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sunleadblogs · 1 month ago

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Save Big with Texas Solar Incentives – See If You Qualify Now!

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Save Big with Texas Solar Incentives — See If You Qualify Now!

In recent years, Texas has emerged as a leader in solar energy adoption, surpassing California. This growth is backed by Federal tax credit, Texas solar incentives and other favourable policies. Plus, the benefits offered by local utility grids make it a more favorable option.

However, homeowners or businesses planning to go solar in Texas still have many questions like: Is Texas a good state for solar? How much is the solar tax exemption in Texas? Can I get solar panels for free in Texas? Are solar panels worth it in Texas? and so on?

Texas Solar Incentives: Local and Utility Rebates

There are no direct Texas solar incentives, but many municipalities and local utilities offer incentives to help homeowners and businesses. These incentives are provided in order to encourage them to adopt renewable energy. You can check the list of local rebates across Texas here.

Utility Company Incentives:

Oncor Electric Delivery: Oncor Electric Delivery offers many financial incentives to the solar contractors which they can pass on to the customers who purchase the qualifying solar power systems.

AEP Texas: AEP Texas a solar PV incentive program. This program offers financial incentives to help reduce the initial cost of installing a solar power system.

Garland Power & Light (GP&L): GP&L offers bill credits for solar panel installation. The solar rebate of $0.75 per watt, up to $5,000 per system, is renewed every October and is available until funds are exhausted.

Local Government Incentives:

SMTX Utilities (San Marcos): SMTX Utilities also has a rebate program offering a $2,500 rebate program for homeowners who install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. It aims to promote solar power systems in Texas. For more details, you can visit the official SMTC Utilities website.

City of Sunset Valley: Residents of Sunset Valley who qualify for the Austin Energy solar rebate can receive extra Texas solar incentives from the city. The city offers an additional $1 per watt rebate of a maximum of $3,000 (if the solar power system cost doesn’t exceed $6,000). For more details on how specific eligibility criteria you can visit the official website of Sunset Valley.

NOTE: Texas solar incentives can reduce the upfront costs of solar power installations. However, the availability of these programs may vary based on your location and utility provider. For updated information, you can consult your local utility company or State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE).

Learn the cheapest ways to get home power off the grid.

Property Tax Exemption for Solar Systems in Texas

Solar Buyback Programs

Solar buyback programs allow homeowners to sell excess electricity generated by solar panels back to the grid. In return, they can receive credits on their electricity bill. It helps to reduce the electricity bills.

TXU Energy: TXU Energy offers solar buyback plans allowing Texas homeowners to earn credits for the extra solar energy generated. These credits can offset up to 100% of your monthly energy charges.

Octopus Energy: Similarly, Octopus Energy provides a solar buyback program with unlimited credits that roll over without expiration. It allows you to take maximum benefits of the solar energy production.

Gexa Energy: Gexa Energy offers plans that let you sell back your unused solar energy and reduce electricity costs.

Learn how to compare solar panel quotes here.

Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC)

The Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) deducts a certain percentage of your solar panel installation costs from your federal taxes. For systems installed between 2022 and 2032, you can claim 30% of the cost of installing solar panels. It includes both equipment and labor costs.

You Own the New Solar Panel System: If you have fully installed a new solar panel system outright or through financing, you are eligible for it. Leasing or signing a power purchase agreement (PPA) does not qualify for the same. It doesn’t apply to refurbished ones.

The Panels are Installed at a Qualifying Property: The solar panels must be installed at your home which includes: primary/secondary residence or rental properties that allow installation in the United States. Leased properties don’t qualify for it.

You Must Owe Federal Taxes: As ITC is a tax credit you must ower federal taxes to take advantage of it. In case your credit exceeds what you owe, you can roll the remainder next year.

Battery Storage May Count: As of the new updates in 2023, you can also be eligible for credit if your solar panel system includes a battery with a storage capacity of 3 kilowatt-hours or more.

NOTE: It’s important to note that this tax credit is non-refundable, meaning it can reduce your tax liability to zero, but you won’t receive a refund for any remaining credit. However, any unused credit can be carried forward to the next tax year.

How to Claim Texas Solar Incentives

Install Your Solar Energy System: Choose a solar provider and install your solar power systems. The installation must be completed during the tax year for which you’re claiming the credit. If it is not done, you can claim it in the next year.

Gather Necessary Documentation: Keep a proper record of all the expenses related to the installation in the form of invoices or receipts. It will support your claim for the federal tax credit.

Complete IRS Form 5695 and Submit: When filing your federal income tax return, fill out Form 5695, titled “Residential Energy Credits.” This form helps you calculate the credit amount based on your solar installation costs. Include the completed Form 5695 with your annual tax return to claim the credit.

Final Words: Is Solar Worth it in Texas with Solar Incentives?

Switching to solar energy in Texas is undoubtedly a smart move for both your wallet and the environment. Backed by federal tax credits, property tax exemptions, local rebates, and supportive policies, going solar has never been more affordable.

By investing in solar, you not only save on energy bills but also increase the value of your home while contributing to a cleaner, greener future.

Here are three quick tips to get started:

Research local utility and city-specific rebates to maximize savings.

Choose a reliable solar installer with experience in Texas incentives.

Keep all your installation receipts and documents handy for claiming tax credits.

Flexible Solar Panels

Is Solar Worth It in California

Cost of Solar Panels in California

FAQs on Texas Solar Incentives

Does Texas offer incentives for solar panels? Yes, Texas offers several incentives for solar panel installation, including federal tax credits, property tax exemptions, and utility or local rebates. However, there is no statewide net metering policy.

How much is the solar tax exemption in Texas? In Texas, the property tax exemption eliminates any increase in property taxes due to the added value of a solar energy system. This means you won’t pay extra property taxes even if your home’s value rises because of the solar installation.

Is Texas a good state for solar? Absolutely. With abundant sunshine, falling solar installation costs, and various incentives, Texas is one of the best states for solar energy adoption.

Is Texas more solar than California? Yes, Texas has surpassed California in utility-scale solar capacity, making it a leader in solar energy growth.

Do homes in Texas sell faster with solar? Homes with solar panels often sell faster and at a higher price in Texas because buyers value the long-term energy savings and environmental benefits.

#solar #solar incentives #solar tax #texas #sunlead

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scpagroupllc · 8 months ago

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Accounting for Real Estate Brokers and Developers in Plano and Austin, TX

Looking for a Texas accounting firm with expertise in tax, assurance, bookkeeping, and audits? Look no further than SCPA Group! We serve many clients, including construction contractors, real estate developers, and small businesses. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you achieve your financial goals.

#accounting for real estate brokers and developers in Plano and Austin #TX

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jcmarchi · 9 months ago

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From Canabalt To Tunic – Finji's Independent Approach To Publishing And Creating Games

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/from-canabalt-to-tunic-finjis-independent-approach-to-publishing-and-creating-games/

From Canabalt To Tunic – Finji's Independent Approach To Publishing And Creating Games

In 2009, a video game called Canabalt was published on the iOS App Store. It had a simple premise: Your character flees through a crumbling urban landscape, making great leaps across rooftops at the touch of your phone screen. It met great success and charted in what was then only a burgeoning mobile game ecosystem. Canabalt popularized the infinite runner genre and would ultimately put its designer, Adam Saltsman, on the map.

Now working under the name of Finji as its creative director, Adam’s rise as a designer as well as his partner’s, Bekah Saltsman, as both a publisher and CEO, has been stunning to watch, especially considering the simplicity of that first big hit. Whether you’re playing the bass guitar as Mae Borowski in Night In The Woods, organizing patchwork-colored boxes in Wilmot’s Warehouse, or floating listlessly through space in Capsule, Finji continues to offer memorable, beautiful experiences from trailblazing game designers unlike any other.

But for Adam and Bekah, in those early days of entering the indie game industry, everything always led back to that original, impossible question: How do you even make a video game?

Overland

Bridging The Gap

For as long as Adam can remember, he wanted to be a video game artist. Fascinated with the vibrant colors and rich SunSoft sound chips of original NES cartridges, the video games of his childhood quickly took over his imagination. He designed his own levels for Super Mario Bros. on sheets of grid paper. He ordered floppy disks with the Wolfenstein level editor built-in. He experimented with the Doom level editor, then eventually the Quake editor. However, despite being a part of this growing generation of designers with a dream to create console games that felt like some of their childhood favorites, it was never clear how exactly you get from hobbyist to career.

“That gap, in the early 1990’s in rural Michigan, is a very wide gap,” Adam says.

Upon graduating from the University of Michigan alongside Bekah, the Saltsmans made the move out to where the ever-growing indie scene was just beginning to flourish: Austin, Texas. An environment with excellent studios and cheap rent seemed the perfect place for Adam to cut his teeth and enter the industry. Unfortunately, getting your foot in the door at major developers of the time was much more complicated than anticipated, so he looked to other routes. In 2006, Adam transitioned into tech contractor work to dedicate sufficient time toward launching his and Bekah’s new studio, Last Chance Media. Beginning with only a few days each month, the two created simple, arcade-feeling Flash and iOS games that promoted simple game mechanics and aesthetic sensibilities that fit into Adam’s love for pixel art and incredible game soundtracks. Around this time, Adam’s first major titles begin appearing: Canabalt, Gravity Hook, and Fathom. Adam’s platformer, Fathom, had an especially intriguing finale that took some of his fans at the time by surprise – a boss fight you could not win.

Canabalt

“You die, and you have this bizarre exploration experience,” Adam says. “You find this door at the bottom of the ocean, it opens up, and you sink down into it.”

Until that point, the Saltsmans’ stories in games always seemed to present something both unexpected and unnerving: a sinking robot, a crumbling city, a suffocating space mission. The games were always fun and engaging, but they had something larger to say. Each new project from Adam and Bekah were then examples of both creativity in design and were challenging the idea of what a game could even look like. That philosophy would eventually spur the change of Last Chance Media into their latest team-up and best-known collaboration: Finji.

Finji Begins

Having scraped and saved for nearly 10 years, the Saltsmans were finally ready to unveil their development studio, Finji, on March 3, 2014, along with its first major internal project: Overland. It marked an exceptionally creative endeavor for Adam and Bekah, leaving behind action platforming in favor of eerie, strategic grid-based movement. Any given level is presented from a bird’s eye view, showing various interactable elements for your character and hiding others within obscuring shadows.

“The diorama, at a glance, should look like a little apocalyptic story,” Adam said. “That was the rule for the level design: there should clearly be your characters, menacing forces and an escape route.”

Night In The Woods

However, before they could reach that final product, the Saltsmans put out a very candid, transparent request on their blog, seeking animators and audio engineers who weren’t looking to create something that sounded or looked like anything else on the market. Rather than base qualifications simply on prior experience or padded portfolios, they ensured interested artists were considered through paid, practical demos and tests that proved their intuition and problem-solving skills rather than simply their past work.

Adam and Bekah have always been keenly aware of the toxicity in some of the gaming industry’s highest-stake work environments, particularly regarding “crunch time” before release. That attitude bleeds not only into their game development but also into their relationships with creators as studio publishers themselves. In fact, before they agreed to publish Tunic with creator Andrew Shouldice, they mentored him on the project for years prior. This way, Finji could view Shouldice’s work on the game not only from a marketability, quality-assurance, or localization perspective (which was crucial) but also as fellow creative partners.

I Was A Teenage Exocolonist

“Our relationship didn’t start with a publishing negotiation; it started with them taking time to give a stranger some feedback and advice,” Shouldice said. “It’s that willingness to help that I think makes them such an important part of the game development community.”

Another of Finji’s published games, Wilmot’s Warehouse, first appeared as a part of Humble Monthly on Steam, but creator Richard Hogg knew that in order to improve the game’s performance and expand its audience, he would need a proper publisher. While Hogg had worked with various publishing groups before, it seemed that Finji was especially capable of providing a friendly, cooperative relationship in which everyone involved could have input on the game’s design. Much like an indie record label that emerges from veteran bands supporting younger artists, Finji’s own history in creating games sets it apart from other publishers.

“Finji is exactly like this, and, just like with those labels, there is an integrity and a camaraderie that naturally comes out of it,” Hogg said.

Ten years after those initial Overland blog posts, Finji is still looking for projects unlike anything else and continues to make space for game developers and creators who wouldn’t usually be in the room. In Adam’s experience, he’s found that indie developers often fit into two modes: People who want to make games just like their favorites or people who want to make games that correct the flaws in those same titles and invent something new. More often, however, a Finji game fits in neither category. There would be no Chicory: A Colorful Tale without Link’s Awakening. No Canabalt without Mirror’s Edge. No Night In The Woods without one of Adam’s own personal favorites: Kentucky Route Zero.

“You are giving the player an experience they otherwise would not have had,” Bekah said. “They are able to experience games in a way that they’ve never experienced games before. That idea is fed through Night In The Woods.”

Wilmot’s Warehouse

Seven years since Night In The Woods’ initial release, the game continues to leave as much of an impact as it did when fans first played it. Its casual platforming roots meant for an especially approachable gaming experience, and Scott Benson’s wholly unique art direction helped the game transcend its medium and find itself in myriad forms; fan art, tattoo designs, cosplays, and more.

“There were thousands upon thousands of responses on social media, from people who discovered it last week to people who discovered it seven years ago, talking about how that game not only changed what games were for them but also changed them as a person,” Bekah said.

Perhaps the most recognizable aspect of Finji, beyond their award-winning games, is its logo: a ferret wearing a crown. Designed by Richard Hogg (creator of Finji’s published title, Wilmot’s Warehouse), the design embodies two very important parts of the founders Adam and Bekah Saltsmans’ lives.

The crown is representative of their eldest son, Kingsley, while the ferret mascot is a sly reference to Marty Stouffer’s Wild America on PBS, which featured a mob of pet ferrets in one episode. The scene showing their escape is a favorite of Adam’s.

As for “Finji,” the studio’s name serves as a loving homage to the childhood nickname for their youngest son, Finnegan.

Combining elements of the Saltsmans’ humor, inventiveness, and nostalgia were paramount in Hogg’s logo design.

The sheer approachability and ease of access toward Finji games like Night In The Woods remains one of the studio’s hallmark factors and one the Saltsmans pride themselves on. “No Fail” mode was included in Tunic so combat-averse players can still enjoy the adventure. In the BAFTA award-winning Chicory: A Colorful Tale, you have a fast-paced, engaging action-adventure that still relies on a touching story about creativity and passion. In these same seminal titles, Finji brings together creative teams and designers who lend their original voices to the blossoming indie game industry.

“Chicory is a great example because you have somebody who maybe hasn’t art directed a game that size before, and so it looks super special,” Adam said. “And you have very subversive gameplay. You don’t hurt anybody in Chicory.”

Tunic

These past 10 years, Finji has shown that person-first, supportive video game publishing and development can lead to higher quality experiences, never sacrificing camaraderie for crunch. The unifying factor between their games, then, is the incredible attention to detail each of their gathered teams present toward story, setting and character.

“You can tell these all go together, even though none of them look the same,” Bekah said. “They have this hyper-dedication to place, where the place is an extra character in the game that has motivations that act out upon the player.”

Nowhere will this be truer than in Finji’s upcoming 2025 title.

Spiritual Successor

Overlapping with the marketing and releases of both Tunic and I Was A Teenage Exocolonist (from Sarah Northway, marking the first woman-led release with Finji) development began for Finji’s newest title, Usual June, in February 2021. The fundamental design was going to be very different from its past published releases, like Tunic. Usual June would be a more bespoke and considered experience, less so an open-world for the player to freely explore. It’s also the first development project from Finji since Overland’s release in 2019. But while Overland and Usual June are both stories about the end of the world, the latter marks another major genre departure for the Saltsmans and Finji: a 3D action-adventure.

“An initial inspiration was Secret Of Mana, which is Bekah’s favorite game,” Adam said. “It has real-time battles with dodging and charge attacks. We thought, let’s take the guts of that.”

Chicory: A Colorful Tale

Usual June is a paranormal story, fundamentally a mystery story, but not with a normal, formulaic detective structure. The playable character, June, has the supernatural ability to speak with ghosts, which when combined with the “weird-looking, glowing stuff” (as Adam puts it) briefly shown in the trailer, you’re left with the notes of impossibility lying at the root of Usual June’s mystery. The worldbuilding for Finji and their narrative collaborator, Sweet Baby Inc., then became a sort of experiment: How would a normal-enough town of people react to sudden changes of supernatural phenomena? What are the consequences of learning about the paranormal beneath the surface?

“In Usual June, you will mostly see what June sees and mostly understand what June understands, which is not going to be everything,” Adam said. “There will be things that you don’t fix, there will be some things that don’t get explained or are too hard to explain. I hope that’s one of the things that people love about it, that there’s space to inhabit and think about it.”

Usual June

One way players will be able to inhabit the mystery of June’s town, Fen Harbor, more fully is through its inclusive storytelling within the detective-mystery as a whole. Rather than rely on checklists for June to mark down as the mystery comes to a close, Adam and Bekah lean further into the common tropes of some of their favorite sci-fi and supernatural mysteries, like Buffy The Vampire Slayer, I Am Not Okay With This, and even, for Adam especially, the Godzilla films.

To demonstrate this, Adam began to act out a noir-like scene where a hard-hitting journalist might be visiting a mysterious character who knows more about the mystery than they’re letting on. He proceeded to fish around and pick up miscellaneous objects from nearby shelves in order to seem aloof as he continued to question his suspect.

“Outside of Phoenix Wright, I’ve never seen a game work like that,” Adam said. “The story areas weren’t a 3D space where you can wander around and look at weird stuff on the shelf while you banter with a character.”

Adam and Bekah Saltsman

With much more to learn about Usual June before its release sometime next year, the Saltsmans and their team at Finji look forward to teasing further secrets. How does a missing kid case fit into June’s life? Where is this alternate world full of neon-colored caves and crystalline monsters? And what’s the connection between June’s powers and Teddy, her friendly ghost companion?

All of that remains to be answered… Or will it be?

“It’s not going to be a game where all the things get explained,” Adam said. “A lot of the joy for us is going to live in leaving places for people to have fun in the fog.

This article originally appeared in Issue 365 of Game Informer.

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meteojuloian · 2 years ago

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Bathroom Remodeling Austin: Tips and Tricks for a Successful Remodel - In this article, we’ll provide you with some tips and tricks for a successful bathroom remodeling project in Austin.

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sanieplonya · 2 years ago

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Steps to Remodel Your Bathroom in 2023 - Have a bathroom remodel idea in mind? For that, seek the best contracting company for bathroom and kitchen remodel in Austin and follow these steps.

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bethanylessi · 2 years ago

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Steps to Remodel Your Bathroom in 2023 - Have a bathroom remodel idea in mind? For that, seek the best contracting company for bathroom and kitchen remodel in Austin and follow these steps.

#bathroom remodel austin #new construction homes austin tx #deck building austin #new construction austin tx #austin texas construction companies #general contractors austin texas

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jihanfcplanne · 2 years ago

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Steps to Remodel Your Bathroom in 2023 - Have a bathroom remodel idea in mind? For that, seek the best contracting company for bathroom and kitchen remodel in Austin and follow these steps.

#bathroom remodel austin #new construction homes austin tx #deck building austin #new construction austin tx #austin texas construction companies #general contractors austin texas

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ramanramaya · 2 years ago

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Steps to Remodel Your Bathroom in 2023 - Have a bathroom remodel idea in mind? For that, seek the best contracting company for bathroom and kitchen remodel in Austin and follow these steps.

#bathroom remodel austin #new construction homes austin tx #deck building austin #new construction austin tx #austin texas construction companies #general contractors austin texas

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twiainsurancegroup · 11 months ago

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dumpster-rentals-austin-tx · 1 year ago

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Dumpster Rentals in Austin TX

Unlocking the Potential of Dumpster Rentals in Austin, TX Introduction In the bustling city of Austin, Texas, managing waste efficiently has become paramount. As responsible citizens, we understand the importance of proper waste disposal and recycling to maintain the beauty of our city and protect the environment. Dumpster rentals have emerged as a practical solution, and in this article, we will explore the myriad benefits of dumpster rentals in Austin, TX. Waste Management Challenges In Austin, the increasing population and urban development have led to greater waste generation. As residents, we have witnessed the challenges posed by inadequate waste management. Our city has been grappling with overflowing trash cans, illegal dumping, and environmental concerns. The need for an efficient waste disposal solution is evident. Dumpster Rentals in Austin, TX - A Solution Enter dumpster rentals in Austin, TX. These services provide a comprehensive solution to our waste management challenges. Whether you're renovating your home, decluttering, or managing a construction project, renting a dumpster can simplify the process. Convenient and Versatile Dumpster rentals in Austin, TX offer unparalleled convenience. As homeowners, business owners, and contractors, we benefit from having a dumpster delivered right to our location. With various sizes available, we can choose the one that suits our specific needs. It eliminates the hassle of multiple trips to the landfill and reduces the risk of illegal dumping, contributing to a cleaner Austin. Cost-Effective Waste Management Cost-effectiveness is a significant advantage of dumpster rentals in Austin, TX. Instead of purchasing expensive waste disposal equipment, we can rent a dumpster for the duration of our project. This cost-saving approach allows us to allocate resources more efficiently and invest in other aspects of our endeavors. Environmental Responsibility As environmentally conscious residents of Austin, TX, we are committed to sustainable practices. Dumpster rentals promote responsible waste management by ensuring that waste is collected, transported, and disposed of properly. Many providers prioritize recycling, further reducing the environmental impact. Legal Compliance Illegal dumping can result in fines and harm Austin's natural beauty. Dumpster rentals in Austin, TX encourage compliance with local waste disposal regulations. Renting a dumpster ensures that waste is disposed of in accordance with the law, preventing legal complications. Community Benefits The benefits of dumpster rentals extend beyond individual convenience. As a community, we can enjoy a cleaner and more sustainable Austin. Dumpster rental companies often collaborate with local charities, diverting reusable items to those in need. This strengthens our sense of community and solidarity. Conclusion In Austin, TX, dumpster rentals are not just a practical waste management solution but also a testament to our commitment to the city's cleanliness and sustainability. By embracing dumpster rentals, we can tackle waste management challenges, promote responsible practices, and contribute to the vibrant and eco-friendly community we all cherish. Let us come together to unlock the full potential of dumpster rentals in Austin, TX, and build a cleaner, greener future for our city.

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