A viral video claims that eligible homeowners can install free solar panels on a dime from the US government.
“If you qualify, you can install solar panels out of pocket and say goodbye to your electric bill, plus an $8,500 bonus,” the speaker said in a video he shared on Facebook on September 3.
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Based on a search of websites, press releases, and news articles, we found no evidence from the US Department of Energy to support this claim. Homeowners are eligible for federal tax credits for solar installations, but not free panels or cash incentives.
The US Department of Energy did not respond to a request for comment. The Office of Solar Energy Technologies, part of the Department of Energy, says on its website that it does not provide financial assistance or payments to households that install solar energy systems.
According to the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Administration, part of the department, eligible homeowners are eligible for a 26% tax credit if they install their solar panel systems in 2020 or 2021, or a 30% tax credit if the installation occurs between 2022 and 2032. they can be. Energy.
While these credits translate into dollar-for-dollar reductions in the amount of income tax owed, that doesn’t mean the federal government is literally cutting homeowners a check.
The tax credits stem from the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law on Aug. 16 and pledging $750 billion to bolster health policy initiatives and curb climate change.
The September 3 video is not the first time these claims have been brought up and denied.
Our verdict
A video posted on Sept. 3 claimed that qualified homeowners could install solar panels for free and receive an $8,500 “stimulus” check from the federal government.
We found no evidence of a federal program providing free panels and incentive checks. Some homeowners may be eligible for tax credits related to solar panel installation, but this does not equate to a cash payment.
We rate this claim as False.