You may have heard lots about the Solar Incentive Tax Credit (ITC) when purchasing your solar system but are a little unsure exactly how it works. In short, the ITC allows you to deduct up to 26% of the cost of your solar energy system from your federal taxes. This is in fact one of the main benefits of financing your solar system opposed to signing a lease or PPA where you will not receive this lucrative tax credit . The Investment Tax Credit is based off of the total amount invested in your solar energy system which can be worth up to 26%. Currently, this 26% tax incentive will be effective ..read more

Now that you’ve determined you are eligible for the Solar Incentive Tax Credit (ITC), you are most likely wondering where to start to claim your credit. First off, you will need to complete the IRS Form 5695, “Residential Energy Credits” in order to claim your credit. Then, you will need to add your renewable energy credit information to your 1040 form. Below is a helpful walk through of how to complete the 5695 Form and claim your Solar ITC. . Please keep in mind, Dividend Finance does not offer tax advice. Please consult with your tax advisor if you have any tax-related questions. Completin ..read more

In recent months, energy prices have begun to rise to levels that haven’t been seen in decades, causing concern among energy consumers across the board. With no way of knowing how high prices might go or how long the price surge may last, many are considering switching to solar power. However, some are worried this fall about the overall effectiveness of solar panels in winter. Do they work in cold weather and snow? If you’re curious about how well solar panels might work in winter, read on for help with your decision-making process. How do solar panels work? Before dissecting the effectivenes ..read more

Every project financed using C-PACE industry has, as part of its closing file, some form of energy audit or energy review. While this is not a standard document in most commercial transactions, it is an essential part of a C-PACE deal. To understand why, we start at the beginning of C-PACE itself . Background C-PACE was originally developed in the mid-2000s, with the aim of moving private capital to upgrade the building stock by encouraging investment in energy efficiency upgrades to commercial properties. The investment would be tied to the property, not the owner, and would amortize over th ..read more