Solar Opportunities - Virginia

Solar Offerings and Incentives

Depending on where you live, you may be eligible for a limited time offer of discounted purchase prices or may be able to purchase solar power from your utility.  These  programs are listed below.  Of course, you can always install solar on your home by hiring a qualified solar installer, even if you don’t live in one of these program areas.  If so, don’t forget to claim the state tax incentives (see below).

Local projects

Virginia SUN- Citizens for Solar

Virginia SUN supports  programs which work with communities to bulk purchase and install solar systems on homes. Depending on the program, a group purchase can reduce the cost of a solar installation by 20-30%. Each participating townpicks their own installer, usually through a competitive process. Virginia sun has already helped some communities go solar (see below). If you do not see your town on the list, Virginia SUN can help you start a  program in your town.

Eligibility: Must be a resident of solarize town. Current towns include Blacksburg, and Richmond, VA.

More information can be found here.

Dominion Virginia Power - Solar Purchase Program  

This is a pilot rate program for Dominion Virginia Power customers who want to install solar photovoltaic on their property. The systems’ output would be entirely bought by the power company at $0.15 per kWh and the contract lasts 5 years. More information and application materials can be found here.

Eligibility: customers of Dominion Virginia Power

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) - Green  Power Providers

TVA and other power distributors will pay property owners who install solar photovoltaics, wind, biomass, and hydropower systems for the power produced from these systems. For the first ten years solar power will be purchased at prices above the retail rate for electricity. For the last 10 years, the utility will buy power at the prevailing retail rate. The program also offers a $1000 incentive for the installation of the system. More information and limitations can be found here.

State Tax Incentives and Financing

Property Tax Exemption

In Virginia, counties, cities, or towns may decide to allow a full or partial property tax exemption for installed passive solar space heat, solar water heat, solar space heat, solar thermal electric, and solar photovoltaic systems. Check with your local government to find out if it is available in your town . At the time this information was posted, the cities and counties  offering a solar energy equipment and facilities exemption include:

Albemarle

Alexandria

Charlottesville

Chesterfield

Fairfax

Hampton

Hanover

Harrisonburg

Henrico

Isle of Wight

King and Queen

Lexington

Loudoun

Lynchburg

Prince William

Pulaski

Roanoke

Spotsylvania

Warren

Winchester

Wise

Eligibility requirements and more information can be found here.

Property Assessed Clean Energy    (PACE)

Some towns in Virginia offer PACE financing to property owners  to pay for clean energy systems. Check with your local government to find out if it is available in your town. Eligibility requirements and more information can be found here.

Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit

A federal-level investment tax credit (ITC) is now available to consumers wanting to purchase small wind turbines, solar panels, or geothermal heat pumps.  The ITC, written into law through the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, is available for equipment installed from Oct. 3, 2008 through Dec. 31, 2016. The credit covers 30% of the equipment cost, though some technologies have a credit cap of $2000. More details and a complete list of eligible technologies can be found here.