UTAH… THIS IS THE PLACE TO GO SOLAR
Why go solar in Utah
Solar just makes sense in Utah, but you have to act quick! The quicker you switch, the more you can save with the Renewable Energy Systems Tax Credit. The credit is being reduced by $200 per year, until it completely disappears in 2024.
Save on energy
The potential for energy savings is huge, especially for larger Utah homes. The goal is to design your system to offset* your electricity consumption, even for those hot summers and snowy winters. With solar, your home will run on sunshine during the day. At night, you can avoid using energy from the grid if you have batteries that store any excess energy produced.
Be prepared for outages
Scheduled maintenance or unforeseen weather can cause outages for Utah homeowners. You can be prepared for such situations with a solar system and batteries. In the event of an outage, you can keep your air conditioner or heater running with any excess energy you have stored in your batteries. Batteries can help you keep the power on during outages. Talk to your dealer about what batteries are the right fit for your system and lifestyle.
Preserve Utah’s outdoors
Utah is filled with beautiful national and state parks, mountains and lakes. Help preserve your environment for future generations by going solar. Solar systems help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as CO2. It can help save you money and reduces your home’s carbon footprint. You can feel good knowing you are saving money and the environment.
Have predictable payments
Utah homeowners see both warm summers and snowy winters. This can lead to very high energy bills during certain months and certain hours in the day. Not to mention utilities change their rates almost annually. Solar can help you budget monthly energy costs and be less subject to varying rates. With batteries you can avoid high time of use (TOU) rates.
Invest in your home
Many Utah homeowners go solar to keep up with the market. The average Utah home is worth approximately $401,053, that is a 13.3% annual increase. Be prepared in case you want to sell your home in the future. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), purchasing a solar power system can increase your home’s resale value by an average of 17% and sell it 20% faster.
Solar incentives in Utah**
Utah’s Renewable Energy Systems Tax Credit is a nonrefundable tax credit of 25% of the solar system’s cost, up to a maximum of $1,200. However, this credit is being phased out, with the maximum amount of credit to be reduced by $200 a year until it is phased out entirely in 2024.
Many of Utah’s utility providers provide some form of “net metering,” which allows solar homeowners to be paid for excess energy they provide to the grid. Those net metering rates are usually less than the actual cost to produce that power, so you’ll get the most out of your system if you aim to use all of the power you generate and export nothing to the grid.
Utah homeowners are also eligible for the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC).**** The ITC allows you to deduct 26 percent of the cost of installing a solar energy system from your federal taxes.
Solar panels perform in all kinds of weather
Going solar is a big decision, and although there are many factors you should consider, local weather shouldn’t be a deterrent. Solar panels are designed to work in almost any type of weather… even snow and clouds!
Sunny
There are sunny days ahead for solar. The more sun you have access to, the longer your panels work during the day. Your panels work best at converting energy when sun rays shine directly at them. The more energy you produce, the more excess you may be able to send back to the grid. Take advantage of the excess through net metering and other incentive programs.
Rainy
As the rain pours down, your panels will continue to be hard at work. Solar panels will work with reflected or partially blocked sun rays to keep your home powered. Your production is linked to the amount of clouds. Rain will have some effect on your production, but the rays will still penetrate through the rain. It may actually help keep your panels working efficiently as they wash away any dust or dirt.
Cloudy
It is a misconception that panels don’t work on cloudy days. The best way to know how much the clouds affect your system’s performance is to monitor your system on sunny days and compare. Your system may actually be more efficient without the excess heat. This is because solar systems prefer the cold! The sun’s rays are still able to penetrate through cloudy skies and keep your system running.
Snowy
Amazingly enough, even when covered in snow a solar system can still produce power! Scattered light filters through snow and reaches solar panels even when the snow cover is fairly heavy. Your solar panels may actual be more efficient in light snow. Cold weather helps them perform better, and usually snow slides right off. Power production may be reduced with heavier snowfall, but your system can still produce.
Windy
Solar panels are highly reliable and sturdy, they hardly notice your average winds. In most cases, damage from wind will be due to weakened roofs, not solar panels. This is why we assess your roof condition and reccomend any repairs prior to installing your system. In the event that higher winds cause an outage in the grid, you will still have power if you have batteries with your system.
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Solar power freedom starts here. Get 25 years of clean, reliable solar power with Freedom Forever’s Production Guarantee! Your energy freedom starts here. Terms and conditions apply.
*Offset requires matching energy usage to the solar system’s output.
**These figures are current as of May 5, 2021 and are only approximations. We advise you to consult with the appropriate professionals (including, but not limited to, your solicitor or attorney, accountant, CPA, CGA, or any other financial or legal advisor) for the implications of any information contained in our website and in any link you access through our website.
***This information is current as of May 5, 2021 and figures are approximated. Customers are encouraged to check with their local utility providers for the most up to date and accurate information regarding solar incentives and programs available.
****You should contact a qualified tax expert and consult with them. Neither Freedom Forever’s family of independent authorized dealers nor Freedom Forever itself can give you tax advice. A qualified tax professional will understand your situation and be able to give you the most relevant advice.
