Auto dealerships have some the highest energy demands of any retail business. Between bright showrooms, lot lighting, charging EVs, and keeping service bays humming, utility costs can greatly impact your margins.
But right now, an opportunity exists to turn that burden into a financial win. Federal tax credits, combined with bonus depreciation and powerful state-level programs, can cover 100% or more of your solar project costs.
These incentives won't last forever, and federal tax credits will soon be phased out. Act now by filling out the form to ensure your dealership locks in the highest savings before it's too late.
Ready to discuss solar? Fill out this form:
SitelogIQ helps rapidly plan, roll out, and measure the impact of solar projects. In addition to being a consultant and a contractor, we’re also your one-stop strategic partner for all project steps, swiftly creating and executing programmatic solar PV solutions.
learn more about Sitelogiq“Beginning with the audit process and continuing through product selection, installation and project management, SitelogIQ has exceeded our expectations and helped to create a first-class customer experience in our dealerships.
SitelogIQ’s knowledge of the automotive retail sector and commitment to quality is why they continue to be a valued partner.”
– Gregg Wintner, Director of Procurement for Group 1 Automotive
At the federal level, every dealership starts with the same foundation of solar incentives. The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) alone covers 30-50% of a project’s cost, and when you add in 100% bonus depreciation through the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) in the first year, that number grows to a combined benefit of roughly 51-71%. But the catch is timing: The ITC won’t stay this valuable forever. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is set to change the credit structure, and when that happens, the savings will quickly disappear.
While the federal baseline is powerful on its own, dealerships in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and New Jersey gain even more by stacking state-level programs on top, often pushing the total benefit beyond the full cost of installation.
Note that some OEMs offer additional brand-dependent bonus incentives for solar projects at dealerships.
California dealerships not only receive state-level credits and depreciation benefits worth another 12–19%, they also enjoy some of the highest solar production in the country. That means every panel produces more, driving deeper bill reductions. Add in the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP), which pays up to $900 per kWh for battery storage, and California projects typically see 63–90% coverage—with the long-term savings far exceeding most states.
Illinois offers a slightly different mix of incentives, but still delivers strong returns. Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) in the state cover 15–20% of costs over 15 years, and the Smart Inverter incentive adds another 9–14.5%. Add in state depreciation plus the federal baseline, and projects in Illinois typically land between 84% and 115% coverage. Even though solar production is more moderate than coastal states, the incentives keep the math firmly in the dealership’s favor.
Massachusetts has one of the richest solar markets in the U.S. Dealerships can benefit from SRECs worth 40–80% of system costs over 10 years, plus another 8% in state depreciation. When combined with federal incentives, many projects don’t just pay for themselves, but they return more than they cost, with total coverage reaching 99–159%. And because Massachusetts offers strong energy pricing, the monthly bill savings stack on top of those credits, making the economics even more compelling.
New Jersey’s solar program is generous, with SRECs paying out 40–80% over a 15-year period. Pair that with state depreciation and the federal baseline, and dealerships often see full cost recovery plus additional upside—up to 160% of the project cost. With steady energy demand and high visibility, auto dealers in NJ often turn solar into a brand-forward investment that pays back for decades.
SitelogIQ is your contractor, consultant, and strategic partner for multi-measure energy efficiency, electrification, and renewable solutions. We provide a better way to plan, install, and report on the success of property or facility upgrade projects.
We manage every aspect of your solar project, including design, installation, and rebate management.
Gone are the days of managing multiple vendors at every dealership location. From planning to installation, we take a centralized approach to solar PV projects, so you can easily scale across your dealerships or auto group.
Our approach makes it simple for you to oversee, manage, and report on your solar projects.
Using our proprietary mySiteIQ technology platform, we use real-time data to identify and prioritize which dealerships are best suited for solar based on geography, asset age, incentives, mandates, and more.
There is free money on the table to reduce or cover solar project costs.
Maximizing rebates and incentives is one of the most powerful ways to reduce or completely cover the costs of solar, but navigating these programs can be complex. SitelogIQ has a dedicated team to pinpoint, apply for, and manage the incentive process on your behalf.
Large rooftops and parking lots are ideal for panels and carports, turning unused space into savings.
Showrooms, lot lights, service bays, and EV chargers all demand steady electricity—solar cuts that bill every month.
Incentive programs like SRECs pay dealerships for every megawatt-hour of clean power produced, stacking new income on top of your utility savings.
Panels on your roof or canopy make a visible statement about sustainability, which matters to today’s car buyers.
We've worked with 100+ auto groups on energy efficiency, electrification, and renewable solutions. Here's a handful of the auto groups who trust SitelogIQ as their nationwide partner,
With thousands of energy efficiency projects and renewable projects our belts, we've helped our customers save more than $366M in electricity costs.
We have extensive experience working with the nation’s largest auto groups, commercial real estate portfolios, fleet operators, healthcare systems, and Fortune 1000 companies.
EXPLORE OUR CUSTOMER SUCCESSES
Solar incentives are already changing under the OBBBA. Let us help you capture the maximum savings for your dealership.
SitelogIQ is a national energy efficiency and facility improvement solutions provider, offering the full range of design, engineering, construction management, energy, and lighting solutions. We improve the lives of people in our diverse communities by making buildings more energy efficient, sustainable, healthy, functional, and safe, with a lower carbon footprint. To learn about SitelogIQ, visit sitelogiq.com or be social with us on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, or YouTube.