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The residential solar tax credit is gone. Propel is the workaround: a third-party owner captures the 30% commercial ITC under Section 48E and passes the savings to you. $0 down, fixed payments, and automatic ownership at year 5.
Quick Answer
Propel solar financing is a $0 down, managed solar program available in Maine and Texas. A third-party owner holds the system for 5 years, claims the 30% Section 48E commercial tax credit, and passes savings to you through lower fixed monthly payments. At year 5, ownership transfers automatically. It requires FEOC-compliant Silfab 440W panels and a 660+ FICO score. Applications close September 30, 2026.
Propel is a Transitional Ownership program created by Concert Finance. It combines two things into one package:
At year 5, the Early Buyout Option (EBO) is exercised automatically. No additional paperwork, no extra payment. Ownership transfers to you, the system becomes a home asset, and you continue making the same low monthly payment — or pay it off early.
Why does this matter in 2026?
The residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025. If you buy solar with cash or a standard loan, you get $0 back from the IRS. Propel solves this: the third-party owner is a business entity that claims the commercial ITC under Section 48/48E. That 30% savings gets baked into your lower monthly payment. You do not file anything — the savings are pre-built.
Think of it as solar with training wheels. Somebody else handles the tax complexity and system maintenance for the first 5 years. Then you take over with full ownership and decades of savings ahead.
From installation to full ownership in 4 stages.
Solar goes on your roof. You start saving on your electric bill immediately. $0 out of pocket.
A third-party owner holds the system, claims the 30% Section 48E credit, and provides performance guarantees plus free maintenance.
The Early Buyout Option (EBO) is exercised automatically. Ownership transfers to you at a pre-set price built into your loan.
You own the system outright. Keep every dollar of savings. Continue the same low payment or pay off early with no penalty.
You
Pay a fixed monthly amount to Concert Finance
Concert Finance
Manages the loan, ESA structure, and payments
Third-Party Owner
Holds system years 1-5, claims 30% Section 48E ITC
Propel does not let you choose any panel — it requires Silfab 440W panels specifically. Here is why that is a feature, not a limitation.
The Federal Energy Oversight Committee (FEOC) sets domestic content requirements for the Section 48E tax credit. Silfab panels are manufactured in the United States and meet these requirements, unlocking a 10% domestic content bonus on top of the base 30% ITC. This bonus is what allows Propel to offer lower payments than a standard lease.
FEOC deadline: July 4, 2026
Projects must begin construction before July 4, 2026 to qualify for the Section 48/48E ITC with the domestic content bonus. After this date, the ITC phases down. Since NuWatt handles construction scheduling, the deadline you need to focus on is September 30, 2026 for your Propel application.
How Propel stacks up against every other way to go solar in 2026.
| Feature | Propel | Cash | Loan | Lease/PPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0 out of pocket | ||||
| Fixed monthly payment | N/A | |||
| 30% ITC captured | ||||
| You own the system | ||||
| Performance guarantee | ||||
| Free maintenance (5 yr) | ||||
| No escalating payments | ||||
| Adds home value | ||||
| No dealer fees |
$0 out of pocket
Propel
Cash
Loan
Lease
Fixed monthly payment
Propel
Cash
-Loan
Lease
30% ITC captured
Propel
Cash
Loan
Lease
You own the system
Propel
Cash
Loan
Lease
Performance guarantee
Propel
Cash
Loan
Lease
Free maintenance (5 yr)
Propel
Cash
Loan
Lease
No escalating payments
Propel
Cash
Loan
Lease
Adds home value
Propel
Cash
Loan
Lease
No dealer fees
Propel
Cash
Loan
Lease
Cash and Loan purchases receive $0 federal tax credit (Section 25D expired December 31, 2025). Lease/PPA and Propel use the Section 48/48E commercial ITC through third-party ownership.
As of March 2026, Propel financing is offered in two states. NuWatt plans to expand to additional markets.
Maine's high rates and 1:1 net billing make Propel especially valuable. Without the residential tax credit, a cash purchase has 15-17 year payback. With Propel, you save from day one.
Maine Propel detailsTexas systems produce more energy due to higher sun exposure, which means faster savings. Lower cost per watt ($2.90) plus Propel's ITC capture makes the economics strong despite lower utility rates.
Texas Propel detailsMaine is one of the most expensive electricity markets in the country. CMP customers pay around $0.27/kWh, and Versant customers pay around $0.32/kWh. That makes the savings from solar substantial — but without the residential tax credit, an outright cash purchase means 15-17 years before payback.
$24,960
System cost (8 kW)
$7,488
30% ITC captured
~$250/mo
Est. Propel payment
~$145/mo
Avg. electric bill offset
Based on $3.12/W Silfab pricing, 8 kW system, CMP rate of $0.27/kWh, 1,200 kWh annual production per kW. Your actual numbers depend on roof orientation, shading, and usage.
With 1:1 net billing, every kWh your system produces offsets your bill at full retail rate. Versant territory is even more favorable due to the higher $0.32/kWh rate. Propel saves Maine homeowners from the 15-17 year cash payback by providing immediate savings through the captured ITC. See the full Maine Propel page for detailed savings scenarios.
Texas has lower electricity rates ($0.15-$0.16/kWh) than Maine, but compensates with significantly higher sun exposure — 5.5-6.0 peak sun hours per day compared to 4.0-4.5 in the Northeast. The result: larger systems produce more energy, and the lower cost per watt ($2.90/W for Silfab) means a better price-to-production ratio.
$28,750
System cost (10 kW)
$8,625
30% ITC captured
~$290/mo
Est. Propel payment
~$125/mo
Avg. electric bill offset
Based on $2.875/W interpolated Silfab pricing, 10 kW system, $0.155/kWh avg rate, 1,500 kWh annual production per kW. Texas systems are typically larger (10-15 kW) due to cooling loads and available roof space.
The Texas advantage is production volume. A 10 kW system in Texas generates roughly 15,000 kWh/year compared to 10,000 kWh in Maine for an 8 kW system. Propel makes this production accessible with $0 down. Check the Texas Propel page for utility-specific scenarios including Oncor, CenterPoint, and Austin Energy territories.
Propel has specific requirements. Here is the full checklist.
| Credit Tier | APR | Dealer Fee | Est. Monthly ($30K) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | 7.79% | 0% | ~$230/mo |
| Very Good | 8.79% | 0% | ~$250/mo |
| Good | 9.79% | 0% | ~$270/mo |
| Standard | 8.99% | 0% | ~$255/mo |
Estimated monthly for a $30,000 system before 0.50% ACH discount. Your rate depends on credit score and system size. All loans have 0% dealer fees.
There are two deadlines to understand:
July 4, 2026 — FEOC / Section 48E Construction Deadline
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) requires projects to begin construction before July 4, 2026 for the full Section 48/48E ITC. NuWatt manages construction scheduling, so this is handled on our end.
September 30, 2026 — Propel Application Deadline
This is your deadline. Propel applications through Concert Finance must be submitted by September 30, 2026. After this date, the current rate structure and program terms are not guaranteed.
Propel is a Transitional Ownership program by Concert Finance. It pairs a Prepaid Energy Services Agreement (ESA) with a 25-year loan. A third-party owner holds your solar system for the first 5 years, claims the 30% Section 48/48E commercial tax credit, and passes those savings into your lower monthly payment. At year 5, ownership transfers to you automatically. You pay $0 down and get one fixed monthly payment with no dealer fees.
With a lease or PPA, you never own the system and payments often escalate 1-3% annually for 20-25 years. With Propel, your payments are fixed, and you take full ownership at year 5 via an automatic Early Buyout Option (EBO). After year 5, you own the asset, it adds value to your home, and you keep 100% of the electricity savings.
Propel financing relies on the Section 48E commercial tax credit. To qualify for the 10% domestic content bonus, the system must use FEOC-compliant panels manufactured in the United States. Silfab 440W panels are made in the USA and meet FEOC requirements, which helps maximize the tax credit the third-party owner captures and the savings passed to you.
You need a minimum FICO score of 660 (TransUnion). The initial check is a soft inquiry that will not affect your credit score. A hard inquiry only happens if you move forward with the full application. Co-applicants are allowed if they live at the property. The loan range is $10,001 to $135,000.
As of March 2026, Propel is available in Maine and Texas only. Maine covers CMP and Versant utility territories. Texas covers ERCOT-market territories including Oncor, CenterPoint, and Austin Energy. NuWatt plans to expand Propel to additional states. Applications must be submitted before September 30, 2026.
You have two options. You can purchase the system early at the pre-set buyout price and include it in the home sale. Or you can transfer both the loan and the ESA to the new homeowner, who takes over payments and eventually gets ownership at year 5. Either way, solar adds 4%+ to home resale value according to multiple studies.
During the first 5 years: performance guarantee (85% of estimated kWh), full operations and maintenance, and a workmanship warranty. After ownership transfer: 10-year roof penetration warranty, 15-year energy storage monitoring (if battery), and 25-year solar system monitoring. There are no prepayment penalties and the loan has 3 reamortization dates.
September 30, 2026 is the application deadline for Propel financing through Concert Finance. This is separate from the July 4, 2026 FEOC/construction deadline for Section 48E. Since NuWatt handles construction timelines, the key date for homeowners is September 30 to submit a Propel application and lock in the current rate structure.
Yes. Propel supports solar-plus-battery installations. The battery cost is included in the loan, and you get 15 years of energy storage monitoring as part of the package. Battery storage is especially valuable in Maine for outage protection and in Texas for TOU rate optimization and grid resilience.
Propel offers 25-year loans with 0% dealer fees. Rates range from 7.79% APR (excellent credit) to 9.79% APR (good credit), with a standard rate of 8.99%. You get a 0.50% discount for setting up automatic ACH payments. For a $30,000 system, estimated monthly payments range from $230 to $270 depending on credit tier.
Get a free quote that includes Propel financing, state incentives, and a custom system design for your home. No commitment, no credit impact.
Propel financing provided by Concert Finance. Loans originated by Medallion Bank, Member FDIC.
How Solar Financing Changed in 2026
Full breakdown of cash, loan, lease, PPA, and Propel in a post-ITC world.
Propel Main Page
Qualifier tool, rate calculator, and state routing.
Maine Propel Solar
CMP & Versant territory-specific Propel pricing and economics.
Texas Propel Solar
ERCOT market Propel pricing for Oncor, CenterPoint, Austin Energy.
Solar Tariffs & FEOC 2026
Why FEOC compliance matters and the July 4 deadline.
Prepaid Solar PPA Guide
Deep dive into prepaid PPA structures and Section 48E.
Propel vs. Solar Loan
Side-by-side comparison of Propel and standard solar loans.
Section 48E Solar Guide
How the commercial ITC works for residential solar in 2026.
Silfab 440W Panel Review
Detailed specs, warranty, and performance data for the Silfab 440W.
Elena helps homeowners plan whole-home electrification projects — solar, heat pumps, batteries, and EV charging. She focuses on financing strategies and long-term energy savings.