North Dakota enjoys 4.65 hours of peak sunlight, which is enough to help a PV system pay for your electricity bills or at least make a significant cut. But you can cut not only your electricity bill, but also your costs for installing this PV system. How is that possible? Read in our article on North Dakota solar incentives and rebates.
The US government wants more people to go solar: it’s a modern and green way of getting energy. This is why the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) program was developed. It allows American citizens to claim 30% of the cost of their installation as an income tax deduction. The cost here is not only solar panels but also shipping, installation expenses and more. For example, if your system overall made you spend $10,000, the government returns you $3,000. To claim the ITC, complete all the necessary forms and submit them when filing your taxes.
Solar laws in North Dakota make net metering programs available to customers of all investor-owned utilities. Its availability to the customers of municipal utilities and electric cooperatives is optional. The program gives households an opportunity to send the excess electricity back to the grid instead of storing it with batteries.
When you sell your solar power to the utility, you receive credits that can be used to offset your next bills. In North Dakota, their value is equal to full retail electricity price. If you have any unused credits at the end of the month, they will be purchased at the utility’s avoided cost rate. The customer retains RECs for their own load, but the RECs associated with net excess generation are transferred to the utility with due compensation to the client.
Renewable Energy Credits are certificates granted to any person or entity upon generation of each MWh of clean electricity. Unlike with Net Metering, you don’t need to sell any electricity to get credits. The value of RECs is always changing, which makes them similar to stock market assets. Based on the available data, selling RECs could mean anywhere from $300 to $1,000 annually for a 10kW solar system. To participate, you have to apply for approval to the North Dakota Public Service Commission. After that, you can create a REC account with the Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System (M-RETS) to begin storing and selling your credits.
A solar PV system installed in a home increases its value by about 4%, says the Zillow report. In North Dakota, you don't have to pay extra taxes during the first few years following installation. According to state laws, 100% of the value added as a result of acquiring a solar PV system shall be exempt from taxation for 5 full assessment years. To claim the exemption, contact your local tax assessor.
4%
this is how much solar panels increase the value of your house
A solar easement contract is a written agreement between two property owners, for example, you and your neighbor. This type of contract helps to maintain a stable supply of sunlight for your PV modules. A solar easement guards your panels from potential impairments, such as vegetation and structures. It is voluntary and must contain the description of protected space, a list of restrictions and a clause on revision or termination of the contract. Once signed, it is tied to the land, not the owner. Any such agreement must be created in written form and must meet the general requirements for easements on real property.
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Years of experience in translation and a love of nature help Julia find the right words to encourage going solar. She joined the team in 2023 and is happy to make her contribution to a greener future.
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