Lexington residents have more time to get a discount on solar energy panels. Here’s how.
The city is extending the deadline for people to sign up for a program that offers incentives for installing solar energy panels on homes.
The Solarize Lexington program “walks residents through the process of getting solar panels and provides a discount of up to 15%,” the city said in a news release. Federal tax credits can also help defray the costs, according to the city.
In addition to helping save on home energy bills, the city touts solar panels as having the potential to increase property values while reducing a home’s carbon footprint and helping the local economy by supporting jobs for installers.
The systems are installed by a company vetted by the city, Solar Energy Solutions.
People who might want to participate have until Sept. 2 to fill out a form expressing interest in the program, the city said. Filling out the form is not a commitment to install solar panels but instead allows the program to begin the process of working with homeowners to find out whether solar panels would be a good fit for their homes.
Those who decide to proceed must sign a contract by Sept. 27, according to the Solarize Lexington website.
In addition to homeowners, the city says non-profit organizations, small businesses and places of worship in Fayette County can also apply.
Grants to help with the cost of installation are available on a first-come, first-served basis for low- and moderate-income homeowners, according to the release.
To qualify, household income must be below 80 percent of the median family income for the area. That’s a threshold ranging from $53,350 for one person to $100,550 for a family of eight, according to the Solarize Lexington website.
Rather than filling out the interest form, people who think they might qualify for a grant should call the city’s Division of Community and Resident Services at (859) 300-5300 for pre-screening, according to the website.
To qualify for a grant, homeowners must show proof of income and proof that they live in and own the home.
The city warned that scammers have posed as representatives of Solarize Lexington and emphasized that no one who is with the program will call, visit or reach out online unless you have expressed interest.
“Lexington’s only Solarize partners are the Kentucky Solar Energy Society and Solar Energy Solutions,” the city said in the news release. “Be cautious of high-pressure sales tactics such as promising rebates or pressure to sign a contract.”
Josh Bills, a certified energy manager with the Mountain Association of Berea, told the Herald-Leader last year that potential energy cost savings over the lifespan of a typical solar panel setup could be $20,000 or more, based on the average energy consumption for a Kentucky home.
He said average installation cost for a 5 or 7 kilowatt solar system is about $15,000.
