Solar in 2025 is a topic of conversation we’ve been exploring lately as we consider what is coming next for the future of clean and renewable energy. On the one hand, there is a lot that will remain in place, and yet on the other hand there are some changes on the horizon that you should be aware of as we approach the new year. Not every one of these changes is fully known to us, but it is the responsibility of all throughout the industry to keep track of potential shifts, because that foresight allows us to provide you with actionable and impactful insights which could save you money. Ultimately, our goal is to help you make the best decision for your solar investment, so today let’s look ahead at the future of solar in the coming year and pinpoint some points of interest that we should all be aware of.
Our roadmap for solar in 2025 will include 3 points of interest which should help us frame the conversation nicely. For this first look into the new year, we’ll focus on the following three points of interest:
- Requirements
- Policy
- Taxes
Each of these sections will feature a discussion of the various changes which are either known to us or have been indicated by current events and statements from relevant parties.
When it comes to solar in 2025, there are some expected changes coming, in the form of a new update to the energy code. The Building Energy Efficiency Standards, or Energy Code, has received an update every three years, and with the last update having arrived in 2022, the time has come for a refresh of the code. This standard is meant to provide guidance on solar, battery storage, and electrification requirements for both new and existing homes, and whenever a new energy code is released it prompts a lot of close reading and investigation for industry professionals.
We’re always interested in seeing how the code will shift in regards to requirements for both new and existing residential properties, because such changes can have a large impact on our customers. Expect a full report from us later this year when the new code is released, as we look to see if existing homeowners will have any new requirements to observe, from solar installations to heat pumps and more!
This is perhaps the greatest unknown for this list, as all we have to go on is a proposed idea and some additional speculation, but this is an important space to watch, and you can rest assured that we will be closely following any developments in order to give you the best chance at utilizing the current solar incentives. It is an understood fact that changes in administration bring changes in policy, as new leadership works to establish their vision across multiple sectors. Namely, as we’ve previously discussed, there has been some commentary from future leadership that changes to clean energy incentives may be under consideration.
All this is to say that there is a real potential for the federal government to adjust the current solar and clean energy incentives to support other initiatives, and we suspect that those changes would be to reduce support for green energy goals, rather than to further invest in them. Our ultimate concern is to ensure that you can make the most of the current incentive structure, so we’ll be monitoring the news for any proposed changes, and will be advising our clients to seek the best possible return for their solar investment.
Finally, we come to an issue which, while not specific to solar in 2025, will certainly impact all American industry. The new administration has indicated a keen interest in the use of tariffs, or import taxes. Tariffs can be implemented for a number of different reasons to achieve a number of different outcomes, but one thing that is sure is that tariffs lead to increased costs. The more expensive something is to import, the more expensive goods are to produce, and ultimately, the greater the cost to the consumer.
As much as we all may strive to support American businesses and domestic production, it is a fact of the modern world that not everything can be produced or assembled at home. We will have to wait and see what ultimately comes of these proposed tariffs, but needless to say we can expect to see the cost of some items go up in the near future. Such a situation might serve as a motivating factor to make an investment in solar before it becomes more expensive to do so, so we’re anticipating that interest in installations will increase.
Ultimately, solar in 2025 will remain a strong and rewarding investment, but there will be changes to the system which may incline you to want to make the switch sooner than later. While we monitor the situation for changes you need to be aware of, you can schedule a consultation with our experts now to learn more about the impact solar can have on your life today.
