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  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Our Story
    • Five Year Report
    • In the News >
      • Sustainable Missoula Column
      • Summer Smart News
    • Podcast >
      • Clear the Air
    • People + Partners
    • Jobs and Opportunities
    • Smarty Pants Awards
    • Blog
    • Contact Us
  • Adaptation
    • Overview
    • Summer Smart >
      • Active Fires
      • Hotter Days and Nights >
        • Shade
      • Drought and Low Flows
      • Shareable Products
      • Partners and Supporters
    • Wildfire Smoke >
      • HEPA Air Filtration
      • Improving Indoor Air Quality
      • Clean Air-Healthy Homes
      • Clean Air for Schools & Daycares
      • Pregnancy + Infants and Smoke
      • Older Adults and Wildfire Smoke
    • Resiliency Planning
    • Health and Climate >
      • Mental Health
    • Art and Humanities
    • Adaptation Resources
  • Mitigation
    • Overview >
      • 2015 Action Plan
      • Community Emissions Inventories
    • 100 % Clean Electricity
    • Solar >
      • Solar Ease
    • Buildings 4 the Future >
      • Electrify + B4F
      • Energy Smart
    • Transportation + Smart Growth >
      • Land Use Planning
      • Electric Vehicles
      • Electric Bikes
      • Electric Buses
    • Financing
    • Zero Waste
    • Mitigation Resources
  • Get Involved
    • Calendar >
      • Electrify Missoula spring series
    • Earth Month 2022
    • Connect >
      • Visualizing Climate
      • Climate Venn Diagram
    • Advocacy >
      • Building Codes
      • Cryptocurrency
    • Past Events
    • Clean Energy Expo
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Act, Advocate, Assist
    • Footprint Fund
  • The Science
    • Overview
    • Climate Justice >
      • Justice and Indigenous Knowledge
    • Localized Impacts >
      • Specific Local Impacts
    • What We're Doing
  • Donate

Solar-Ease Missoula
​

The resources you need to make SOLAR EASY are right here! 

Our goal is to help you understand and navigate the process of going solar. Through these resources, learn about current opportunities, policies and the pathways to installing residential solar, from working through a bid from an installer to tax benefits and financing. Contact us with questions!

Solar-Ease Resources

Solar How-To Videos:
Interested in installing solar at your home or business but not sure how to get started? These short videos from MREA and Climate Smart  explain everything you need to know. Spoiler alert: it's really easy! 

Video #1: Simple Steps to Going Solar
Video #2: Solar Financing Options & Considerations
Residential Solar Basics 2-Pager (PDF - right click and save below)
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More helpful resources:
  • Watch Part 1 of our Electrify webinar series (March 2022) all about Growing Solar
  • Listen to the recording of our Solar happy hour q&a with MREA and DEQ, October 2020
  • Download PDF of presentation from ​2/7/18 Solar-Ease Workshop​
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Partner Resources
Montana Renewable Energy Association​​directory of local solar installers and services

Clearwater Credit Union Home Energy Loans page
:
  • Financial Analysis of Residential Solar/Solar Model Spreadsheet
  • Home Energy Loans information
  • Solar Bid Evaluation Worksheet
Montana Department of Environmental Quality Alternative Energy Loan program ​

​City of Missoula info on Going Solar + Permitting Checklist
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Missoula County Solar Information Website
  • Missoula County Solar Permitting Checklist
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​Our Solar-Ease partners include:
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Solar Financing Basics

Tax Credits
Federal: As of now, federal tax credits for residential solar energy systems are available at 26% through Dec 31, 2022. The credit is set to decrease to 22% for 2023 and then expire entirely for residential systems after 2023.  We are hopeful that federal legislation (e.g., Build Back Better Act) will extend these tax credits. After 2021, the credit for commercial systems will continue permanently at 10%. 
​
  • 26% for systems placed in service after 12/31/2019 and before 01/01/2023
  • 22% for systems placed in service after 12/31/2023 and before 01/01/2024
  • There is no maximum credit for systems placed in service after 2008.
  • ​The home served by the system does not have to be the taxpayer’s principal residence.

The tax credit can be spread across multiple years if it exceeds your annual tax liability.  It is important to note that this credit could end or change. ​Stay tuned. 

​And here's a good website that is tracking federal tax credits.

State: Unfortunately, the residential solar tax credit expired at the end of 2021.


Loan Options

Montana Department of Environmental Quality  (DEQ) offers an Alternative Energy Revolving Loan Program funded by air quality penalties collected by the DEQ. Energy conservation measures installed in conjunction with an alternative energy project can also be funded through the program. Interest rates for 2022 are fixed at 3.0% (3.4%APR).

Clearwater Credit Union offers Solar Loans. Call or visit their website for more information. 

More solar tidbits and ideas...
Electrification: Do you still have gas appliances in your home? Consider electrifying hand in hand with going solar. Lots more resources and info at ElectrifyMissoula.org!

Energy Smart: 
energy savings and renewables go hand in hand! Residential energy accounts for nearly a quarter of our community's carbon emissions. Visit our Energy Smart page to learn ways you can reduce energy use at home. 

Creative Ways to Support Solar
Not everyone can get rooftop solar arrays but every one can benefit from solar energy. Help us support better policy, encourage and educate your friends and neighbors, and share your solar stories with us!
  • To make solar more accessible and we need to improve state law. We’re sharing information about net metering on the advocacy page of our website.
  • ​Support Community Solar!  Check out Missoula Electric Co-op to see what one community solar effort looks like. 
  • Stay connected and lend your voice to help make policy change in the future. 

Connect with us! 

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