If you are interested in adding solar panels or a solar water heater to your home in Atlanta, Georgia, there are many programs you may be able to take advantage of.

1. Georgia residents may be eligible for the Clean Energy Property Tax Credit, which offers tax credits equal to 35 percent of the cost of clean energy equipment. The maximum credit is limited to $2,500 for solar water heaters and $10,500 for solar panels. Credits must be claimed in the same year that systems were installed, and the tax credit is available through 2012 until funds are exhausted.
2. Georgia Power customers could earn up to $17,000 per year for selling photovoltaic produced electricity to Georgia Power at a rate of $0.17 per kilowatt-hour for up to one megawatt through the Solar Buyback program. The systems must be connected to the grid and be metered by Georgia Power to measure the amount of electricity produced.
3. Greystone Power also offers solar energy rebates. Electric customers could receive a rebate of up to $4,500 for installing solar panels to power their homes. The rebate equals $450 per kilowatt of installed capacity for up to 10 kilowatts. The systems must be net-metered and grid connected and installed by a licensed contractor to be eligible for the rebate. In additional to solar panel rebates, Greystone Power offers $500 solar water heater rebates through their SUN Rays Power program.
4. If Walton Electric Membership Corporation (WEMC) is your electric cooperative, you may be eligible for a $400 rebate for installing a solar water heater. Only one rebate can be received per household and the water heater must be purchased from WEMC.
5. If you install a solar energy system to your primary or secondary residence by Dec. 31, 2016, you may be eligible for a renewable energy tax credit of 30 percent of the cost and installation with no maximum limit.
6. Lastly, if you are looking for a way to finance your project, you might want to take advantage of an Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM). EEMs are designed to help finance a variety of energy efficiency measures, including renewable energy technologies.