Are rising energy costs cutting into your farm’s profitability? Commercial Solar Advisors helps agricultural operations lower expenses and secure a more stable energy future with solar power and storage systems. These solutions provide immediate cost reductions and long-term predictability, allowing farms to reinvest in production and growth.
We work with farms and agribusinesses to develop solar and energy storage systems that support irrigation, processing, and storage facilities. By reducing reliance on nonrenewable energy, these systems help lower operating costs and provide a more resilient power supply for critical agricultural activities.
Agricultural operations often require substantial energy to power irrigation systems, refrigeration units, and processing equipment. Solar power, combined with storage systems, allows farms to take advantage of off-peak charging and use stored energy when utility rates are highest, maximizing savings.
From project planning and financing to installation and maintenance, we work alongside your team to ensure your solar system delivers lasting benefits. Our approach ensures your farm continues to see cost savings and energy security for years to come.
We assess your farm’s energy consumption and operational needs to determine the best solar and storage solutions.
We guide you through available funding options, including grants, agricultural tax credits, and power purchase agreements (PPAs), making solar adoption a practical investment.
Our team develops a solar solution that aligns with your farm’s infrastructure, working with trusted installers to ensure seamless integration.
We provide support throughout the lifespan of your solar system, ensuring reliable energy production and sustained cost savings.
Utilize available barn and facility rooftops to generate clean energy, reducing operational expenses.
Convert unused land into a solar asset that delivers steady power without disrupting farm activities.
Install solar panels over equipment storage areas or animal housing for dual benefits of energy production and weather protection.
Store excess solar energy for use during peak demand, ensuring stable costs and reliable power availability.
We specialize in helping agricultural businesses adopt solar energy to cut costs and build long-term energy security. From initial assessment to financing and system management, we handle the details so you can focus on running your farm.
Take control of energy costs and invest in a more reliable future. Contact Commercial Solar Advisors today to explore solar and storage solutions designed for agricultural operations.
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 establishes and extends the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems at a rate of 30% of the total PV system cost. The 30% ITC was extended for 10 years, through 2032. Unlike tax deductions, this tax credit can be used to directly offset your tax liability dollar for dollar. The IRA extended the carryback period to 3 years, and the carryforward period to 22 years, in cases where the tax credit exceeds a customer’s tax liability in the ‘placed-in-service’ year. For PV projects greater than 1 MW AC in size, the IRA established prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements in order to qualify for the full 30% “increased rate”, rather than a “base rate” which would only qualify for a 6% ITC. Projects with an output of less than 1 megawatt qualify for the “increased rate” irrespective of if prevailing wage or apprenticeship requirements are met.
Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act’s “elective pay” (often called “direct pay”) provisions, taxexempt and governmental entities will, for the first time, be able to receive a payment equal to the full value of tax credits for building qualifying clean energy projects
Under the federal Modified Cost Recovery System (MACRS), businesses may recover investments in solar PV property through depreciation deductions over a 5-year established lifespan. For PV systems, the taxable basis of the equipment must be reduced by 50% of any federal tax credits associated with the system. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 included provisions that modified bonus depreciation under Code Section 168(k). PV projects that were placed in service after September 27, 2017, and before January 1, 2023, were eligible for 100% bonus depreciation, allowing eligible entities to deduct the entire allowable tax basis of the system in the first year of operation. Projects placed in service in 2024 qualify for 60% bonus depreciation, which means in the first year of service, companies can elect to depreciate 60% of the basis while the remaining 40% is depreciated under the normal MACRS schedule.
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants are available to qualifying businesses and can currently award as much as 50% of total project costs! The program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing. These funds are limited and scheduled to reduce to 25% later this year, so don’t delay.
More information can be obtained below at:
Many states create SREC markets to spur the development of solar by requiring electricity suppliers to purchase SRECs produced by in-state solar systems as part of their obligation under the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). This solar-specific requirement to meet a portion of the RPS with solar resources is often referred to as a “solar carve out.” Through the purchase of the SRECs, electricity suppliers are ensuring that their products meet the RPS-mandated amount of solar power. The monetary value of an SREC in these state markets is determined by supply and demand, with demand largely driven by electricity suppliers needing to meet their solar RPS requirement or pay a compliance premium.
Link below to some currently available SRECS:
DSIRE (dsireusa.org)
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 establishes and extends the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems at a rate of 30% of the total PV system cost. The 30% ITC was extended for 10 years, through 2032. Unlike tax deductions, this tax credit can be used to directly offset your tax liability dollar for dollar. The IRA extended the carryback period to 3 years, and the carryforward period to 22 years, in cases where the tax credit exceeds a customer’s tax liability in the ‘placed-in-service’ year. For PV projects greater than 1 MW AC in size, the IRA established prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements in order to qualify for the full 30% “increased rate”, rather than a “base rate” which would only qualify for a 6% ITC. Projects with an output of less than 1 megawatt qualify for the “increased rate” irrespective of if prevailing wage or apprenticeship requirements are met.
Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act’s “elective pay” (often called “direct pay”) provisions, taxexempt and governmental entities will, for the first time, be able to receive a payment equal to the full value of tax credits for building qualifying clean energy projects
Under the federal Modified Cost Recovery System (MACRS), businesses may recover investments in solar PV property through depreciation deductions over a 5-year established lifespan. For PV systems, the taxable basis of the equipment must be reduced by 50% of any federal tax credits associated with the system. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 included provisions that modified bonus depreciation under Code Section 168(k). PV projects that were placed in service after September 27, 2017, and before January 1, 2023, were eligible for 100% bonus depreciation, allowing eligible entities to deduct the entire allowable tax basis of the system in the first year of operation. Projects placed in service in 2024 qualify for 60% bonus depreciation, which means in the first year of service, companies can elect to depreciate 60% of the basis while the remaining 40% is depreciated under the normal MACRS schedule.
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants are available to qualifying businesses and can currently award as much as 50% of total project costs! The program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing. These funds are limited and scheduled to reduce to 25% later this year, so don’t delay.
More information can be obtained below at:
Many states create SREC markets to spur the development of solar by requiring electricity suppliers to purchase SRECs produced by in-state solar systems as part of their obligation under the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). This solar-specific requirement to meet a portion of the RPS with solar resources is often referred to as a “solar carve out.” Through the purchase of the SRECs, electricity suppliers are ensuring that their products meet the RPS-mandated amount of solar power. The monetary value of an SREC in these state markets is determined by supply and demand, with demand largely driven by electricity suppliers needing to meet their solar RPS requirement or pay a compliance premium.
Link below to some currently available SRECS:
DSIRE (dsireusa.org)
