Europe Unveils Its Answer To Us Clean Energy Incentives
BRUSSELS The European Union pushed forward on Tuesday with a major clean tech industrial plan which not only should keep the continent in the vanguard of plotting a greener future but also guarantee its economic survival as it faces challenges from China and the United States.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the outlines for her Green Deal Industrial Plan that will make it much easier to push through subsidies for green industries and pool EU-wide projects that are boosted with major funding as the EU pursues the goal of being climate neutral by 2050.
We know that we have a small window to invest in clean tech and innovation to gain leadership before the fossil fuel economy becomes obsolete, von der Leyen said.
Europe is in search of its own Inflation Reduction Act moment to boost clean energy supply chains. Two of Europes clean energy leaders joined Episode 28 of the Factor This! podcast from Enlit Europe in Frankfurt, Germany to discuss Europes path forward and the prospect for transformational industrial policy.
At the same time in Germany, climate protests resumed Tuesday over the destruction of a small village to allow expansion of a coal mine, as the country strives to boost its energy security amid the cut in Russian gas supply.
We see aggressive attempts to attract our industrial capacities away to China and elsewhere, she said.
Duke Energy Solar Panel Rebates
Duke Energy offers rebates to North Carolina customers who want to install a solar panel system. For homeowners, the program offers a $0.40/Watt rebate for systems up to 10 kilowatts. An average 8 kilowatt system would be eligible for a rebate of $3,200. There are also rebates available for nonresidential customers, worth $0.30/Watt up to $30,000, and for nonprofit customers, worth $0.75/Watt up to $75,000. Duke Energy has run out of available funds for rebates in the first half 2022. Solar customers can join a waitlist for the rebate.
When Should You Get Started
The best time to get started on your solar savings is today! The process to get your project started takes several weeks. Whether you are interested in the Duke Energy Rebate program or looking to take advantage of the 30% Solar Tax Credit, the first step is to get a free solar evaluation from our team of experts.
You May Like: Dusk To Dawn Solar Light
Duke Energy Net Metering
The final program well cover in this article is the best – and it is called net metering.
Net metering is a billing arrangement that allows solar system owners to get credit for all the kWh their panels generate, which they can use to offset the cost of the energy they buy from the grid at night or when the sun isnt shining brightly.
Floridas net metering law has been on the books since 2008, and provides kWh credits for people who install solar panels on their roofs and are customers of Duke Energy Florida, Florida Power & Light, Florida Public Utilities Company, Gulf Power, and Tampa Electric Company .
Here’s What North Carolina Residents Need To Know About Solar Panels
North Carolinians can find deals to go solar at home and save money on rising electricity costs.
Did you know North Carolina exceeds the national average for sunny days? On average, there are 213 sunny days per year in North Carolina. According to Current Results, four of the state’s most populous metros, Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh and Wilmington, are the sunniest cities. While North Carolina does get rain, most areas receive little snow. All this is to say — the state has near-perfect conditions for maximizing solar panel efficiency year-round.
The median price for a home solar system in North Carolina is just under $33,000. Though the state’s median price per watt and solar system cost is slightly above the national rate, North Carolina residents have plenty of incentives for switching to solar power in the Tar Heel State.
North Carolina residents currently benefit from some of the lowest electricity prices nationwide. However, Duke Energy, the primary electricity provider in the state, has raised prices by as much as 9.5% through the end of 2022, according to WCNC.
North Carolinians looking to avoid future electricity cost increases should explore solar power for green energy options that can keep rates stable for years to come.
Read Also: How To Calculate Solar Panel Cost
Can I Apply After The Application Is Closed
In some cases, the enrollment period may end before a specific customer class reaches its limit for allocation of the rebate. The rebate can reopen to allow more applications, but this generally only happens for non-profit organizations, as these applications dont often reach capacity. Instead, its essential to stay on top of the application process and watch for deadlines to ensure you can submit yours as soon as possible.
Can An Hoa Ban Solar Panels In North Carolina
According to WFAE, “The state’s 2007 solar access law prevents HOAs from banning solar panels, though it allows rules that restrict their placement.” However, a June 2022 lawsuit between residents who installed solar panels on the front of their roofs and their HOA has relaxed solar panel rules. The court determined that the front-facing panels were allowed. “Since neighborhood covenants did not explicitly prohibit solar panels, the court ruled that a review committee cannot enforce a ban,” per the WFAE article.
Also Check: Solar Panel Installers San Diego
Does The Clean Energy Connection Program Save You Money
Whether the Clean Energy Program will provide financial returns for subscribers is difficult to determine. In order to see whether its worth it, well compare the $100.20 annual cost for a one-kilowatt subscription to the expected savings based on how much electricity those panels can make in a year.
We used PVWatts to determine how much electricity one kW of premium solar panels in a large-scale solar farm can make in Hardee county over one year. We wanted to be thorough, so we compared three kinds of utility-scale installations:
- Rack mount, in which panels are mounted on racks that are attached to concrete pilings in the ground
- Single axis tracking, in which the ground-mounted racks are tilted vertically based on the height of the sun in the sky
- Dual axis tracking, in which panels are mounted in groups on pivoting poles that track the sun both vertically and horizontally
To be clear, we fully expect the Duke installations to use standard rack ground mounts, but because the savings per year are so small with this type of installation, we wanted to include the two other mounting methods to see whether the savings justify the cost in any way. We came up with the following numbers:
| System type | |
|---|---|
| $85.68 | $100.20 |
The numbers in the table above indicate that even with extremely expensive dual axis tracking that Duke is likely not going to pay for, the savings generated by 1 kW of solar panels dont come close to the cost of subscribing to a block.
Ecowatchs Opinion On Net Metering In North Carolina
North Carolina has an excellent net metering program that credits the full value of surplus energy your system generates to your next electric bill. Just be aware that any accumulated credits that go unused will expire on June 1 of each year so they wont be available to address higher energy demand through the summer months.
Overall, North Carolinas net metering program is generous and easy to apply for as long as your utility company and solar installer are helpful and communicative.
Read Also: How Much Does A Smartflower Solar Panel Cost
Let 8msolar Help You Benefit From Solar Incentives
8MSolar professionals are here to help you understand how this rebate can affect your residential or commercial project. We will help you bundle this rebate with the Federal Tax Incentive to cut up to 55% off the cost of going solar!
We are experts in the solar industry and can help you navigate the complexities surrounding various solar incentives. We can also assist you with installation, repairs and regular maintenance to ensure your solar panels serve you for a long time. Were here to help you through every step of the way. Contact us today to find out how you can save thousands of dollars on your solar installation.
Is Solar Worth It In North Carolina
It depends on your unique situation, but in general, its worth going solar in North Carolina.
The state offers a combination of incentives that reduce your ownership costs and decent sunshine that makes solar panels productive. Solar panels last for more than 25 years if theyre of high quality, and you can achieve a payback period of fewer than 10 years in North Carolina.
Also Check: How To Claim Tax Credit For Solar Panels
North Carolina Solar Panel Costs
The median price per watt for solar panels for North Carolina homes is $4.63, costing about $32,613, based on The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Tracking the Sun report. The table below shows the high and low system stats representing the upper and lower end of the spectrum regarding the cost of residential solar panels.
Pay particular attention to the median, the midpoint of the figures. “The median is the middle number in a sorted, ascending or descending list of numbers and can be more descriptive of that data set than the average,” according to Investopedia.
Many other online cost analyses you may come across show the average. However, the average includes any outliers on the higher and lower scale, which can skew the results. The median filters out those outlier values to represent the true midpoint of the data.
How Does The Duke Solar Rebate Work
This rebate is not guaranteed and is awarded through a lottery system.
- Once the lottery opens on January 11th, 2023 at 9am, homeowners will have 1 week to submit their rebate application by 9am on January 18th, 2023
- Applications will be reviewed to ensure eligibility requirements are met
- Eligible applications will be entered into a random selection pool and rebate reservations or waitlist designation will be randomly assigned by SAS, a third-party contracted by Duke Energy
- Rebate status notifications will be sent by Duke Energy
You May Like: Is Sola Bread Gluten Free
Duke Solar Rebate: What Is It
The Duke Solar Rebate NC program brings massive savings to residential, commercial and non-profit customers. This solar rebate can help make solar energy more affordable for anyone interested in solar energy. You can see savings of up to $4,000 for residential customers, $30,000 for commercial customers and up to $75,000 for non-profit entities. The rebate is offered through a lottery-type system. This means you may have a higher chance of receiving the rebate than you did in past years when the rebate was given on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Further complicating the rebate acceptance is that unused capacities from the non-profit or commercial rebate pool will also be transferred to residential customers in subsequent years. Therefore, being on a waitlist does not mean it will never move, and you wont get the rebate. In addition, if the system is installed and commissioned through the meter replacement stage within 90 days of the new year, the owner is eligible to file for the rebate bucket for the following year!
Homeowners and businesses are eligible for additional savings on top of the Duke Solar Rebate. The federal government offers the Solar Investment Tax Credit in an attempt to increase interest in clean energy solutions. This is a 30% tax credit for homeowners and companies who install solar panels on their property.
North Carolina Net Metering
North Carolina solar power incentives include a net metering policy, so you get credit for extra electricity from your solar energy system. When your system doesnt make enough power at a later date, you can use the credits you saved up. For example, you may be able to save credits during the hottest months of the summer, while you may need those saved credits during winter months. In North Carolina, net metering programs are offered through Dominion Energy and Duke Energy.
Read Also: Portable Solar Generator For House
Florida Supreme Court Tosses Duke Energy Solar Case Back To Regulators
- News Service of Florida
TALLAHASSEE In an unusual move, the state Supreme Court on Friday said utility regulators need to revise a decision that approved a controversial Duke Energy Florida solar energy program, saying the regulators decision leaves the court guessing as to the reasoning.
The Supreme Courts order came in a challenge to the Florida Public Service Commissions decision to approve the Duke program. The League of United Latin American Citizens of Florida has argued, at least in part, that the program would improperly shift costs and financial risks to the vast majority of Duke customers who do not participate,
The group known as LULAC appealed to the Supreme Court last year, and the court held arguments Feb. 9. But in a 6-1 order Friday, justices said the Public Service Commissions decision on Dukes Clean Energy Connection program did not adequately address the leagues arguments.
Justices also said that at least as to the major issues in dispute, commission orders must explain the agencys findings and conclusions enough to permit meaningful judicial review.
While utilities have rushed to build solar power plants in recent years, the Duke program has a different financial structure that involves some customers volunteering to initially pay more on their electric bills to help finance the projects and then receiving bill credits in the future.
Duke Energy Solar Energy Rebate
Duke Energy currently offers a rebate program for customers of both Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress. Residential, commercial and non-profit customers are eligible for the rebate. For the years of 2018 – 2022 Duke Energy has set aside a total of 20MW worth of rebates. To read the Duke Energy announcement .
As of 2021, Duke Energy has changed the rebate program selection process to random selection process, rebate applicants are no longer in a time sensitive position to race and get their form submitted. More information can be found on Duke Energy’s website. Duke Energy’s new random selection method provides applicants with a seven day window to submit their online application.
This rebate is currently at capacity for residential and commercial customers for 2022. Non-profit rebate capacity is still available for 2022. The coming January 2023 round of funding will be the last available for all customers Duke Energy is ending the program with this last round of applications. All remaining capacity will be awarded, randomly, to customers that apply during the January 11 – 18 application window. All customer types will be considered in one large pool of applicants.
Recommended Reading: How To Get Solar Panels On My House
Have We Got A Deal For You
Yes Solar Solutions has a special deal for you to buy a solar lottery ticket for the Duke Energy Solar Rebate. This way you can get a chance to win the rebate without spending money now to invest in solar. If the rebate would be an important part of your decision to go solar , let us set you up to apply without your having to buy solar now. 2022 is the last year of the Duke Energy Solar Rebate, with the July 6 application.
Duke Energy Solar Rebate For Nonprofits
Nonprofits and churches that are Duke Energy customers have a unique opportunity to add extra savings to their solar installation. The Duke Energy NC Solar Rebate is also available to nonprofits at 75 cents per watt with a max rebate value of $75,000 . Unlike the residential and commercial portions of the rebate, the nonprofit rebate has historically been less competitive. This means, the rebate is typically awarded to nonprofits on a first-come, first-served basis.
As of this update, there is still nonprofit capacity available in the 2022 Duke Rebate. When combined with the 30% Federal Direct Pay Reimbursement, nonprofits can see up to 60% savings on the cost of their solar system. So if you are a NC nonprofit looking into going solar let us know today!
Read Also: How Much Does Solar Really Save
North Carolina Solar Panel Companies
According to the Solar Energy Industry Association, over 200 solar companies operate across North Carolina. Several big-name solar companies operate nationwide, while others are local to the southeastern region. Whether you prefer to stay local or work with a larger brand, we have the details on trusted North Carolina solar installers.
Duke Energy Solar Rebate For Businesses
The Duke Energy Solar Rebate is also available to businesses who are Duke Energy customers that install solar. This rebate is valued at 30 cents per watt for businesses, up to 100,000 watts . Just like the residential portion of the rebate, the commercial rebate allocation is also awarded to businesses through a lottery system.
The rebate application is highly competitive, and chances of receiving the rebate are very slim, especially for businesses. The 2022 commercial solar rebate has reached the program cap. However, there will be a final application period to award any remaining rebate funds in January 2023. If youre interested in this incentive, let us know as soon as possible so we can get your project started and in a good place to be eligible for the rebate when the application period opens.
Because the rebate cannot be guaranteed and is so competitive, Southern Energy Management will default to not including the rebate in your solar savings analysis. Were happy to educate and consult on the impact of the rebate and how to apply if youre interested. Regardless of the NC Solar Rebate, solar is still a great investment in North Carolina for businesses, especially with the extension of the 30% Federal Investment Tax Credit for solar!
Don’t Miss: Deep Cycle Battery For Solar
