What is Solarize Roanoke? 

Solarize Roanoke is part of the larger Solarize Virginia campaign, a community-based outreach initiative managed by the local nonprofit LEAP (Local Energy Alliance Program). LEAP and other local partners have organized to reduce the cost and complexity of going solar by providing a one-stop shop for education, installation, and financing for your solar project. Through a competitive review process, LEAP evaluates and selects high-quality local installers that commit to providing discounted prices to all program participants. After you sign up, LEAP will do a free solar site assessment to see if you are a good fit for solar. If you are, you will be connected with one of our pre-selected installers who will guide you through the process of solarizing your home. 

How does Solarize bring down the price?

The foundation of this program is community engagement. As members of a community rally behind solar, the installers are able to lower their prices. This is a result of bulk purchasing, offset marketing expenses, reduced travel expenses, and the guarantee that solar installation crews will be kept busy. In addition to the reduced price produced by Solarize’s economies of scale, LEAP will help you access a 26% federal tax credit, affordable financing, and navigate the Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) market.

When is the Solar Income Tax Credit dropping?

The Solar Income Tax Credit is dropping from 26% to 22% at the end of 2022, so we are trying to help as many people as possible to take advantage of the higher tax credit! The credit is set to expire entirely in 2024 for residential installations. Installation can take up to four months after you sign your contract, and we are expecting high levels of demand this year due to the change in tax credit. The discounted program prices will be available until August 31 and sign ups will be open through June 30, 2022. 

New Battery Storage!

Starting in 2021, Solarize Roanoke began offering participants the opportunity to pair battery storage systems and EV charging stations, in addition to their new solar arrays. While battery storage can be expensive, our selected installer has provided competitive prices to make them more financially accessible to interested homeowners.

When battery storage is used in conjunction with solar, it gives individuals the opportunity to receive a credit on their utility bill for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of solar energy that is sent back to the grid. That way, those credits can be used when you need more electricity than your panels are producing. We’ll help participants determine if battery storage is right for them by evaluating their energy usage and solar potential. Batteries will typically double the cost of the project, but are a great way of backing up appliances or preparing for electric vehicles.