon the successful installation of the system and the production incentive payments are received as a credit on the customer’s electricity bill. At the end of the year, the homeowner will receive a check for unused bill credits from the utility if the balance is more than $250.
With all of these solar-friendly programs and incentives in place, it is no wonder that homeowners in Ann Arbor are excited to go solar!
Solar.com is committed to providing our customers with the best customer service experience in the solar industry. In light of the ongoing developments around the...
U.S. Installed Solar Capacity: 2 Million Milestone
According to the most recent data released by Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the residential solar market in...
Solar Subcontractors: Should I use one to go solar?
So, you’re interested in starting a solar project and now you’re wondering, “who should be doing the installation work?” Well, more and more companies are...
5 Most Popular Solar Panels Chosen by Homeowners in 2018
Homeowners demand a lot from the solar panels they select for their rooftop system. These panels need to look good and perform well over multiple decades! Here are...
According to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is on track to install 200 gigawatts of renewable capacity by 2020. The country is fully embracing...
If you live in an area that experiences extreme weather like hurricanes, hail, thunderstorms, blizzards, heavy winds and more, then you should take the time...
If you have ever driven through a residential neighborhood in states like California, Arizona, North Carolina, or any of the other top states for solar,...
Hyundai and Panasonic are trusted brands and they’ve both expanded into the solar panel industry. Offering quality products for two different price points, each brand...
Should I Get a Solar Thermal System Instead of a PV System?
When you hear about installing solar, you’re most likely hearing about PV (photovoltaic) solar cell panels. They’ve become standard in the industry. PV solar cell...
How Utility API Works With Your Utility and Solar Company
Utility API provides software to accelerate the clean energy movement. They do this, in part, by offering secure data on a homeowner’s energy usage to...
American Solar Panel Manufacturers - 2018 Complete List
There are many reasons why a consumer may want to purchase their solar panels from an American manufacturer or from American Solar brands. They want...
Household solar monitoring systems change the abstracts of power generation and consumption into graphics and numbers you can scroll through on an app. Hardware...
Solar panel mounts are a common component of almost every solar panel array. Although there are newer solar panel technologies coming out that do not...
Top 5 Solar Panels Selected Through Solar.com in 2017
Curious which solar panels are selected most on the Solar.com platform? As an online marketplace connecting quality solar companies to customers, we stay neutral toward...
SunPower Solar Panels vs. LG Solar Panels - 2018 Update
SunPower and LG are two of the top companies making solar panels. You’ve probably come across them in your research, and you’re wondering which will...
Solar panels and backup batteries get all the attention. But there’s another important piece of equipment to the home solar equation: mounting systems. These sturdy...
Solar technology has been in existence since 1876 when William Grylls Adams and his student researcher discovered that you can produce electricity by exposing selenium to...
Solar energy is taking shape across industries and geographies. Engineers at top solar panel companies are hard at work developing innovations making solar even more...
5 Reasons to Consider a Career in the Solar Industry
Solar energy, unfortunately, is still viewed as an alternate power source. However, in spite of this designation, it is quickly becoming the primary source of...
Amazon Has Finally Decided To Become A Leader in Renewable Energy
Back in 2015, Greenpeace did a sophisticated research project on the sustainability of the top tech giants in the United States. It covered many areas of sustainability,...
Most solar installation companies provide financial projections to homeowners estimating what their savings will be twenty or twenty-five years after the time of installation. But...
It’s International Women’s Day! Today we recognize and celebrate women all around the world. As a member of Solar.com’s female population, it’s necessary for me...
A Review of LG Solar Panels - When Brand Name Does Matter
LG is a brand you may already be familiar with. They are a South Korean multinational manufacturer that makes televisions, mobile devices, tablets, smartwatches and...
This paper highlights the importance of power tolerance when choosing solar panels. Power tolerance is a measure of how much electrical power a solar panel...
Gauging the Bankability of Small to Mid-Sized Solar Installers
The entire world is going green and moving toward cleaner sources of energy. California hosts a flourishing solar industry with a burgeoning number of solar...
At Solar.com, we believe in supplying quality equipment for our customers. In the last twenty years, solar technology has grown exponentially, costs have plummeted,...
Elon Musk's Gigafactory Should Be Dictating Your Solar Equipment
All solar installations today should be thinking ahead to the not-so-distant future. The main question to be asking is whether your solar system will seamlessly...
We all know why people go solar: investment purposes, immediate savings, environmental concerns, and grid independence. But who are these people? One of Malcom Gladwell’s...
The following letter is from a very reputable company in Solar.com’s installer network to a homeowner who was unfortunately taken advantage of by an installer...
Bankability: What it Means and Why it is Important for Your Solar...
Homeowners who are considering solar typically overlook the manufacturer of their solar panels, despite this being one of the most important factors for the longevity...
The U.S. Department of Energy invests in new technology to revolutionize the landscape of solar data. Reliable solar grid data, the true performance of solar...
