Commercial Solar Incentives
Positive Energy Solar is committed to helping you understand how solar can be a valuable investment for your business. There are financial benefits of commercial solar energy systems, including federal tax incentives that allow businesses to recoup about 50% of solar project costs within the first year! Some of these commercial solar incentives include financing options like C-PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy), USDA REAP Grants, and various tax benefits for New Mexico Businesses.
SOLAR TAX INCENTIVES
The IRS offers two tax incentives for commercial solar projects. First, the Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) offers an uncapped 30% tax credit equal to 30% of total system cost against you Federal tax liability.
Second, Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) is a method of depreciation in which a business’s investments in solar property can be recovered through tax deductions. Under the current tax plan, MACRS benefits can be taken all in the 1st year. Taken together, the federal tax credit and depreciation can reduce commercial solar project costs by about 50% within the first year!
New Mexico also offers an additional 10% tax credit (up to $6,000) for solar installations, applied towards your State tax liability.
USDA GRANTS & LOANS
The USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Grant provides $145 million in funding for 700 loan and grant awards to help agricultural producers and/or rural small business owners make energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy investments to lower energy costs, generate new income, and strengthen the resiliency of their operations.
The REAP grant covers up to 50% of total solar system costs and can be combined with other solar tax incentives. Much of New Mexico is considered to be rural including Gallup, Espanola, Los Lunas, Farmington, Los Alamos, Clovis, Hobbs, and more; offering a great opportunity for rural New Mexico businesses to have solar panels installed. Positive Energy Solar can help with the application process.
The next grant application deadline is September 30, 2024.
LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES BONUS CREDIT PROGRAM
The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) established the program under section 48(e), which was added to the Internal Revenue Code by the Inflation Reduction Act, to promote cost-saving clean energy investments in low-income communities, on Indian land.
A 10% increase is available to eligible solar and wind facilities that are installed in low-income communities or on Indian land and a 20% credit increase is available to eligible solar and wind facilities that are part of a qualified low-income residential building or a qualified low-income economic benefit project.
GOING SOLAR WITH C-PACE
Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) is a financing mechanism used by local governments that allows commercial, industrial, and multi-family property owners in New Mexico to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements through their property tax payment. The repayment of qualified energy improvements is done via a voluntary property tax assessment collected by local governments, just as other public infrastructure investments are financed. The financing for PACE projects may be provided by municipal bonds or third party capital secured by the property assessment payments.
Have you always wanted to put solar panels on your facility to cut and control electric bills? With C-PACE, your business may qualify for a long term loan with no upfront costs to you, and repaid as a tax assessment over 20 years.
You begin saving the moment the system is turned on because the amount saved on the utility bill is more than the repayment. Because electricity only goes up in price over time, this gives you the ability to lock in your utility costs.
When you sell your building, the solar equipment goes with the sale. The value of your property goes up without requiring any additional collateral from you – the loan is guaranteed via a senior lien to the mortgage.
Some of our commercial solar projects include:
- Tomasita's Restaurant | 69 kW (Solar Carport) | Santa Fe, NM
- Meow Wolf | 104 kW (Roof) | Santa Fe, NM
- Kingcat, LLC | 35.56 kW (Roof) | Albuquerque, NM
- Hydrocut | 38 kW (Single Axis Tracker) | Belen, NM
- Baca's Trees | 20 kW (Carport) | Albuquerque, NM
- Judge Steve Hererra Judicial Complex | 113 kW (Roof) | Santa Fe, NM
- Nativity Church | 37 kW (Roof) | Albuquerque, NM
- Aspen Medical Center | 40.55 kW (Roof) | Santa Fe, NM
- Santa Fe Skies RV Park | 192 kW (Ground) | Santa Fe, NM
- City of Las Cruces | 951 kW (Ground, Roof, Carports) | Las Cruces, NM
- Santa Fe Community College | 1.5 MW (Ground) | Santa Fe, NM
- Buckman Direct Diversion | 1.5 MW (Ground) | Santa Fe, NM
- City of Santa Fe Water Division | 86 kW (Carport) | Santa Fe, NM
- Plaza Feliz Apartments | 23 kW (Multiple Roof) | Albuquerque, NM
- Bernalillo County | 665.985 kW (Various buildings) | Albuquerque & Tijeras, NM
Choose Positive Energy Solar & Start Saving Today
- Over 300+ 5-star reviews
- Dedicated commercial solar O&M team
- Most NABCEP® certified solar staff in New Mexico
- Expedited work with less down time, done right the first time
- Highest quality solar panels and products
- Best commercial solar warranty in New Mexico
- New Mexico Benefit Corporation with a triple bottom line of People, Planet, and Profit
- Employee-owned business
Our Customers Are the Priority
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Positive Energy Solar was responsive and helpful from the time we first called, through our decision-making process, and throughout the planning and installation of our system... We are very pleased with Positive Energy and would recommend them wholehearte- Donna A.
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Great solar system, excellent workmanship, very professional people, they got the job done before due date, from start to finish they were excellent, would definitely recommend them to anybody.- Jorge V.
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Our experience with Positive Energy Solar couldn't have been easier or more professional. Our contact, Taylor, explained everything clearly, giving us various options to choose from, both in terms of how much solar we wanted to install and whether we wanted to pay up front or choose a pay-as-you-generate plan. Everyone we dealt with was professional and courteous and we got our panels installed in a timely manner. We are now enjoying our website monitor that tells us every day how much electricity we have generated. Between our solar array and our new electric car, we are thrilled to be "part of the solution."- Diane and Peter
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Over the last 6 years, my wife and I have worked with Positive Energy Solar to install solar panels on 2 homes we've owned here in Santa Fe. From specifying to design and placement, their service and workmanship are excellent. After the installation they followed up to assure full output and taught me how to read the monitoring system. In both cases they specified the correct system through careful review of my electric bills, then did proper installation with very durable components and methods of anchoring, all properly wired to code. The follow up once installed is beyond expectations. Their team is made up of solar experts who really care about their clients. We are very pleased to be converting the New Mexico Sun into electric energy. We are very pleased with the entire program and results.- Paul Kalenian
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I wanted to get in touch about the recent work that [your] crew did repairing the solar tracker that was wobbly and making a lot of noise. Since this was the first time the tracker manufacturer had heard of the problem of the bearings wearing out, obviously there was no guide for Don to follow in fixing the thing. He came out with a crew of appropriate size for the job, had all the equipment and tools he needed for the job, and had obviously thought a great deal about how to proceed. He had designed a clever jig to hold the tracker panels in place while the one large bolt that holds the assembly together was removed. He manufactured the jig on site, requiring considerable carpentry skill, and put it in place, and it worked very well. Keeping the large panel stationary during the removal and replacement of the bearings in the wind was quite an accomplishment. The whole team worked excellently together, demonstrating how team work can really work well in this sort of situation. I wanted to take the opportunity to commend Don on a job well done, and the rest of the crew as well, though Don clearly had thought through all aspects of the job and did it well!! Thanks for having good people working there.- Steve F & Elaine S.
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To the Installers, concerning your skill: You did a beautiful job: the conduit pipes fit the house. There are no overlaps or gaps. I appreciate the subtle bends in the pipe that you took time to study and create. The pipe fits the contours of the stucco wall, not just around corners but also along the lengths of the "flat wall" which have slight curves. I appreciate your finished conduit work as both skill and artistry. Thank you for painting the conduit with intelligence, that is, smoothly and with no mess, splatters or any other potential detraction. I was worried about the effect of the cold (in the 30 degrees') on the paint on that day, but problems with the paint didn't materialize due to your skill/experience. Concerning the actual solar panels, sitting on their weighted "cradles:" They look clean, modern and efficient - which actually means they're quite beautiful. My husband's high standards for the installation were also met. We're looking forward when, after the inspection, we can finally turn on the array and know that we're utilizing the sun's energy rather than using fossil fuels. Very exciting! We're grateful to have your professional service to install and maintain our solar system. Respectfully, Dolores & Paul M.- Dolores & Paul M.
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We highly recommend Positive Energy Solar. They are an extremely professional company - providing the very best in customer service. The project was well thought out, designed and executed. We were regularly updated on the schedule. All of the staff were exceptional at communication - particularly Thomas, our Sales Advisor. We would absolutely not think twice about using them int he future.- Glen L.