Office of Environment & Sustainability

Solar energy uses a renewable energy source – the sun – and provides many benefits for individuals and the community. It improves environmental quality by reducing carbon emissions and air pollution, supports local solar companies in Ohio, creates local jobs, saves money on energy costs, and improves electric grid resilience during peak demand and other stresses to the system. Solar systems should last at least 20 years – and have a warranty that covers them for at least that long. Be sure to let your home insurance company know about your new solar energy system – some insurance companies cover solar property, while others may increase your premium. 

How solar works and net metering: When sunlight hits solar panels, it activates photovoltaic cells that produce an electrical current. The electricity produced by the cells is called direct current (DC) electricity. A solar inverter is used to change the electricity from direct current to alternating current (AC), the type of electricity that your home uses. The electricity then flows through your electric panel where it services any electricity needs in your home. If you have surplus power, the excess will be sent to the grid to power other homes. When this occurs, your meter will credit you for the electricity that you sent to the grid. This process is known as net metering. At the end of your monthly billing period, Duke Energy will “net out” the difference between the amount of energy you produced and the amount that you consumed from the grid. If you consumed more than you produced, then Duke Energy will bill you for the difference between the two. If you produced more than you consumed, then Duke Energy will provide you with a bill credit. 

 

Investigate your property’s solar potential by entering your address on Project Sunroof. You can also estimate the performance of potential solar photovoltaic (PV) projects using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s PVWatts Calculator. These are helpful tools for understanding your solar potential, but they do not replace the expertise of having a professional solar installer assess your property. 

Some factors that may impact the suitability of your roof for solar include: 

 

• Direction: South-facing is ideal, though east and west facing roofs may still produce significant amounts of electricity 

• Shading: Solar panels should have direct access to the sun with limited shading. Nearby buildings, trees, hills, or roof features can reduce the amount of sunlight reaching your solar system. 

• Pitch: The ideal roof angle is between 20 and 35 degrees, though steeper and flatter roofs may still work. 

If a solar installer determines that your roof is not suitable for solar, or you don't own your home, community solar may be an option soon in Ohio. See the "What About Renters?" Section, below. 

Find a solar contractor(s) to assess your home or business for solar energy and provide a quote.  

• The Smart Solar Guide – All the Resources You need to Go Solar - Helpful guide from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), with a resource library. 

• Visit EnergySage to learn about solar energy and submit for solar quotes from a network of pre-screened, local solar installers. 

• Solar Owner’s Manual – information for current solar homeowners to ensure they are getting the most out of their system from Solar United Neighbors. 

• Solar Ethics Pledge – Solar installers are on the front line representing the industry to customers and communities. That's why Green Energy Ohio (GEO) and Solar United Neighbors teamed up to create a Code of Ethics for Solar Installers intended to protect the solar industry in Ohio. You can see the installers who have signed the pledge on GEO's website, linked above. 

• There are some great tips in this video by the GW Solar Institute: Choosing A Solar Installer 

• Certified practitioners can be found through NABCEP. 

Thinking about making energy upgrades to your home? Take the Electrify Cincy Pledge so we can track our community's progress toward the Green Cincinnati Plan goals of electrifying 20,000 households by 2030 and reducing building emissions 30% from 2021 levels by 2030. 

Typically, solar installations are paid for through loans, upfront payments, or a power purchase agreement (PPA).  

• A Homeowner’s Guide to Solar Financing is a resource from the Clean Energy States Alliance that provides an overview of the different financing options.  

Local Lenders For Residential Solar

Local Lenders For Business & Commercial Solar 

• C-PACE Financing 

• OAQDA already offers a host of low-cost funding assistance for small and large businesses related to solar energy property that reduces impacts to air quality. 

• CDF's Nonprofit Building & Equipment fund? 

Federal Incentives: There are many new incentives and funding opportunities available for solar and other clean energy technologies.   

Household: 

• A great place for residents to start identifying the federal incentives for which they are eligible is this calculator from Rewiring America. The incentives available through the federal Inflation Reduction Act can vary depending on your income. 

• Additional details about benefits in the Inflation Reduction Act can be found on the White House’s website or the Department of Energy website, as well as the Electrify Cincy website! 

• The Residential Clean Energy Tax Credit for residential solar continues to be one of the most significant ways to reduce the cost of your household solar PV system. Learn more about the federal tax credit, eligibility, and other common questions & answers in the Homeowner’s Guide to the Federal Tax Credit for Solar Photovoltaics from the U.S. Department of Energy. 

• For more information about home energy upgrades, visit our website ElectrifyCincy.com 

Businesses & Tax-Exempt Organizations: 

• Businesses and tax-exempt organizations (including nonprofits, faith communities, public institutions like schools, utilities, local governments, etc.) should refer to the Federal Solar Tax Credits for Businesses. Tax credits include the Investment Tax Credit (ITC; for clean energy property like solar panels and battery storage), Commercial Clean Vehicles Tax Credit, and the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit (for EV charging equipment). 

• Tax-exempt organizations can now take advantage of the federal tax credit through a process called elective pay (sometimes referred to as direct pay)  from the Environmental & Energy Study Institute (EESI). An overview of elective pay and Frequently Asked Questions are available from the IRS.  

• Some solar projects will be eligible for bonus credits on top of the 30% Investment Tax Credit. The IRA provides up to 20% in bonus credits for qualified solar or wind facilities developed in low-income communities; up to 10% bonus for projects located in “energy communities” that have a historic fossil-fuel economy, high unemployment or are developing solar on a brownfield; and 10% domestic content bonus for projects using the required amounts of U.S.-produced steel, iron and manufactured products.  

• There is a federal map for both the energy community bonus credit and the low income communities bonus credit. The World Resources Institute has created an IRA Bonus Mapper tool to help identify communities that are eligible for the low income and energy community bonus credits.  

State and local incentives:  

• COMING SOON! The State of Ohio's Residential Solar Program anticipated to start in late 2024, geared towards low- and moderate-income single family households and multifamily developers. 

• COMING SOON! The Ohio Air Quality Development Authority (OAQDA) also plans to use new federal funding to provide low-cost financing and credit enhancement to support energy efficiency, solar and cleaner energy generation, and alternative fuel transportation infrastructure. 

• Many new state programs are expected to be announced in 2024 as a result of federal funding. Stay tuned for announcements from your state! 

Renters can qualify for the ITC and other IRA tax credits, but in order to place solar on your roof you would need to have permission from your landlord – this can be tricky, the equipment is not really made to be portable, and it can take 10+ years to see a return on your investment (the point at which the solar array has saved you more money than you spent on installing it). 

Community Solar is a possible solution for renters. It allows folks who cannot or do not want to use their roofs for solar (like if they have too much tree or building shade, or renters, or anyone really) to subscribe to the energy output of a large-scale solar array. Currently, community solar is not legal in Ohio, but state representatives are contemplating bills that would make community solar legal in the state through an initial pilot program: House Bill 197 and its new companion bill in the state senate, Senate Bill 247. If passed, the bill would establish a community solar pilot program that would allow for the installation of 1,500 megawatts of solar across the state – enough to power almost 300,000 homes. 

Effective in 2022, Senate Bill 61 codified solar access laws in Ohio for households covered by Home Owners Associations (HOAs) and condominiums. HOAs can still ban solar installations through the HOA's declaration (requiring a 75% vote of the homeowners to modify). For more information about solar and HOAs, refer to Ohio Revised Code Section 5312.16; for more information about solar and condominiums, refer to Ohio Revised Code Section 5311.192. You can see the section above, Cincinnati Solar Policies & Processes, for more information about solar access in the City of Cincinnati. 

Find other useful resources on solar rights and consumer protection here: 

• Consumer Solar Checklist – a checklist for residential consumers considering solar energy from IREC, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council. 

• Solar United Neighbors’ (SUN) Solar Owner’s Manual - serves as a support for solar homeowners whether you’ve just gone solar or you’ve had solar for years. 

• You can also refer to the list of solar installers who has signed SUN and GEO's Solar Ethics Pledge. The Solare Energy Industry Association has also published a code of ethics that its members must sign, and developed a comprehensive consumer protection section. 

• Clean Energy Consumer Bill of Rights – ensure a positive consumer experience by addressing important issues from IREC, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council. 

• A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: Encouraging Solar Development through Community Association Policies and Processes – includes details on how communities can encourage solar development through community association policies and processes. 

 

• Cincinnati Solar Project: One of the largest city-established solar array projects in the nation will soon provide power for the City of Cincinnati and its residents. The New Market Solar project is located east of Cincinnati in Highland County, Ohio. It covers close to 900 acres, about the size of 680 football fields, and consists of more than 310,000 solar panels. 

• City Facilities with Solar: Description of the solar being generated by city facilities {Could add video/photos here} 

• Op-Ed, Cincinnati Enquirer | January 15, 2024 | Councilmember Mark Jeffreys (Vice Chair of the City of Cincinnati Climate, Environment, & Infrastructure Committee | Solar Panels On All Municipal, School Buildings Would Benefit Region (CE-11) 

• Environmental Advisory Board (EAB): Established in April 2023 by the Cincinnati City Council, the EAB is a resource for the City to enact policies, practices, and procedures that combat climate change, improve health and well-being of citizens and environment, and positions Cincinnati to be a leader in sustainability and climate action. The current board was established in January 2024 and will serve 1, 2, or 3 year terms. You can provide public comment to the EAB in-person at their monthly public meetings or submit written comments via email. 

• The Cincinnati City Council's Climate, Environment, & Infrastructure Committee meets biweekly in council chambers at City Hall. Meetings are open to the public and can also be viewed online. You can see upcoming meetings and agendas. 

• Previously, the City of Cincinnati, in partnership with Solar United Neighbors, offered the Solarize Cincy program. The program educated Cincinnati residents about the benefits of solar and helped them determine if solar was a good investment for their home.