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Bob Soule – VA

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Virginia homeowner goes electric with help from IRA

By: Gabe Hutchison

Virginia homeowner Bob Soule is tapping into the benefits of solar energy and home electrification, thanks to support from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

In 2023, the Fairfax County resident installed a 10.8-kilowatt solar array with a battery backup system. The installation was part of a series of electrification upgrades aimed at reducing his reliance on utility electric power and fossil fuels. “Solar is a perfect complement to electrifying your home,” Bob said. By going solar, any future upgrades will run on renewable energy he produces himself.

The timing of Bob’s solar installation was prompted by the Inflation Reduction Act’s increase and extension of the solar Investment Tax Credit (IRA) in 2022. The ITC allows homeowners to deduct 30% of the total cost of a solar system, including optional batteries, from their income taxes. Bob saved more than $16,000 on the upfront costs through the tax credit. “That was a really nice incentive and the largest tax refund I ever had in my life,” he said. “[It] really helps to make the payback come in a reasonable period of time.”

Bob benefited from other aspects of the IRA as well. In addition to solar incentives, the IRA provides rebates for home efficiency and electrification. This prompted Bob to install a new heat pump for heating and cooling, a heat pump water heater, and weatherization improvements to his home. The IRA saved him a total of $4,550 on these projects.

The solar system is meeting about 70% of his home’s annual electricity demand. During the warmer months, “it totally covers all of our electricity … for 6 or 7 months of the year we get no utility bill from Dominion [Energy] which is great.”

Thanks to the IRA, Bob has completely transformed his home’s energy use. By going solar, he maximized the benefits of his electrification upgrades, reduced his emissions, and saved money in the process.

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