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We use your location to provide localized solar offers and incentives.
We serve MA, NH, CT, RI, ME, VT, NJ, PA, and TX
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NuWatt designs, installs, and manages solar, battery, heat pump, and EV charger systems across 9 states. One company, one warranty, one point of contact.
Get a Free QuoteThe federal solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025. Homeowners buying solar with cash or a loan get $0 in federal incentives. The only path to federal savings in 2026 is through a lease or PPA where the third-party system owner claims Section 48 — and that window closes July 4, 2026. Here is how NuWatt and Palmetto compare in this new reality.
Federal ITC (25D)
Expired
Dec 31, 2025
Section 48 Lease/PPA
Still 30%
Until July 4, 2026
NuWatt Advantage
Direct + 48
Lease/PPA access
Before 2026, every solar comparison was simple: get quotes, apply the 30% federal tax credit, compare net costs. That framework is dead. Section 25D expired, and homeowners who buy solar with cash or a loan receive zero federal incentive.
The critical question in 2026 is not "which installer is cheapest per watt" — it is "which installer can still access federal incentives for me?" Through a lease or PPA, the third-party financing company that owns the system can claim Section 48/48E (the commercial ITC at 30%). That savings flows to the homeowner through lower monthly payments.
This is where NuWatt and Palmetto diverge. NuWatt actively structures lease/PPA projects to capture Section 48 before the July 4, 2026 deadline. Palmetto's marketplace model connects you with installers — but whether those installers offer Section 48-eligible lease structures depends on which partner you're matched with.
Updated for the post-ITC market. The rows that matter most have changed.
Price per Watt
$2.85–$3.35
$2.80–$3.50
Business Model
Direct installer — same team from quote to install
Technology platform — connects you with subcontractors
Post-ITC Financing (Section 48 Lease/PPA)
Available — third-party owner claims 30% ITC, savings passed to homeowner
Varies — depends on which financing partner you're matched with
Section 48 Deadline Awareness
Actively managing projects to begin construction before July 4, 2026
No public urgency messaging about the deadline
Post-ITC Financing Program
Propel: structured lease/PPA with FEOC-compliant Silfab panels, domestic content bonus, $0 down
No branded post-ITC program — financing depends on matched partner
FEOC Panel Compliance
Silfab 440W (manufactured in USA) — qualifies for domestic content bonus
Panel selection varies by subcontracted installer
Panel Warranty
25 years
25 years
Workmanship Warranty
25 years — backed by the same company that installs
25 years — but warranty accountability may be split
Customer Reviews
4.9/5
3.3/5
Installation Crews
Dedicated local crews in every state
Subcontracted installation partners
State Incentive Expertise
Deep: SMART, ConnectedSolutions, ADI/SREC-II, REF, REG, utility-level rebates
General: broad coverage, less municipal/utility-level depth
Services Beyond Solar
Battery, heat pumps, EV chargers, smart panels, commercial
Solar only
States Served (Overlap)
9 states (MA, NH, CT, RI, ME, VT, NJ, PA, TX)
9 states (MA, CT, NJ, PA, TX, NY, SC, NC, FL)
Financial Stability
Stable and growing
Recovered from 2023-24 difficulties
Section 48/48E allows third-party system owners (the financing company in a lease or PPA) to claim a 30% Investment Tax Credit on solar installations. This is the only remaining federal solar incentive available to homeowners in 2026 — and it requires projects to begin construction before July 4, 2026.
NuWatt is actively managing project timelines to ensure lease/PPA customers qualify before this deadline. That means signing your agreement, securing permits, and beginning physical work — all of which take time.
Palmetto's marketplace model adds an extra step: you first get matched with an installer, then negotiate financing, then begin the permit-to-install process. That additional step compresses an already tight timeline.
$0 federal credit. 25D expired. Full system cost on you.
Financing company claims 30% ITC. Lower payments for you.
Section 48 no longer available for new projects. $0 federal for everyone.
The business model difference matters more than price per watt.
Between January and March 2026, Palmetto launched an aggressive SEO content offensive — over 500 new pages targeting solar-related keywords in every state they serve. This is a deliberate play to dominate search results and capture homeowners who are confused by the post-ITC landscape.
The problem: content volume does not equal installation quality or financing expertise. Many of these pages are templated city-level content without the deep state incentive knowledge that actually saves homeowners money. A page about “solar in Springfield, MA” that doesn't mention SMART 3.0 adders or ConnectedSolutions battery payments is not helping you — it's helping Palmetto's Google rankings.
What this means for you: when comparing NuWatt and Palmetto, look past the search results. Ask each company specific questions about your state's programs. The company that can explain your utility's net metering rules, your state's battery rebate, and why Section 48 lease/PPA matters before July 4 is the one that will actually maximize your savings.
Red flag: If any installer's quote or website still shows a 30% federal tax credit for cash or loan purchases, they are either uninformed or intentionally misleading. Section 25D expired December 31, 2025. Walk away.
NuWatt's Propel program is specifically designed for the post-ITC market. Here's how it works: a third-party financing company owns the solar system and claims the 30% Section 48 commercial ITC. That savings flows to you through lower monthly lease/PPA payments — effectively preserving the economics homeowners had before 25D expired.
Propel uses FEOC-compliant panels (Silfab 440W, manufactured in the U.S.) to maximize the financing company's ITC value — including domestic content bonuses. This isn't a workaround; it's the exact mechanism Congress intended when it kept Section 48 alive for third-party-owned systems.
Palmetto cannot offer this. As a marketplace platform, Palmetto connects you with installers — but the financing structure and panel selection are up to whichever partner you're matched with. There's no guarantee they offer Section 48-eligible lease structures, use FEOC-compliant panels, or are managing the July 4, 2026 construction deadline.
Federal incentive
Propel Lease/PPA
30% (Section 48, claimed by system owner)
Cash Purchase
$0 (25D expired)
Upfront cost
Propel Lease/PPA
$0 down (lease/PPA)
Cash Purchase
$25,000-$45,000+ out of pocket
Panel requirement
Propel Lease/PPA
Silfab 440W (FEOC, made in USA)
Cash Purchase
Any panel — but no federal credit regardless
Deadline
Propel Lease/PPA
Construction must begin before July 4, 2026
Cash Purchase
No deadline — but no incentive either
Monthly savings
Propel Lease/PPA
Day-one savings: payment < current electric bill
Cash Purchase
Savings start after full payback (8-15+ years)
With the federal credit gone, state and local incentives are everything. NuWatt operates as a regional installer with deep knowledge of every program, utility rebate, and municipal incentive in its service territory. Palmetto's national platform approach makes this level of local expertise structurally difficult.
NuWatt actively offers lease/PPA structures where the financing company claims the 30% commercial ITC — passing savings to you before the July 2026 deadline.
The same NuWatt team that designs your system also installs and services it. Consistent quality and accountability.
NuWatt knows SMART adders, ConnectedSolutions, ADI rates, REG values, and every municipal utility rebate in its territory.
Solar + battery + heat pump + EV charger + smart panel — one project, one team, one warranty. Palmetto does solar only.
No marketplace matching step. Go from quote to permit to install with one company, critical before Section 48 expires.
Consistently higher customer satisfaction than Palmetto (3.3/5), with local accountability in every state.
Why July 4, 2026 matters for solar leases and PPAs.
Cash vs lease comparison after the ITC expired.
State-by-state analysis of solar economics in 2026.
How NuWatt compares to the largest US solar company.
Direct installer vs national brand — pricing, timeline, quality.
Marketplace vs local installer — when each path makes sense.
See your real costs with state incentives, lease/PPA options, and Section 48 access — before the July 2026 deadline passes.