Solar Energy
SolSmart Designation
The City of Lafayette has been awarded SolSmart Gold designation for implementing best practices that make it easier for residents and businesses to install and access solar energy! We're proud to be a leader in supporting access to solar benefits, including economic growth, energy resilience, and environmental sustainability.
SolSmart is a national program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy that has helped over 500 local governments and regional organizations expand knowledge and resources on solar energy systems.
The Benefits of Going Solar
Solar energy uses a renewable energy source – the sun – and provides many benefits for individuals and the community. It improves environmental quality by reducing carbon emissions and air pollution, supports local solar companies, creates local jobs, saves money on energy costs, and improves electric grid resilience during peak demand and other stresses to the system.
Home solar energy systems can also increase energy independence for individuals and families while providing long-term cost savings on your energy bill.
Solar Energy in Lafayette
Did you know our community has the potential to generate 990,000 Megawatt hours of rooftop solar electricity per year (MWh AC/yr)? According to Google’s Environmental Insights Explorer, a spatial data-driven tool that includes an interactive map for rooftop solar potential, around 84% of rooftops in the City of Lafayette have the potential for solar installation.
Lafayette is committed to supporting the responsible transition to clean, renewable energy through the adoption of solar power across residential, commercial, and municipal sectors. This page provides information and resources for residents and highlights the City’s solar energy progress and projects.
Project Spotlight: Lafayette Renew Solar Field
Completed in 2025 at the Lafayette Renew Wastewater Treatment Plant, this ground-mounted solar project includes:
- An 810 kW array at the main plant, offsetting ~22% of its energy needs.
- A 220 kW system at the Ross Road Lift Station, reducing energy demand by ~33%.
Combined with the existing 390 kW Pearl River lift station array, Lafayette Renew now operates a total of 1,420 kW across three facilities, significantly reducing energy costs and supporting local carbon reduction goals.
Project Spotlight: Lafayette Public Safety Center
A 140 kW rooftop solar array was installed in 2023 as part of the new Public Safety Center. The system offsets an estimated 40% of the building’s energy use, advancing the City’s clean energy goals.
For more information on solar for your home or business, please view the following resources.
For more information about the basics of solar energy, your solar options, and questions to ask solar professionals, read the Residential Consumer Guide to Solar Power and visit the Department of Energy’s Homeowner’s Guide to Going Solar.
- Is your home a good candidate for solar? Find out with Google’s Project Sunroof.
- Estimate the performance of potential PV projects using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s PVWatts Calculator.
Other Resources
Find a solar contractor(s) to assess your home or business for solar energy and provide a quote.
- Certified practitioners can be found through NABCEP.
- Visit EnergySage to learn about solar energy and submit for solar quotes from a network of pre-screened, local solar installers.
- Solar Customer Resource Portal – various resources from SEIA, the Solar Energy Industries Association.
- Solar Owner’s Manual – information for current solar homeowners to ensure they are getting the most out of their system from Solar United Neighbors.
Typically, solar installations are paid for through loans, upfront payments, or a power purchase agreement (PPA).
- A Homeowner’s Guide to Solar Financing is a resource from the Clean Energy States Alliance that provides an overview of the different financing options.
Indiana Incentives:
There are many options available for solar financing in Indiana. For a comprehensive, up-to-date guide please visit Solar United Neighbor’s Solar Incentives and Financing in Indiana. Many of the available incentives are listed on the website and stated below. Rebates, financing, and other incentives will vary depending on location and income.
• Renewable Energy Property Tax Exemption (State Form 18865)
• Indiana Property Tax Benefits (Form 51781)
• Financing from Hoosier Hills Credit Union
• Financing from Indiana Energy Independence Fund
• Duke Energy Grid Connection
As state updates occur, please consult the Indiana Office of Energy Development or the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.
Federal Incentives:
There are several incentives and funding opportunities available for solar and other clean energy technologies at the federal level. To begin looking at applicable federal incentives on energy efficiency upgrades please visit Rewiring America. Rebates and incentives will vary depending on location and income. Below are some of the available incentives and funding.
- Additional details about benefits in the Inflation Reduction Act can be found on the EPA’s website or the Department of Energy website.
- The Federal Investment Tax Credit for residential solar continues to be one of the most significant ways to reduce the cost of your solar PV system. Learn more about the federal tax credit, eligibility, and other common questions & answers in the Homeowner’s Guide to the Federal Tax Credit for Solar Photovoltaics from the U.S. Department of Energy.
- Businesses should refer to the Federal Solar Tax Credits for Businesses.
- Some solar projects will be eligible for bonus credits on top of the 30% Investment Tax Credit. The Inflation Reduction Act provides up to 20% in bonus credits for qualified solar or wind facilities developed in low-income communities; up to 10% bonus for projects located in “energy communities” that have a historic fossil-fuel economy, high unemployment or are developing solar on a brownfield; and 10% domestic content bonus for projects using the required amounts of U.S.-produced steel, iron and manufactured products.
- The World Resources Institute has created an IRA Bonus Mapper tool to help identify communities that are eligible for the low income and energy community bonus credits.
- Tax-exempt organizations, including non-profit organizations, schools, and government entities, can now take advantage of the federal tax credit through “elective pay” (sometimes referred to as “direct pay.”) An overview of elective pay and Frequently Asked Questions are available from the IRS.
As federal updates occur, please consult the U.S. Department of Energy.
Excess Distributed Generation versus Net Metering
In 2004, Indiana adopted 170 IAC 4-4.2 that allowed solar owners to receive credit for electricity produced by their system. In 2017, Indiana passed SEA 309 which includes a phase out for net metering solar systems installed after 2018. In 2022, Indiana introduced IC 8-1-40 which created distributed generation tariffs for utility providers in Indiana. The excess electricity created by solar panels is distributed locally to your neighbors and you receive a utility credit based on the electricity shared. For more information, please visit the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor or your electric utility provider.
Homeowner’s Associations and Solar Power
In 2022, HB 1196 was signed into law in Indiana providing a pathway for homeowners living in HOAs to install solar. The two-step process includes informing your HOA and neighbors of your proposed installation and gathering signatures for approval of installation. For more information, please visit Solar United Neighbors.
Find other useful resources on solar rights, consumer protection, and procedures:
• Interstate Renewable Energy Council Consumer Solar Checklist
• Solar United Neighbors’ Solar Owner’s Manual
• Interstate Renewable Energy Council Clean Energy Consumer Bill of Rights
• Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) Indiana State Solar Programs
If you are interested in pursuing a career in solar energy, here are some links to regional education courses, programs, and/or trainings offered from colleges, universities, technical institutions, and non-profits.
• Purdue University Extension R-STEP
• Midwest Renewable Energy Association
• Ivy Tech Energy Technology Programs