Washington, DC is home to almost 700,000 people who all need to power their homes. For most, the electrical grid is the default choice — but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, for DC residents, investing in solar energy is an excellent move. Solar companies in Washington, DC are helping homeowners take advantage of the many benefits solar power offers, from reduced electric bills to a cleaner and safer environment to reduced reliance on grid power.
DC is now poised to take advantage of numerous solar energy incentives and advances. And homeowners who leverage clean energy can start seeing a difference right away. Here’s why now is the perfect time to invest in solar energy in DC.
Energy Costs Are Increasing
Washington, DC residents are paying an average of 15.6 cents per kilowatt of electricity as of February 2024, which represents an increase of almost 3% over the same time the previous year. This trend has been consistent over time, as energy costs continue to rise. DC’s energy is also insufficient for the needs of residents and businesses, with the District consuming around 60 times more electricity than it produces.
Escaping this system of reliance allows homeowners to confidently produce their own energy and improve the environment rather than drawing from local power sources or out-of-state farms, whose own operations add another layer of risk and volatility when it comes to reliable service.
Technology Is Advancing with Promise
Technology continues to revolutionize the industry; batteries now last longer than ever before. The FranklinWH batteries Uprise installs are safer and more affordable than older options.
Other promising innovations are in the pipeline, including thin film solar or the use of vanadium to increase the potency of a solar panel.
However, one element that has really changed the industry over the last decade or so is falling costs. Solar now costs 90% less than it did 10 years ago. And thanks to Uprise Solar’s no-cost program, access to clean energy continues to rise.
Policy Changes Are Reframing the Landscape
The entire world is making moves to reduce reliance on unsustainable energy sources and switch to green energy. The United Nations Climate Change Conference (also called the Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC), met in 2023 to discuss the gradual uncoupling of industrial and residential energy needs from fossil fuels.
This meeting laid down numerous targets, including abiding by the previously ratified Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5C or less and increasing monetary support to international efforts for green energy innovation, such as the Special Climate Change Fund.
Such political initiatives are not solely limited to international bodies. In Washington, DC, the Department of Energy is also making commitments and adjusting policy.
The Clean Energy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018 is one of the most aggressive commitments to clean energy in the country, pushing DC to move to 100% renewable energy sources by 2032, with a deadline of 2041 for 15% of the District’s green energy to come from solar.
Incentives Are Great Now — But Will Change In The Future
The excellent conditions for going solar right now are a result of tax credits and renewable energy credits (or SRECs). But a gradual ramp-down is already built into existing programs.
The federal solar tax credit will stay at 30% until it goes down to 26% in 2033, and later to 22% in 2034. By 2035, Congress will need to decide if they will renew it or let it expire. For those waiting to install solar panels, they may find the program they were counting on no longer exists.
SREC prices will eventually go down, too, although the price will likely remain higher in the DMV area than the rest of the country. (Read up on why in our blog post.)
Solar Companies in Washington, DC Can Help You Go Green
Solar energy is a rising and promising option, and those interested in benefiting their communities with clean energy and reducing their reliance on the municipal grid can benefit from a solar installation right now. Innovations in policy, technology, and local support have made solar more viable in Washington, DC than many other locations across the US, and Uprise is proud to be a part of this renewable energy effort. Contact Uprise to discuss your own solar panel installation!