For years, the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) has been a cornerstone of commercial solar project economics. But with the federal incentive winding down earlier than expected — as we covered in our recent blog post — many buyers are asking: Where is solar still viable without it? The answer: more places than you might think.

 

Board Slide Sketches (Updated Aug 5 2025) (1)

At Station A, we’ve mapped out the regions where commercial solar pencils even without the ITC. These are areas where project fundamentals are strong enough on their own — driven by three key conditions:

  • High electricity costs (>$0.12/kWh)

  • Strong local solar policy

  • Exceptional solar resource (>5.5 kWh/m²/day)

We cross-referenced this data with Station A’s own marketplace activity, and the overlap is striking. Our platform has seen project demand skyrocket in the very regions that meet these thresholds — from Southern California to the Northeast, Texas to Illinois.

🗺️ The Policy & Market Map That Matters Now

The map above shows where the opportunity lies:

  • 🟨 High Cost of Electricity: Especially in New York, California, Illinois, and Florida, where commercial rates exceed $0.12/kWh.

  • 🟦 Strong Policy Environments: Including states like Minnesota, Maryland, and Colorado, which have favorable permitting, interconnection, and net metering rules.

  • 🟥 High Solar Resource Zones: Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona top the list, with irradiance levels above 5.5 kWh/m²/day — translating to more production and faster payback.

  • 🟩 Where all of the above align: These are your no-brainer markets — the green-shaded states where high prices and good policy meet peak sunshine.

And those purple dots? They’re real commercial sites that have already launched RFPs on the Station A marketplace.

📕 The Big Beautiful Bill & the New Playbook

While many in the industry are focused on maximizing the tail end of the ITC, savvy buyers are already shifting gears. The so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” — a placeholder for potential federal clean energy legislation — may or may not arrive in time to stabilize future incentives. In the meantime, solar buyers can’t afford to wait for Washington.

The strategy today is clear: invest where the economics already make sense, and use tools like Station A to move quickly, transparently, and confidently.

🔬 Find Out Where Your Portfolio Qualifies — With or Without Incentives

You don’t need to guess which of your buildings are still viable.

We’ll show you exactly where solar pencils out — with or without the ITC — across your entire portfolio.

Whether you’re a property owner, energy buyer, or consultant, Station A can help you turn this shifting policy landscape into your competitive advantage. Get your initial personalized portfolio review for free — and start getting closer to your goals.

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