The Takeaway
- No government program pays 100% of solar installation costs — not even close.
- The 30% federal solar tax credit ends after Dec. 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill.
- Always vet installers through ConsumerAffairs.com, TrustPilot, the BBB, and your state’s consumer-protection office.
If you spend any time on Facebook, you’ve probably seen the ad: “Government will cover the cost to install solar if you live in these ZIP codes.”
And you'll be bombarded by these ads for the next month. We'll explain below.
For older homeowners, it’s a message that hits squarely where life is already tender. Utility bills keep climbing. Savings don’t stretch like they used to. And many seniors are simply looking for one break — one program — that might make retirement a little easier. So when an ad claims the government is footing the bill, it feels like relief.
But it’s not real. No federal, state, or local program pays the full cost of residential solar installations. None are ZIP-code based. None eliminate the bill. The ads are built to look official, but they’re just lead-generation funnels for solar companies.
