Because Solar energy systems require a large initial investment the U.S. Federal government and 48 States offer tax incentives and rebates to help make solar energy projects more affordable.  The Federal government currently offers a 30 percent tax credit for installing a solar energy system.  Even some utilities offer incentives to install a solar energy system at your house or business.  Some states, counties, and utilities offer performance based incentives for PV systems.  These programs pay you for the electricity you produce per kilowatt hour in addition to the money you save from net metering.  These policies are designed to promote growth and innovation in renewable energy which will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and reduce air pollution and greenhouse gasses.  In some cases the incentives can offset more than half of the cost for installing the system.  Researching these incentives can be a bit confusing because individual States offer different programs and the policies change frequently.  We recommend talking to a local professional solar installer about available renewable energy subsidies in your area.

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