Resources

  • The federal investment tax credit (ITC), sometimes referred to as the solar tax credit, allows you to deduct a percentage of a solar energy system’s installation cost from your federal taxes. There is no cap on the value and the credit applies to both residential and commercial installations.

    As a part of the Inflation Reduction Act, Congress increased the ITC to 30 percent through 2032. For more information, click here. Please consult your tax advisor for more information.

  • Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) are another way of providing value to solar owners. For every 1,000 kWh (or 1 MWh) of electricity that your system generates, you earn one SREC. Your Solarize installer can walk you through the process for claiming SRECs.

    We’ve also partnered with a local SREC aggregator, Sun Tribe Trading, for folks who have solar installed but aren’t yet getting any value from SRECs. If you have any questions, email srec@suntribetrading.com and let them know you’re a Solarize Virginia participant.

  • USDA REAP (Rural Energy for America Program) Grant – Up to 25% of cost for commercial and agricultural projects.

    Modified Accelerated Cost-Recovery System (MACRS) – Businesses may recover investments in certain property through depreciation deductions.

    Solar Energy Equipment Tax Exemption - This statute allows localities to exempt or partially exempt solar energy equipment from local property taxes. Participating counties include: Albemarle, Alexandria, Charlottesville, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Fairfax County, Hampton, Hanover, Henrico, Isle of Wight, King and Queen, Loudoun, Lynchburg, Prince William, Pulaski, Roanoke, Spotsylvania, and Winchester.

    Other Virginia state- and local-level incentives

  • PV Watts Calculator
    Estimates the energy production and cost of energy of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) energy systems throughout the world. It allows homeowners, small building owners, installers and manufacturers to easily develop estimates of the performance of potential PV installations.
    Nova Solar Map
    Created by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC), the NOVA Solar Map demonstrates to homeowners and business owners how much solar energy can be generated by their rooftops. The map is the first of its kind in Northern Virginia.
    System Advisor Model (SAM)
    SAM is a free computer program created by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which is part of the U.S. Department of Energy. It is a more advanced tool than PVWatts, allowing analysis of more than PV solar, and is typically used by industry professionals.

  • Per SB 504, HOAs may impose only so-called “reasonable restrictions” on the installation of rooftop solar. But homeowners and HOAs often have differing understandings of “reasonable restrictions,” particularly with regards to panels on the street-facing side of homes, which are often needed to make solar viable for south-facing homes. The law, however, states that restrictions are unreasonable if they increase a project’s cost by 5 percent or decrease its energy generation by 10 percent.

    Any Solarize participants facing difficulties with their HOA will receive free legal guidance from Richmond energy law firm ReisingerGooch PLC. In the past, ReisingerGooch and LEAP have helped six Virginia homeowners install rooftop solar at residences within HOAs. In each case, the homeowner’s request had been denied by the HOA, and in each case, the home now has solar or an approved plan to install new panels.

    Click here for a more detailed report from ReisingerGooch on HOAs and solar installation.