When it comes to commercial solar, timing is everything, especially in 2025. Changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill set a deadline to qualify for the 30-50% solar tax credit, and FEOC regulations are quickly approaching.
How do you maximize your incentives if you’re interested in solar but not ready to build this year? The answer is a process called safe harbor.
Safe harbor is simple. With a contract in place and a 5% deposit, your project is protected from changes as long as you build within 4 years.
Artisun Solar has worked exclusively in commercial solar since 2011, and we’ve led many companies through the safe harbor process to navigate both upcoming changes and uncertainty.
One of those companies? Raptor Recycle & Transfer based in Grandview, Missouri.
Raptor’s Solar Strategy in an Uncertain Landscape
Raptor designed and built their facility with solar in mind and began to explore solar options in 2024. They were in the beginning stages of learning about the available federal tax credits and depreciation when the political environment began to shift.
- Domestic content regulation changes: Newly announced regulations were going to require a higher percentage of American-sourced material for solar projects which could lead to increased costs and longer construction timelines.
- New presidential administration: With the change came increased uncertainty about the future of federal solar incentives.
Solar was undeniable. It was expected to save Raptor $19,000 annually in electricity costs with a payback period of 3 years for a 30-year asset.
But with regulatory changes looming and political uncertainty growing, Raptor knew they couldn’t complete construction in time. They needed a strategy to protect their financial incentives when they were ready to build.
Safe Harbor: Locking in Incentives and Avoiding Red Tape
With Artisun Solar’s expert guidance, Raptor decided to safe harbor their project to:
- Secure the current federal solar tax credits for their 150 kW system
- Avoid domestic content regulations expected in 2025 to keep material costs low
- Maintain flexibility to build on their own timeline without rushing permits or construction
This put control back in their hands.
With safe harbor in place, Raptor felt secure to build when they were ready. While they had four years to build, they were able to complete construction in mid-2025 when it was right for them, avoiding additional red tape or compliance headaches.
By August 2025, just 10 months after initially exploring solar with Artisun Solar, their system was producing energy and saving Raptor in utility costs. Read more about Raptor’s solar project here.
Here’s a look at their project timeline. Because they had safe harbor in place, new domestic content regulations didn’t impact their project. Without safe harbor in place, new domestic content regulations would have applied to Raptor’s project and impacted both pricing and construction timeline.
Why Safe Harbor Matters for Businesses
Raptor’s story highlights a key lesson for businesses considering commercial solar: safe harbor protects your investment against regulatory uncertainty.
Whether it’s new material sourcing rules, shifting tax incentives, increased uncertainty, or upcoming federal policies, safe harbor gives companies the confidence to plan and build their solar projects without sacrificing financial benefits.
Takeaway: If your business is planning solar but isn’t ready to build, or wants to protect against rising costs and new regulations, safe harbor can be a powerful tool to secure incentives and maintain flexibility.
Start your solar evaluation today and discover how safe harbor can secure incentives and give your business flexibility.
