30% Off Solar in Denver — No Federal Tax Credit Required
The federal residential solar tax credit is gone — but Denver homeowners can still get 30% off their solar and battery system, applied immediately at signing. No tax filing. No waiting for a refund. No eligibility requirements based on what you owe in taxes. Through the ESA program, qualified homeowners receive up to 30% savings applied directly to their project cost before installation begins. Cascade Solar & Electric designs and installs your system. You save on day one.
Owner-operated Denver solar, battery, and electrical experts.
LOWEST COST PATH TO SOLAR OWNERSHIP!
Colorado Solar Incentives in 2026 — What's Still Available
With the federal residential Investment Tax Credit gone as of December 31, 2025, many Denver homeowners are wondering whether going solar still makes financial sense. The answer is yes — the savings mechanism has changed, but the 30% discount is still accessible.
Here is what is currently available to Colorado homeowners:
The ESSA Program — 30% off applied upfront. Through Cascade's Energy Service Agreement program, qualified homeowners receive up to 30% savings applied directly to their project cost at signing. This is not a tax credit. It does not require you to file anything or wait for a refund. The savings come off your invoice before installation begins.
Xcel Energy Net Metering. Xcel Energy customers receive bill credits for excess solar energy sent back to the grid. This reduces your monthly utility bill for the life of your system and improves your payback period.
Colorado Property Tax Exemption. Colorado exempts the added value of a solar installation from residential property taxes. Your home's value increases but your property tax bill does not.
Federal 30C EV Charger Credit. If you add an EV charger as part of your solar project, a separate federal credit covers 30% of charger installation costs up to $1,000.
The bottom line: going solar in Denver in 2026 still delivers significant savings. The ESSA program is how you access the biggest discount available today.
Qualified homeowners can receive solar + home power storage with up to 30% savings applied up front through an Energy Services Subscription Agreement (ESSA). Cascade Solar & Electric designs and installs your solar system, while a trusted third-party program partner supports the system during the initial program period. After six years, full ownership transfers to you at no additional cost.
HOW THE 30% SOLAR PROGRAM WORKS
STEP 1: A SIMPLE, NO-OBLIGATION HOME ASSESSMENT
what to expect
We evaluate your home, roof, energy usage, and long-term goals to design a solar system that fits your needs and determines whether you qualify for up to 30% up-front savings through the ESSA program.
No upfront costs
No contracts required to start
No obligation to move forward
STEP 2: WE APPLY THE 30% SAVINGS UP FRONT
Qualified homeowners can receive up to 30% savings applied up front through a third-party Energy Services Subscription Agreement (ESSA) program that Cascade partners with. This program reduces the cost of your solar system at the start of the project instead of relying on future incentives or delayed savings.
Cascade Solar & Electric designs and installs your solar and battery system. A trusted third-party ESSA provider temporarily co-owns the system with you and provides maintenance and warranty support during the initial program period.
What this means for you:
Up to 30% savings applied immediately
Lower upfront system cost
Maintenance and warranty support included for six years
Clear, structured path to ownership
Full system ownership transfers to you after year six at no additional cost
no waiting. no delayed savings.
STEP 3: system installation, program support, and ownership transition
Once your system is approved, Cascade Solar & Electric handles the full installation, including permitting and utility coordination. Your system begins producing clean energy as soon as it is energized.
During the first six years, system ownership and support are structured through the ESSA program to reduce risk and simplify long-term care.
Years 0–6:
The system is co-owned by you and a third-party ESSA program partner
The ESSA partner provides maintenance, monitoring, and warranty support
You benefit from energy production, reduced utility costs, and optional battery backup resilience
After year 6:
Full ownership transfers to you automatically
No additional cost
No buyout
No balloon payment
what happens next
See If You Qualify for up to 30% Off Solar Up Front
This quick assessment helps us determine whether your home qualifies for Cascade’s 30% upfront solar savings program.
There’s no cost, no obligation, and no impact to your credit. Just clear answers and a custom recommendation.
In Minutes. With No Obligation.
Takes 2–3 minutes
No contracts or commitments
No credit impact
Local, owner-operated Denver team
Custom system design for your home
No sales pressure. Just real numbers and clear options.
What the free assessment includes
Your free assessment starts with a short online form.
We use your address and a few energy details to evaluate your home remotely.
If your home qualifies, a local Cascade solar expert will contact you to walk through the results and answer questions.
No pressure. No in-home visit unless you ask for one.
Complete a 2–3 minute online form
We review your roof, energy use, and eligibility
You receive clear pricing and savings options
No sales pitch. No surprise visits. You stay in control.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. The ESA is neither a lease nor a power purchase agreement. You are not renting the system and you are not paying per kilowatt-hour of energy produced. You pay for the system upfront at a reduced cost, co-own it during the program period, and receive full ownership automatically after year six. There is no ongoing payment, no monthly fee, and no per-unit energy charge.
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During the first six years the system is co-owned between you and a third-party ESA program partner. The partner holds a partial ownership interest to facilitate the upfront savings structure. You receive all the energy benefits — lower utility bills, backup power if you added battery storage, and the full use of your system. After year six full ownership transfers to you automatically at no cost.
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No. The ESA program does not require you to claim or qualify for a residential solar tax credit. The 30% savings are applied through the ESA structure independent of your tax situation. This is one of the key advantages of the program for homeowners who are retired, have lower tax liability, or were uncertain whether they could fully utilize the old ITC.
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No lien is placed on your home through the ESA program. The co-ownership structure is tied to the system, not your property. The program period is six years, after which it concludes automatically with full ownership transferring to you.
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If you sell your home before year six the ESA agreement transfers to the new owner, similar to how other solar arrangements are handled in real estate transactions. The system stays with the home and the new owner assumes the remaining program period. This is standard practice and is disclosed as part of the program documentation.
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Because the 30% savings are applied before you pay anything — not after. Under the old federal tax credit structure, you paid full price upfront and waited until the following April to receive a reimbursement, assuming you owed enough in federal taxes to claim the full credit. Many homeowners received less than the full 30% or had to spread the credit over multiple years. The ESA program delivers the full discount on day one with no tax filing required and no uncertainty about the amount you will receive.
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THE 30% DISCOUNT WORKS? [Read our full breakdown for Colorado homeowners →]
lock in 30% savings now, own your system later.
Cascade’s Energy Service Agreement (ESA) lets you receive the 30% savings at the start of your project instead of waiting on a delayed savings or rebate. You pay up front like a standard solar purchase, your system is temporarily held by a third party, and full ownership transfers to you after year 6 at no cost.
Even if residential tax credits are limited or unavailable, federal incentives can still apply through commercial structures. The ESA is designed to pass that value directly to homeowners up front, while keeping the process clear, compliant, and predictable.
You move forward with solar much like a traditional installation, but with up to 30% savings applied up front through the ESSA program.
Cascade Solar & Electric designs and installs your system and manages permitting and utility interconnection
A third-party ESSA program partner co-owns the system with you during the program period
The ESSA partner provides system maintenance, monitoring, and warranty support
After year six, full ownership transfers to you automatically at no additional cost
How deferred ownership works
At the end of year six, the ESSA program concludes and you become the sole owner of your solar system.
Your system continues producing clean energy, and long-term benefits remain in place.
Full ownership transfers to you
Program-related maintenance obligations end
Manufacturer warranties remain active
Long-term energy savings continue
No buyout. No balloon payment. No surprises.
what happens at year six
Why this program exists
This program is designed to make solar more accessible by reducing the upfront cost while keeping the process structured, predictable, and transparent.
By partnering with a third-party ESSA provider, the program allows up to 30% savings to be applied immediately, rather than relying on delayed incentives or future reimbursements.
The result is a simpler path to solar with a clear timeline and defined ownership transition.
For many homeowners, the ESSA program offers the lowest upfront cost path to solar ownership.
Up to 30% savings applied immediately
Lower initial investment
Professional system support during early years
A defined, automatic transition to full ownership
It’s a practical option for homeowners who want solar now, savings up front, and ownership later without uncertainty.
the lowest cost path to ownership
Start Your Free Solar Assessment
See if your home qualifies for 30% savings applied up front. Takes just a few minutes.
Cascade Solar & Electric serves Denver and the surrounding Front Range including Lakewood, Arvada, Wheat Ridge, Englewood, Centennial, Parker, Aurora, Thornton, Westminster, Highlands Ranch, Golden, Evergreen, and Conifer. Locally owned and owner-operated since 2010. Free assessments with no obligation.