Energy Community Program
Does your county
unlock a better deal?
If you live in a former coal or fossil-fuel county, a federal program can lower your monthly solar payment. Here's what it means, in plain English.
What it is
What is an Energy Community?
The Inflation Reduction Act created a designation called an "Energy Community" for areas that historically relied on coal mining, coal power plants, or fossil-fuel extraction.
Homes in those areas unlock up to a 10% bonus tax credit on top of the standard 30% federal solar investment tax credit.
Why it matters
What it means for
your monthly payment.
Important
This is not a tax credit you file for yourself. On a $0-down solar lease or PPA, the leasing company (like IGS) captures the bonus and passes the value to you as a lower monthly payment.
So a homeowner in a qualifying county simply gets a better deal than someone in a non-qualifying county — same panels, same install, lower monthly bill.
Coverage
Which counties qualify?
A quick look at the three states we serve. This isn't the full list — just the areas we're asked about most.
Qualifies broadly thanks to decades of coal-mining and coal-plant history — including Nicholas, Raleigh, and McDowell counties, among many others.
Coal counties across the anthracite and bituminous regions — including Luzerne, Schuylkill, Lackawanna, Carbon, and Cambria.
Qualifying counties in the Southwest Virginia coalfields region.
The IRS updates the qualifying county list each year (Notice 2025-31, updated June 2025). Not sure if your county qualifies? We'll check for you.
FAQ
Straight answers.
No. It's a federal program from the Inflation Reduction Act. It just means qualifying areas get an extra incentive, and on a lease that shows up as a lower payment.
No. On a lease or PPA the leasing company handles the credit. You just get the better rate.
Fill out a free assessment and we'll confirm your county's status before anything moves forward.
Yes — that's the whole point. Qualifying homes see the full 30% plus up to a 10% bonus, which is why leases in these counties can price lower each month.