Walker Blue was engaged to conduct a comprehensive Investment Tax Credit (ITC) eligibility assessment for a solar project at a high school in Kentucky.
The public high school serves approximately 500 students in grades nine through twelve and functions as a central academic and community hub for the district. The facility operates year-round to support instruction, staff development, and community activities, resulting in consistent electrical demand.
In response to rising energy costs and a desire to expand STEM and renewable energy learning opportunities, the County Board of Education installed a ground-mounted solar array behind the high school and adjacent technology center. The site benefits from strong solar exposure and is expected to generate ongoing energy cost savings for the district.
The objective of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) eligibility assessment was to verify the project’s qualification for the federal ITC under Section 48 of the Internal Revenue Code and to evaluate eligibility for applicable bonus credit categories, including:
- Prevailing Wage and Apprenticeship (PWA)
- Domestic Content
- Energy Community
The assessment was performed in accordance with current Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) guidance.
Overview:
- Type of Project: 40 kW AC ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) system
- Construction Start 9/20/2024
- Place in Service: 4/21/2025
Scope of Review
Walker Blue reviewed and analyzed project documentation provided by the County’s Board of Education and its contractors, including:
- Construction and procurement contracts
- Pay applications and invoices
- Vendor and equipment quotes
- Design drawings and technical submittals
- Project cost allocations and schedules
This documentation was evaluated to confirm ITC eligibility, establish the eligible cost basis, and assess compliance with relevant statutory and regulatory requirements.
Overview of Cost Basis
Eligible Cost Basis
- Total Project Cost: $347,236
- ITC-Eligible Basis: $316,117
| Work Activity | ITC Eligibility | Total Cost ($) | ITC-Eligible Cost ($) |
| Solar Design & Construction Administration | Full | $ 11,585.00 | $ 11,585.00 |
| Solar Materials | Full | $ 34,444.00 | $ 34,444.00 |
| Solar Materials | Full | $ 944.00 | $ 944.00 |
| Construction Labor | Partial | $ 205,758.00 | $ 188,758.00 |
| Construction Material | Partial | $ 94,505.00 | $ 80,385.70 |
| Total | $ 347,236.00 | $ 316,116.70 |
Base ITC
The project qualified for the 30 percent base ITC.
Prevailing Wage & Apprenticeship (PWA)
Because the system capacity is below one megawatt (1 MW AC), the project automatically satisfied PWA requirements. No additional prevailing wage or apprenticeship documentation was required.
Energy Community Bonus
The project site is located within a qualifying census tract that meets the Energy Community criteria. As a result, the project qualified for the 10 percentage-point Energy Community bonus, increasing the total eligible ITC rate to 40 percent.
The project did not qualify for the domestic content bonus or the low-income communities bonus.
Tax Credit Outcome
Applicable ITC Rate: 40 percent (30 percent base + 10 percent Energy Community bonus)
Eligible Cost Basis: $316,117
Total ITC Value: $126,447
Through a detailed ITC eligibility and bonus credit assessment, Walker Blue confirmed that the high school solar project qualifies for a 40 percent federal Investment Tax Credit, resulting in a total tax credit value of $126,447. The engagement ensured accurate cost basis determination, validated compliance with current IRS and DOE guidance, and positioned the project to fully capture available federal incentives.
