This might change in the future as more states bring these laws to fruition to help homeowners save on their energy bills. Pennsylvania is one of the best states in the country if you want to go solar – but only if you’re rich enough. Green Energy Chronicles is, however, looking to change that.

They still have room for 2 GW of urban utility scale photovoltaics. Solar PV panels are what you may see on the roof of someone’s house. Keep in mind local HOAs can still impose restrictions on the size, place, and placement of solar devices on or around your house. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a bipartisan effort by Northeast states to cut carbon emissions from power plants. In this blog, we want to focus on four key states with specific impact: West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. You Can Save Money By Going Solar in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, with the rebate program now exhausted, the picture is not nearly as sunny for solar. Some of them have become very helpful in finally blocking the restrictions HOA’s placed on homeowners. By 2021, this should top out at 12%. It would pull Pennsylvania out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. West Virginia may be trailing behind other states in solar adoption, but they do have effective right-to-access laws for protection from HOA rules against solar.

Copyright © 2020 Mountain View Solar - Berkeley Springs, WV, a lot more room to grow in solar capacity, repealing their renewable energy standard, providing a Virginia Solar Energy Development Authority, they don’t have a right-to-access law at the moment, to establish new rules to avoid entanglements, The State of Energy Storage in The Mid-Atlantic 2020, Valley Carwash – the Largest solar installation in Frederick County, VA, Maryland Relaunches its 2020 Battery Tax Credit, The Future of the Solar Tax Credit – 2020 and Beyond, 8.4kW Ground Mount Array in Clarke County, Virginia, 7.44kW Ground Mount Array in Berkeley County, West Virginia. This new law voids all restrictions, even though you still need to work with your HOA on installation requirements, mostly for aesthetics. Not only is Virginia on board with solar, but they also have right-to-access laws to help with the process. This might change in the future as more states bring these laws to fruition to help homeowners save on their energy bills. Four years ago, they only had enough solar energy in the state to power 1,400 homes. Many residents in the state recognize the value of solar, though, as opposed to any other investment and so these rules are slowly evolving. In addition to full 1-to-1 net metering, you can sell your excess solar production to utility companies for profit, albeit at the wholesale rate. Pennsylvania solar tax credits The federal solar ITC. In the meantime, if you want to set up solar panels in Pennsylvania, you may encounter significant HOA roadblocks. Guidelines on installations are a major factor in Pennsylvania since some neighborhood HOAs are concerned about the aesthetics. Thanks to their own mandate to have 25% renewable energy by 2025 (like Virginia), their right-to-access law provides similar protections. On December 15, 2006, the Commission adopted net metering and interconnection rules in Chapter 75 of Pa. Code Title 52 that became effective on December 16, 2006. Share on Twitter or Facebook. It generates funds to invest in renewable energy, like solar. Solar easements are one of those major financial gifts.

A new solar mandate law says that 15% of the state’s energy must be renewable by 2025. Right-to-access laws in specific states help deal with the situation, though HOA rules can still get in the way of allowing households to install solar panels, at least at first. Despite the lack of right-to-access laws, the use of solar technology here is not a bleak picture by any means. Pennsylvania is a bit behind in that they don’t have a right-to-access law at the moment.

mtvSolar will be happy to work with your local HOA to further explain solar and its aesthetic options to remove those potential roadblocks. Following is a brief description of each: Solar is the conversion of sunlight into electricity by either solar photovoltaic (PV) panels or solar thermal systems. Many state financial incentives for investing in solar in West Virginia ended, however West Virginia does have 1-to-1 net metering and you can take the Federal tax credit. Without right-to-access laws, home owner’s associations still have the right to deny you the ability to start using solar power on your home and the best approach will be education. You can indeed save money by going solar in Pennsylvania. Just a few years ago Pennsylvania was near the top of the solar heap, boasting one of the strongest solar power rebate program in the country to go along with solid performance incentives and strong net metering laws. Another part of this includes eliminating property taxes on your solar infrastructure. By mtvSolar | February 20, 2018 | Category mtvSolar. They have a local state rebate program, giving you back up to $1,000 if you invest in solar technology.
As you already know, a little bit goes a long way. The state also has extra room for 35 GW of rural utility scale photovoltaics. Contact us to learn about how we can help you go solar if you live in the WV, MD, PA and VA area. Pennsylvania is a bit behind in that they don’t have a right-to-access law at the moment. Even though WV has some of the lowest electricity rates in the country, you can potentially reduce your utility bill to nothing using solar technology in the state and save many thousands over the life of the system. Available sources of renewable energy in Pennsylvania include solar, geothermal, wind, hydropower and biomass.
The bill, HB 117, specifically limits the power of local municipalities and homeowners associations from regulating or prohibiting renewable energy systems like water, wind, and solar energy. Since so many people in PA are new to the process, it’s simply going to take time to implement new rules so installations can be done in an acceptable manner without too much resistance from HOAs. Along with a new law providing a Virginia Solar Energy Development Authority, the state has powerful backing for those wanting to install solar panels now on their homes. On the bright side, net metering is available, allowing solar users to directly lower their utility bills, and the Federal tax credit is also available. These are going to be operational by the turn of the decade to supply power to an incredible 100,000 homes. We’re one of the longest lasting and most experienced solar installers in this region of America. The value of solar incentives in Pennsylvania is even greater when taking into account the recent extension of the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for solar. Six municipalities have since established new policies to guide people forward on solar use. We’ll be proud to help you go solar, regardless of your right-to-access laws. Some HOA’s can still have minor limitations on placement of solar panels, though you’re not going to find too many other restrictions. Despite West Virginia repealing their renewable energy standard, they did pass legislation six years ago to make it easier to go solar despite some HOA rules. Financial incentives go far beyond many other states. It’s recently noted that West Virginia has a lot more room to grow in solar capacity. Pennsylvania solar power overview. This clean energy grant further enhances the ROI. Some lawsuits have gone forward against local HOA’s in specific states as a result, and with right-to-access laws the homeowner generally wins. Take a look at the laws detailed below if you’re covered by an HOA and are considering solar. However, there is a net metering law in place which has the potential to dramatically decrease homeowners’ electric bills. New utility scale solar projects are already under construction, including some with a capacity of 400 MW. In the meantime, if you want to set up solar panels in Pennsylvania, you may encounter significant HOA roadblocks. Right-to-Access Laws in Pennsylvania. Virginia’s commitment to solar is growing fast.