Your Guide To Going Solar In Montana
Reach out To Learn MoreKnown as “Big Sky Country” and “The Last Best Place,” Montana offers a mix of natural beauty and a commitment to preserving its vast wilderness. Solar energy is one of the most impactful ways for Montanans to protect the environment while achieving energy independence. With over 300 days a year of sunlight, going solar in Montana is an easy decision.
From the 30% Federal tax credit to net metering programs that let you sell excess power back to the grid, going solar can reduce energy costs while helping you gain energy independence. With a few details in hand, you can start your solar project today.
The State Of Solar In Montana
Montana’s natural resources and long winters make it an ideal place to go solar, with the second-highest per capita rate of energy consumption in the country. However, the state’s massive solar resource (26% greater than the reported national average) underlies a statewide potential to generate 8,000 terawatt-hours of solar energy annually.
Even more good news is that the Montana solar industry is only getting bigger. The 29 solar companies in Montana today employ over 300 individuals, who have installed a total of 6,917 solar photovoltaic (PV) systems statewide since 2014. While that number alone is enough to power 42,139 homes, it is only expected to increase as the price of solar continues to drop.
Solar energy in Montana also enjoys growing community support. Not only is it supported by the Montana Renewable Energy Association (MREA) as an industry that will help “conserve natural resources, create jobs, and increase the independence and resilience of our communities,” but it has the proven potential to scale across entire communities, too. Also spearheading the effort to scale solar PV projects across Montanan communities is the Energy Office’s Montana Solar Community Project (MSCP), which supports cooperatives in Flathead and Missoula and has partnered with MREA as well as with Montana-Dakota Utilities and NorthWestern Energy. The two largest electrical utilities in the state.
The Many Benefits Of Going Solar In Montana
How? Through “net metering,” homeowners sell unused solar generation back to the grid. In Montana, all surplus energy is applied as full-price credits to future bills, which are especially handy during those long, low-sun winter months! Net metering is supported and protected politically, too. In fact, the Montana Public Service Commission recently and unanimously struck down a proposal from NorthWestern Energy that would have ended net metering and implemented demand charges for new rooftop solar customers.
Many state and federal programs and incentives help make going solar easier and more affordable. Montana boasts the country’s 9th best state solar tax credit, $500 per individual or $1,000 per couple. In addition, Montana’s 0% sales tax combined with a statewide property tax exemption ($20,000 of the assessed energy system value for single-family residences for ten years following installation) means that you will pay $0 in taxes on any solar PV installation for the first ten years. This is complemented by several state-run grants and loan programs for renewable energy projects, including an Alternative Energy Revolving Loan Program (AERLP) that provides $0 down, low-interest loans of up to $40,000 to help cover installation costs. At the federal level, homeowners with solar PV systems are also eligible for the 30% Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC).
Long winter months and hot summers mean that Montanan residents use, on average, just under 10,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year per household. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), that number compounded over 20 years is the equivalent of 138 metric tons of CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions from over 152,000 pounds of coal burned or emissions from 46.9 tons of landfill waste. However you do the math, offsetting even a fraction of your home’s electrical usage has immense and quantifiable environmental benefits.
With solar equipment becoming more affordable, Montana’s net metering program, and the 30% federal tax credit, there’s never been a better time to go solar.
As one of the premier solar companies in Montana, Independent Power is looking forward to trailblazing the future of renewable energy in this great state. Contact one of our Solar Design Specialists to start your solar project today.
