Many homeowners are scrambling to install rooftop solar systems before federal tax credits expire in December, giving contractors plenty of lucrative work. However, solar business owners worry about the industry’s future in light of the tax credits disappearing.
As Utility Dive reported, Montana Busch, founder of the Georgia-based solar installation company Alternative Energy Southeast, is one of those owners who feels frustrated about the government cuts to critical solar programs. After President Donald Trump announced the 30% tax credit would expire nearly 10 years ahead of schedule, Busch said quote requests poured in, and while he’s still not hurting for work, he anticipates that will change after Dec. 31.
“We’ve sold a record number of projects in the past few weeks and, you know, it’s great in a lot of ways, but it’s also a big challenge for a business to ramp up and ramp down,” Busch told the news outlet. “That’s what doesn’t make any sense about this: Solar provided means for someone like me … to build a business from the ground up, i.e. the American Dream, right? But our own government is against our industry.”
Elsewhere across the country, the clean energy marketplace EnergySage has noted similar spikes in demand. Emily Walker, EnergySage’s director of content and insights, told Utility Dive that the company has “seen some of our biggest weekly registration numbers in our entire history” over the summer.
Even without tax credits, going solar is one of the best ways to save on energy bills and reduce pollution. With the company’s free tools, you can quickly compare quotes from vetted installers and find the best deals on a solar setup for your needs.
Despite the surging demand, it’s clear that installers are worried about the impending tax credit expiration. An EnergySage survey revealed that 92% of contractors said that repealing the credits would “harm or dramatically harm” their companies. Some even said they would shut down their business, sell it, or leave the industry.
With so many uncertainties surrounding future solar incentives and installation prices hitting all-time lows recently, per EnergySage, it’s never been a better time to take advantage of the tax credits while they last and invest in a home system.
By shopping with EnergySage, you can save an average of $10,000 on installation fees and see which incentives are available to you on a state-by-state basis with a free mapping tool, which could help you access even more savings. The mapping tool will also show you the average price of a system in your state.