Hawaii businesses are at a crossroads when it comes to energy. Electricity costs remain the highest in the nation, federal and state incentives are beginning to shift, and grid resilience is more important than ever. The good news? There’s still time to capture the full financial and operational benefits of solar and storage before these opportunities fade.
That’s where ELCCO’s Claim the Sun Program comes in — a straightforward way for commercial facilities to lock in today’s tax credits, cut long-term energy bills, and protect operations with battery backup.
Why Claim the Sun Now?
Secure Incentives Before They Shrink – Federal tax credits of 30% are still available through IRS “safe-harbor” rules, but projects must start by July 4, 2026 to qualify. Hawaii State 35% tax credit remains, though lawmakers are already considering phase-downs. Together, these can cover up to 65% of your system’s cost.
Protect Against Rising Energy Costs – Hawaii electricity rates are the highest in the country. A properly designed solar + battery system can cut your bills by 50–100%, delivering paybacks in just 3–5 years.
Build Resilience and Confidence – Power outages are no longer rare events. Solar combined with backup batteries keeps your business running, safeguarding revenue and customer trust.
Avoid Project Delays – Equipment lead times, contractor availability, and permitting backlogs are increasing. Acting now ensures your place in line.
How the Program Works: Safe-Harbor Made Simple
ELCCO makes it easy for your business to qualify for federal incentives:
- Option 1: 5% Down Payment – Secure your spot with as little as 5% upfront. This qualifies your project under IRS safe-harbor and starts the design and permitting process.
- Option 2: Panel Purchase Commitment (Preferred) – Pre-purchase solar panels (around 30% of project cost). This provides stronger tax documentation, guarantees equipment availability, and shields you from future supply chain delays.
- Option 3: Execute a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with a third party in which the third-party investor owns the system and claims the incentives.
All three options lock in your tax credits, even if construction completes years later.
Ownership vs. No-Money-Down PPA: Two Paths to Solar
Every business is different, and ELCCO’s Claim the Sun Program provides flexibility:
- System Ownership (Cash or Loan Financing)
- Best for businesses that can use tax credits directly.
- You capture 100% of federal and state incentives.
- Access to accelerated depreciation (MACRS) to offset tax liabilities.
- Maximum lifetime savings — after the short ROI payback, your system generates nearly free electricity for decades.
- Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) – No Money Down
- Ideal for businesses without upfront capital or those unable to use tax credits.
- A third-party investor owns the system and claims the incentives.
- Your facility agrees to purchase the solar power at a fixed, discounted rate — immediately lowering your energy costs with zero upfront expense.
- Hedge against unpredictable utility rate increases, while enjoying the benefits of clean, reliable energy.
Whether you choose to own your system outright or enter into a PPA, ELCCO structures the project so your business comes out ahead.
Pro-tip for both PPA and Cash options – there are opportunities to couple large capex projects into the cost of your solar projects to take advantage of tax credits. For example, if a new roof is needed to support the solar panels, it might be possible to include the cost of materials under the solar panels in the cost of the project. Additionally, there are opportunities to couple switchgear, transformer, and distribution work into the solar project if this equipment supports the interconnection of the solar project.
Full-Service Support from ELCCO
From start to finish, ELCCO manages every step so you don’t have to:
- Safe-harbor compliance and documentation
- Procurement of panels and equipment with trusted suppliers
- Tax credit and incentive optimization strategies
- Design, engineering, permitting, and utility approvals
- Turnkey EPC installation with ELCCO’s in-house project management team and partners
Take Control of Your Energy Future
The opportunity is clear: between tax credits, state incentives, historically high energy costs, and the increasing need for resilience, 2025–2026 may be the best (and last) window to capture maximum solar savings in Hawaii.
With ELCCO’s Claim the Sun Program, your business can lock in today’s benefits, protect against tomorrow’s risks, and start saving from day one.
Don’t wait until incentives shrink and costs rise. Contact ELCCO today for your complimentary energy and solar + battery assessment — and take the first step toward energy independence.
