A viral video claims that eligible homeowners can get solar panels installed for free on the U.S. government’s dime.
"If you qualify, you can get them to come out and install solar panels for you at no cost out of pocket and then say goodbye to your electric bill and get an $8,500 incentive on top of that," says the speaker in a video posted Sept. 3 on Facebook.
The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)
We did not find any evidence from the U.S. Department of Energy to support the claim, based on a search of websites, press releases and news articles. Homeowners are eligible for federal tax credits for solar installations, but not free panels or a cash incentive.
The U.S. Department of Energy did not respond to a request for comment. The Solar Energy Technologies Office, part of the Department of Energy, says on its website that it does not provide financial assistance or payouts to households installing solar energy systems.
Eligible homeowners may qualify for a 26% tax credit if they installed solar panel systems in 2020 or 2021, or a 30% tax credit if installation occurs between 2022 and 2032, according to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, part of the Department of Energy.
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