Everyone knows to watch out for ads that say "free anything". There are unfortunately lots of advertising claims out there about "free solar", "no-cost solar", or similar claims. The truth is that solar does cost money, but lots of things reduce that cost and make it very affordable.
Federal Tax Credit
Yes, the government does help pay for your solar. No, they don't give away entire solar arrays for free. The Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is a federal income tax credit. Currently it's set at 26% of the total cost, and was just extended at that level until the end of 2022. The way this incentive works is based on the total price you pay for solar, and how much you pay in taxes, so it's different for everyone. In simple terms, for every dollar you spend on solar you get about a quarter back. This comes out to several thousand dollars off for most homeowners! Your accountant or tax preparer will use IRS Form 5695 when you file.
Financing
Sure, you can pay the full cash price for solar if you want. But loan rates are great right now across the board. Lenders such as Loanpal and Sunlight Financial are excellent options to finance your solar array. Homeowners may have the option to pay nothing upfront (you might see "no out of pocket" ads) and have their payments be equal or less than current power bills (hence "zero cost" ads). When the loan is eventually paid off, you've got free electricity - or as close as you can get to it.
Utility Incentives and/or State Rebates
This doesn't apply everywhere, but some utilities and state governments offer incentives for going solar. These will vary from region to region. Check the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency® (DSIRE) to see if there are current programs that might benefit you.
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