Louis Daher – MI
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Michigan homeowner builds energy equity with solar
By: Gabe Hutchison
Louis Daher has a higher energy demand than many of his neighbors. The Ann Arbor, Michigan, resident attributes this to the many electronic appliances in his home, the grow lights he uses for his houseplants, and his electric vehicle (EV).
A desire to meet his electricity needs in an environmentally conscious way led him to enroll in a green energy program offered by his local utility provider, DTE Energy. Through the program, customers pay a higher rate to ensure a certain percentage of their energy comes from renewable sources. Louis started at 10 percent and incrementally worked up to 100 percent. The service eased his concerns about emissions but came at a premium and preserved his reliance on centralized, utility-owned power.

Distributed energy sources like residential solar offer an equity-building alternative. Solar allows homeowners to own a source of power and create electricity for themselves. Louis had long considered adding an array to his home to access these benefits, but the upfront costs were an obstacle.
“I was still on the fence until the Biden administration passed the solar incentives,” shared Louis. In 2022 the federal government passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which crucially increased and extended the solar investment tax credit (ITC) to 30 percent, among other renewable energy investments. The opportunity to save on the cost via the tax credit put solar within reach.
Louis’ solar installation was made all the more possible by the city of Ann Arbor’s Solarize program. This bulk-purchase campaign secures participants a discount on the cost of their installation and connects them with local, vetted installers. “That was critical actually for moving me forward,” he said.

Supported by these federal and local incentives, Louis installed a 12-kilowatt system in December 2023. Knowing he would need to apply the tax credit over two years to secure the maximum benefit—about $8,000—Louis’ installer expedited the installation to fall within the 2023 tax year.
The new system is saving Louis an average of $100 per month on electricity. By no longer being solely dependent on his utility company, he is also hedging against the rising cost of power. “Energy costs are only going to go up,” he said. This benefit was appealing as he plans for retirement and living on a fixed income.
Louis established his commitment to using renewable energy well before he went solar. For years though he was not getting the maximum benefit. Thanks to the IRA’s investment in solar, Louis can save money, build equity, and contribute to the health of his local energy system. He now encourages others to explore these benefits for themselves, saying, “I have told my friends and family that with those incentives, I certainly would recommend it to everyone. The tax credit alone makes it more doable.”

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