Utah is a very special state in many respects. Everybody knows the Great Salt Lake is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere, but how many know that Utah has five national parks—Arches, Canyonlands, Zion, Bryce and Capitol Reef, as well as six national forests—Ashley, Dixie, Fishlake, Manti-LaSal, Uinta, and Wasatch-Cache? Utah is actually the only state in the country where every county contains some national forest. The beehive was chosen as the emblem for the provisional State of Deseret in 1848 and was maintained on the seal of the State of Utah when it became a state in 1896. Utahans relate the beehive symbol to industry and the pioneer virtues of thrift and perseverance. Utah has the highest birth rate as well as the youngest population of any U.S. state. It also has the highest literacy rate among the states in the United States (which serves as great news for me as the writer of this blog!). There is some notable ancient history as well that occupy the sands of Utah. The first specimens of the Utahraptor were discovered in 1975 near Moab. They measure an average of 23 feet long and are larger than any other known raptor. Dinosaur history in Utah—who would know?
Moving on to current day, the controversy surrounding the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell is often cited as the beginning of the modern-day environmental movement. That movement has evolved into greater things, with more than 300,000 homes switching to solar power in the state of Utah alone. The state also boasts more than 4,500 solar industry jobs dedicated to the proliferation of this abundant clean energy resource with 4.75% of the state’s electricity generated from solar and rising.
FEDERAL TAX CREDIT
There’s a reason so many are making the switch to solar in Utah. There are many excellent incentives. Let’s begin with the Federal Solar Tax Credit, also known as the Investment Tax Credit (ITC). The ITC has been renewed for 30% until the end of 2019. This credit applies to all states and is counted against your paid-in federal taxes throughout the course of the year. Claim your solar tax credit when you file your annual tax return. If not claimed completely in one year, it can continue in for up to 5 years. In January 2020, the tax credit will drop to 26%, and then again to 22% in 2021. The ITC applies to both residential and commercial systems, and there is no cap on its value.
STATE AND UTILITY TAX CREDITS
The advantages of going solar in Utah do not end there. Utah earns an A rating for its net metering and feed-in tariff (FiT). This means Utahans get full-price credit for all of the solar energy they generate. The FiT is the payment for solar energy in non-net metering states. Utah also earns an A for it interconnection policies. This makes being plugged into the grid more simple, convenient, and beneficial for the solar home or business. Utah allows for systems of any capacity and makes it easy for smaller systems to get connected without utility companies requiring external disconnect switches and insurance. In short, grid connection, a major feature in the day-today functioning of solar power generation systems (SPGS), is a huge convenience. Not to be topped, the state of Utah itself is one of the best in the country for solar tax credits. These tax credits are a 1-to-1 dollar amount off your taxes which can negate a huge portion of the cost of installing solar panels—up to 25% of the cost of the SPGS. Did I also mention all the sun Utah is getting? It averages approximately 5.5 hours of peak Sun Hours per day. With benefits like these, it’s no wonder Utah is one of the best places for solar!
Green Solar Technologies is a National Installer of Solar and that includes Utah. Click here to begin your free solar estimate and have the satisfaction of becoming energy independent today!
by Ged Friedman