Ever feel like you’re leaving money on the table when you start a construction, energy-efficiency, or electrification project?
Most property owners are — not because incentives aren’t available, but because the landscape is so tangled that they never see the full picture.
That’s where incentive stacking becomes a game-changer.
We’ve built an entire sales strategy around helping clients layer federal tax credits, state programs, utility rebates, and long-term financing tools like C-PACE into one unified funding plan. And the truth is simple:
Those who stack incentives win. Those who don’t… pay full price.
What’s the Problem?
Every developer, property owner, or municipality we talk to says the same thing:
- “The incentives are too confusing.”
- “I didn’t know we could combine them.”
- “My accountant only mentioned one or two.”
- “I figured we only qualify for the basics.”
And honestly? We get it.
Federal programs alone are a maze. Add state, county, and utility incentives on top, and the list gets overwhelming fast. The problem isn’t the lack of incentives — it’s the lack of a guide.
So the question becomes: How do you maximize these programs without drowning in the details?
Our Solution: Strategic Incentive Stacking
This is where our approach stands out. Our team doesn’t just apply incentives — we build a customized stack tailored to each project.
Think of it like assembling a tower of financial advantages:
1. C-PACE (CPACER / PropertyFIT)
A cornerstone of the stack. Long-term, fixed-rate financing that pays for:
- Energy efficiency upgrades
- Solar + battery storage
- HVAC
- Windows
- Water savings
- EV Charging
- Seismic improvements
Instead of using cash or high-cost equity, clients use CPACE as low-cost capital to reduce out-of-pocket spend and increase ROI.
2. IRS 30C Tax Credit (Alternative Fuel Refueling)
Perfect for EV charging projects.
- Up to 30% tax credit
- Up to $100,000 per charging location
- Bonus credits available in energy communities and low-income areas
This alone can shift a project from “borderline” to “profitable.”
3. IRS 48E Clean Electricity Investment Credit
A heavy hitter for clean energy:
- Applies to solar, battery storage, and certain clean energy systems
- Base + bonus credits for domestic content and labor compliance
- Often stackable with CPACE and state solar programs
This credit is reshaping the economics of renewable installs.
4. IRS 179D (Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Deduction)
A massive deduction for efficiency upgrades in:
- Commercial buildings
- Government facilities
- Multifamily (4+ stories)
With prevailing wage compliance, deductions can be over $5.00 per sq. ft. Great for retrofits and new construction.
5. IRS 45L (Energy-Efficient Home Credit)
The secret weapon for:
- Multifamily developers
- Single-family builders
- Townhome and condo projects
Depending on the building certification level, projects can qualify for $2,500–$5,000 credits per unit. Stack that on a 100-unit build… you see how fast it adds up.
6. State, County, & Utility Incentives
This is the “hidden treasure chest” most owners never tap:
- Utility rebates on lighting, HVAC, EV chargers, and solar
- State clean energy grants
- Local resilience funds
- Technology pilot programs
- Demand response credits
- Low-income community bonuses
- “Shovel-ready” clean energy allocations
Our team tracks these constantly because they change fast — and they improve project economics even faster.
So Why Does This Put Us Ahead of the Competition?
Because most vendors sell products. We offer solutions that pay for themselves.
While competitors pitch a charger, a solar array, or a lighting upgrade…we show clients how to fund 30–70% of the project using incentives they never knew existed.
Our sales strategy becomes unbeatable because:
- We reduce the client’s capital burden
- We increase the client’s ROI
- We eliminate “no-budget” as an objection
- We show a 5–10 year savings plan
- We walk them through incentives step-by-step
- We secure the financing (not just the equipment)
It’s not just about “winning the deal” — it’s about helping clients build real financial sustainability into their infrastructure.
A Quick Example: How One Stack Transforms a Project
Let’s say you’re installing:
- Solar
- EV Charging
- Battery backup
- High-efficiency lighting
- Controls
- Seismic improvements
Your stack might look like:
- C-PACE → pays for the majority of the upgrades
- 30C → pays for a large portion of the charging system
- 48E → covers solar + battery
- 179D → major deduction on efficiency
- Utility rebates → reduce upfront costs
- State grants → close remaining gaps
Suddenly a $2.5M project becomes a $700k net investment — or less — with better cash flow, higher valuation, and major ESG benefits.
That’s the power of stacking.
The Future Favors the Informed
With energy codes tightening, ESG standards rising, and incentives expanding every year, the winners in the next decade will be the property owners who take action now — while the windows are open.
Our job is simple:
Help clients capture every available advantage, stack incentives strategically, and turn infrastructure upgrades into profit opportunities.
The competition sells hardware. We sell solutions. And in today’s market, that’s what separates leaders from followers.
Written by Barry Redman, VP of Operations
