Michigan · Tax exemption · Mid-stack program

MI Renewable Energy Property Tax Exemption

Removes a tax burden residential solar owners in Michigan would otherwise carry -- see what it covers, eligibility, and payback impact below.

Property tax exemption
stated benefit
Residential
eligible customers
14.4 yr
Michigan baseline payback
2
other Michigan programs
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Mid-stack program · late directory

Michigan stacks 3 tracked programs; this tax exemption sits beside peer levers on a 14.4-year modeled baseline.

  • Stack3 programs
  • In-state #2/2
  • Type #20/45
  • Baseline14.4 yr

In-state directory place #2 of 2 (late alphabet). National tax exemption directory #20 of 45. Amounts and eligibility change; verify with the official program page before relying on a dollar figure. Informational only - not financial advice. See our disclaimer.

Program description

Michigan exempts solar energy systems from property tax assessment.

Program at a glance

Program type
Tax exemption
Eligible customers
Residential
Stated benefit
Property tax exemption
State electricity rate
17.5¢/kWh
Michigan solar score
18/100

Solar's trajectory in Michigan

The market this incentive operates in: total installed solar capacity in Michigan reported to the EIA.

0 MW500 MW1.0 GW1.5 GW 2015201620172018201920202021202220232024 1.2 GW
Michigan now has about 1.2 GW of installed solar, the backdrop programs like this one are built on.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, installed solar nameplate capacity As of 2024

Michigan's solar incentive stack

How this tax exemption sits among Michigan's 2 tracked programs, by type

programs

What this shows Michigan tracks 2 incentive types; 1 are tax exemptions like this one, removing a cost solar owners would otherwise carry, on top of the state's other program types.

Source DSIRE incentives registry As of 2024

Where this tax exemption sits in Michigan's mid-size stack

The MI Renewable Energy Property Tax Exemption removes a tax burden solar owners would otherwise carry, one of Michigan's DSIRE-tracked solar incentive programs. Eligibility is scoped to residential customers, with a stated benefit of Property tax exemption. DSIRE lists no scheduled sunset, though enabling legislation and appropriations can still be revised year to year.

That baseline is slower than most states, which raises the stakes for every incentive on the table. Michigan averages 4 kWh/m²/day of usable sunlight and residential rates of 17.5¢/kWh, producing an estimated 7,008 kWh/year and $1,226 of annual utility offset on a typical 6 kW system costing $17,700. That baseline already implies a 14.4-year simple payback and a 25-year modeled net of roughly $12,950 before this incentive - every dollar this tax exemption delivers compresses that payback further.

A handful of other levers are worth checking alongside this one. Michigan has 3 solar incentive programs indexed in DSIRE, including adjacent options like MI Net Metering. The state's net-metering policy is classified as full, which governs how excess generation is credited and often decides whether a given program is worth claiming for a specific household.

Frequently asked questions

What is the MI Renewable Energy Property Tax Exemption among Michigan's mid-size programs?
The MI Renewable Energy Property Tax Exemption is a tax exemption available to residential solar customers in Michigan. The stated benefit is Property tax exemption.
How does the MI Renewable Energy Property Tax Exemption work?
Michigan exempts solar energy systems from property tax assessment.
Who qualifies, and what does a late in-state directory place mean?
The program is available to residential customers in Michigan. Check the official program page for current eligibility requirements and deadlines. In-state directory place #2 of 2 (late alphabet).
How does this incentive affect solar ROI in Michigan?
Michigan has an estimated 14.4-year payback for a 6 kW system before incentives, with about $1,226/year in modeled savings. A tax exemption like this lowers upfront cost or raises annual return, shortening that payback. Run the calculator for a figure based on your own bill.
Are there other solar incentives in Michigan?
Michigan has 3 solar incentive programs tracked in DSIRE, including MI Net Metering. State programs are designed to stack on top of any available federal solar tax credit rather than replace it.

Incentive data from the DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency); state solar economics from NREL and the U.S. EIA. See our methodology · Michigan solar data · ROI calculator · All incentives.