IRS Updates Wind and Solar Tax Credit Numbers
Published Date: 6/1/2026
Notice
Summary
Starting in 2026, renewable energy producers like wind and solar get updated credit rules based on new inflation numbers. The IRS set a new inflation factor and wind energy price that keep the tax credits steady—no phaseout this year! This means clean energy folks can count on consistent savings when they sell electricity in 2026.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
No 2026 Credit Phaseout for Wind
The IRS set the 2026 inflation adjustment factor at 2.0570 and the wind reference price at 3.17 cents per kilowatt hour. Because 3.17 cents does not exceed 8 cents multiplied by 2.0570, the phaseout in section 45(b)(1) does not apply to electricity from wind sold during calendar year 2026; the notice also states the phaseout does not apply in 2026 for the other listed qualified resources.
2026 Credit: Facilities In-Service Before 2022
For electricity sales in 2026 from facilities placed in service before January 1, 2022, the section 45 credit is 3.1 cents per kilowatt hour for wind, closed-loop biomass, and geothermal, and 1.5 cents per kilowatt hour for open-loop biomass, landfill gas, trash, qualified hydropower, and marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy.
2026 Credit: Facilities Placed in Service After 2021
For electricity sales in 2026 from facilities placed in service after December 31, 2021, the section 45 credit is 0.6 cents per kilowatt hour for wind, closed-loop biomass, geothermal, and solar, and 0.3 cents per kilowatt hour for open-loop biomass, landfill gas, and trash. For qualified hydropower and marine and hydrokinetic facilities placed in service after December 31, 2021 and before January 1, 2023, the credit is 0.3 cents per kilowatt hour.
Hydropower & Marine Credit Restored for Post-2022 Facilities
For qualified hydropower and marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy facilities placed in service after December 31, 2022, the one-half reduction no longer applies; accordingly, the 2026 section 45 credit is 0.6 cents per kilowatt hour for those facilities.
Fivefold Credit Multiplier for Certain New Facilities
As amended, section 45(b)(6)(A) provides that for a qualified facility that satisfies section 45(b)(6)(B) the credit amount under section 45(a) is multiplied by 5. A facility satisfies 45(b)(6)(B) if it is placed in service after December 31, 2021 and is (i) under 1 megawatt maximum net output, (ii) had construction begin prior to January 29, 2023, or (iii) satisfies the prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements in section 45(b)(7)(A) and (8).
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