The "Big Beautiful Bill" is making for a quagmire that's more confusing than beautiful when it comes to the decision of how and whether to go solar.
A Redditor sparked a fiery debate on the "r/solar" subreddit. They titled the thread with a question: "Is leasing a legitimate option once the tax credit is eliminated?"
The homeowner mentioned that they could secure a 25-year solar contract with no down payment. Still, there were "of course strings attached," which is why they were weighing their opinions.
A skeptical commenter immediately chimed in: "Nope, still basically the worst case/way to get solar."
They did get some pushback from other Redditors. One wrote that "leasing is a great option for many people." They explained that the original poster should pay attention to changes to the commercial tax credit to see how leases will be affected.
On that front, the commercial tax credit has a later and longer phase-out, which means leasing's appeal is growing as the residential tax credit disappears at the end of 2025. The difference in payback period is thus shrinking between owning and leasing solar.
The OP's desire to go solar is understandable, as it's one of the top hacks to save money on energy bills and reduce your household's planet-heating pollution. Buying panels upfront might be out of reach for many homeowners, so leasing remains a viable alternative.
Solar provider Palmetto offers plans that require no money down, as the OP sought. Their LightReach program helps homeowners minimize costs while tapping into the benefits of solar.
Save $10,000 on solar panels — or get them on your roof without paying for purchase or installation Whatever your solar budget, Palmetto can help you save. If you want to buy your own panels, Palmetto's concierge advisors can help you save up to $10,000 on installation through a network of preferred installers. And if you'd rather get solar savings without upfront costs, Palmetto's revolutionary LightReach subscription program can deliver. LightReach lets you lease solar panels with no money down, making it painless to lock in long-term savings. Palmetto covers a 25-year warranty for the panels, which means you'll get reliable performance without unforeseen costs. To get started, just answer a few basic questions about your home and connect with Palmetto's experts to find the option that's right for you. |
Another Redditor pointed out a potential pitfall of leasing, noting that "if you ever plan on selling your house then the lease can become a real issue."
For that reason and others, some consumers might prefer owning their solar panels. Fortunately, EnergySage provides free tools to help you obtain estimates for solar panel installation.
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What's the biggest concern you'd have about getting solar panels? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. |
The cost 💰 If you're grappling with your decision, this pros and cons list of each option can help crystallize it.
Either way, as one Redditor opined, "the worst case solar is better than utility," while disagreeing with an anti-lease advocate.
One user wrote that it "depends on [the] lease deal."
In their particular case, they were very happy: "No headaches. 25 year deal. Zero out of pocket."
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