As a homeowner in Missouri, you may have questions about the costs and savings of solar energy. Here we guide you through available incentives, financial options, and solar costs. If you have further questions about Missouri solar incentives, reach out to our friendly residential solar installers! We’d be happy to help you.
With the cost of solar panels and solar energy technology steadily decreasing over the years, going solar has never been more affordable. Solar panels are also a home improvement that frees up cash flow and increases your home value.
Though some homeowners prefer to pay cash in full, not everyone can pay upfront for a home energy system. Fortunately, Missouri solar incentives & financing options are available to homeowners, such as solar loans.
Discover Missouri solar incentives to help make solar more affordable for you.
30% Federal Tax Credit
Receive 30% of the full system cost back as a credit against your total tax liability for the year your system was installed. However, this tax credit will sunset on December 31, 2025. Your solar PV system must be installed by that date.
The tax credit is non-refundable and requires that you have the tax appetite to be eligible. It can be carried forward. The home must be owned by the taxpayer but they don’t have to be the resident. For example, this can work if you rent your home or if you have a vacation home. Consult your tax professional to find out how this credit can work best for you.
A solar loan allows you to purchase a home solar system and pay it off over time. The types of solar loans include:
StraightUp Solar has a seamless relationship with Clean Energy Credit Union to provide special financing to help people install solar electric systems on their homes. The Credit Union is focused on providing clean energy loans that reduce the cost of living for members while also contributing toward a more sustainable environment. These loans include solar, electric vehicles, batteries, and geothermal energy. StraightUp Solar works closely with the Clean Energy Credit Union to help customers finance their solar projects.
The solar loan through Clean Energy Credit Union was specifically designed to finance solar projects. It is split into two parts:
We want to make it as easy as possible for our customers to go solar. This financing product is what we offer most often with our solar installations.
You can get a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC) from your preferred bank. These are home improvement loans that allow you to borrow against your home’s equity. If approved, a home equity loan gives you a lump sum that you repay in equal installments over a set period of time, while a home equity line of credit gives you revolving credit that you can borrow against (up to your limit) and reuse as you pay it back (like a credit card).
Home equity loans typically offer lowest rates and tax-deductible* interest payments*. Banks and credit unions offer home equity lines of credit and check with your financial institution on their terms and conditions.
StraightUp Solar treats home equity loans like cash without any extra charges on our end, as we do not have to provide the financing product. You may encounter additional fees and loan processing payments from your bank though, so factor that into your decision-making process.
* Always contact a trusted tax professional to verify eligibility in your specific case.
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) is a financing mechanism for Missouri homeowners approved by the Missouri General Assembly in 2010. PACE allows homeowners to pay for the solar array by taking a loan against the home and property as opposed to the individual. The loan is paid back through a special property tax assessment which can be covered in monthly payments via an escrow account (if the home is still under mortgage). The voluntary property tax assessment stays with the home and property and can run for up to 20 years. Advantages to PACE financing include; potentially no money down, 100% financing and reasonable interest rates.
This voluntary assessment is secured by a senior lien on the property which provides debt collateral in the event a property owner defaults on the assessment.
It is important to note that while PACE does not increase your property taxes themselves, it increases the bill that is sent to you by the assessor until the solar PV system is paid off. The local government pays the financing institution that offered the loan to support the PACE financing. The benefit of this financing is that the loan stays with the home. When the resident that installed solar moves out the new resident continues to pay for the solar array via the property tax assessment.
Here are some final notes on the different solar financing options available for Missouri homeowners:
Tax incentives – With a solar loan, unlike with solar leasing, you own the solar panel system outright and you may be able to take advantage of tax incentives.
Maintenance and repairs – With a loan, you own the solar panel system and you will have to pay for maintenance and repairs yourself.
Long-term savings – When you purchase a solar energy system through a solar loan, the system will eventually be paid off. After that point, you are generating free electricity for your home without having to make monthly payments, giving you greater long-term savings than systems covered by solar leases.
Selling your home – If you want to sell your home, solar leases can be passed onto the home’s next owner.
Our Project Developers customize pricing for each solar array construction based on three elements:
The good news is the cost of going solar has come down 80% in the last decade, and it is affordable for the average working family.
Projects typically require little money down with financing, or range from $20,000-$60,000 before incentives.
We can estimate your pricing, including incentives and energy bill savings, with some information about your home and electric bill. Reach out for an estimate to get started.
It’s important to research all available solar financing options and get quotes to compare interest rates and fees. Taking out a solar loan can give you the best savings in the long term and you can take advantage of solar incentives and rebates. What you choose to value the most is, of course, up to you!
As always, the solar experts at StraightUp Solar can answer any questions you may have and provide you with all of the information you need to make an educated decision about going solar.
StraightUp Solar was founded and is under the same owner since 2006, a track record few other local companies can match. Our team of solar experts lives and works in the local communities we serve, bringing 3,000 solar projects to light for our neighbors. With a full-time Service Team, we’ll be around to care for your system for years to come.
Make an informed solar decision with a free, no-obligation quote that includes: your custom system design, eligible incentives, utility bill savings, payment options, & more.
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