By CitiGreen Inc. | May 2025 

At CitiGreen, we’ve been guiding California businesses through solar transitions for over 20 years. We’ve helped our clients navigate the ups and downs of PG&E pricing, incentive program shifts, and changing federal policy. We’ve seen tax codes evolve and energy legislation come and go, but in all that time, we’ve rarely seen a moment with this much clarity. 

If your business is considering solar, 2025 is the time to act. 

We’re now in the countdown period for one of the most valuable financial features in commercial solar: the ability to transfer your federal tax credits to a third party. This feature, introduced through the Inflation Reduction Act in 2024, is scheduled to expire after 2027. For many clients, it is the difference between waiting and building. 

What Is Transferability, and Why Does It Matter? 

Under the current rules, businesses that invest in solar receive a 30 percent federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC). Normally, these credits can only be used to offset your own federal tax liability. If your company doesn’t have a large tax appetite, that benefit can take years to fully realize. 

Thanks to the IRA’s transferability provision, commercial clients can now sell their unused credits to a qualified buyer, often at a slight discount, and receive that value in the first year. At CitiGreen, we help our clients do exactly that. In practical terms, it means you don’t have to wait five years to see your tax savings. You can use them to lower your project cost up front. 

If that option disappears after 2027, the financial flexibility solar offers will be significantly reduced. 

The Real-World Impact 

We recently completed a rollout for a major Northern California Auto Group, covering 10 dealerships and their main office. Many of those projects used credit transferability to structure zero-down financing, close within tight timelines, and secure fast paybacks, most within 2-3 years. 

For companies like Hanlees, the ability to monetize credits immediately made it possible to go solar across multiple sites without overextending their capital budget. Because CitiGreen handled the system design, financing guidance, and permitting in-house, we delivered on time without the delays that typically come with outside consultants or unfamiliar financiers. 

What Business Owners Should Know 

There is still time to take advantage of these benefits, but planning matters. Credit transfer requires coordination between system design, financial modeling, and your tax team. We work directly with your accountant to assess eligibility and ensure you receive the full value of the IRA incentives. 

Even if your project won’t break ground until 2026, starting in 2025 gives you more flexibility to phase the work, secure equipment pricing, and reserve your place on our construction calendar. As the 2027 expiration date approaches, demand will rise and available labor will tighten.  

Looking Beyond the Numbers 

While the tax credit is often the trigger for going solar, it is not the only benefit. Every system CitiGreen installs is designed with long-term performance in mind: lower utility bills, more stable cash flow, and increased facility value. Many of our clients also care about their public image; a visible solar system on the roof or in the parking lot is a clear signal of environmental leadership and financial discipline. 

In industries like manufacturing, automotive, agriculture, and logistics, these decisions matter. Employees take pride in working for companies that invest in sustainability. Customers notice. And in an era where operating costs are scrutinized more than ever, solar often just makes financial sense. 

Why CitiGreen 

CitiGreen specializes exclusively in commercial solar for California businesses. We do not install residential systems. We offer full project delivery including permitting, interconnection, engineering, monitoring, and long-term maintenance so you are not left managing a fragmented team. 

We have been around long enough to see what works. We have also seen what causes delays, what inflates budgets, and what fails under pressure. Our role is to help you avoid those pitfalls and design a system that delivers results from day one. 

Don’t Miss This Window 

Transferability is one of the most flexible tools the solar industry has ever had. If your business is considering solar, now is the time to explore what is possible. Once this provision ends, the financial equation changes, and with it, the accessibility of clean energy for a wide range of businesses. 

Let’s talk about what solar could look like for your operation before the rules change. 

CitiGreen Inc.