“Perfect timing”—climate influencer beats solar tax credit deadline

When Lauren Bash opened her front door to find two gas leaks that would cost $15,000 to repair, she saw it as a sign. The Los Angeles-based climate activist and influencer said she had been considering solar for months, but suddenly the decision felt urgent—not just because of the broken pipes, but because of something much bigger looming on the horizon.

The federal solar tax credit, which allows homeowners to claim 30% of their solar installation costs as a credit on their tax bill, expires after December 31, 2025. As a longtime advocate for renewable energy, Bash said she was naturally drawn to going solar, but the tax credit was “a huge lure” for her to get the process started sooner rather than later. 

"I live in Los Angeles, where we're really lucky to have sunny days the majority of the year," Bash said. "It felt like an obvious choice that we should harness the power of the sun to power our home and essentially be like a generator for our community."

For Bash, the road to solar began with a bit of a disaster. When construction work on her century-old home caused underground shifting, the gas company discovered two dangerous leaks during what should have been a routine reconnection.

"The gas company was like, 'No, you have two really bad leaks,' and it was going to cost $12,000 to $15,000 just to repair the gas pipes," she said. "I'm really fortunate to have a lot of friends in the community who work in decarbonization, and they were like, 'Gas appliances will be obsolete in LA eventually, this is just the encouragement and the time you needed to electrify.'"

Instead of fixing the gas lines, Bash decided to go fully electric. She started with appliances—an induction stovetop, heat pump water heater, and electric dryer—before turning her attention to solar panels to power it all.

But like many first-time solar shoppers, she quickly felt overwhelmed by aggressive sales tactics and confusing technical jargon.

"I made the mistake of filling out a questionnaire online somewhere that said, 'I live in Los Angeles, I want solar,'" Bash said. "Every five minutes, it was an installer calling me saying, 'We saw that you're interested.' I was like, 'What a mistake putting my phone number on this questionnaire.'"

That's when a friend recommended Lauren use EnergySage. She said the difference was immediate.

"It was so nice because it's essentially like a shield between all the installers—they have to go through EnergySage to access you," she explained. "Sam was my Energy Advisor at EnergySage, and he was awesome. He walked me through everything and looked at my roof and my tree coverage, and my electricity bill."

Through the marketplace, Bash received seven quotes from local installers, with prices varying by as much as $15,000. With Sam's guidance, she narrowed it down to three detailed proposals before making her final choice.

"Sam recommended looking at how long they've been in business," Bash said. "It was very easy a couple of years ago to start a solar business because it was so hot, but the potential risk is that they might not be in business to help you maintain or repair your panels."

She ultimately chose an installer who had been in business for over 40 years—well before solar became mainstream.

While the gas leak emergency prompted Bash's decision, her installation timeline couldn't have been better positioned for the changing federal landscape. The 30% federal solar tax credit, which can save homeowners around $9,000 on an average system, is set to expire after December 31, 2025 due to President Trump’s megabill eliminating it almost a decade ahead of schedule.

"The 30% tax [credit] for getting solar was a huge lure for us," Bash said.

The average solar panel system costs around $28,000, but the tax credit drops that to approximately $19,400, meaning homeowners who miss the deadline could face significantly longer payback periods. In states without local solar incentives, missing the tax credit could push payback periods from 8-10 years to 15-21 years total.

The installation process moved quickly for Bash, about 60 days from contract signing to installation. But she said her timeline included 30-45 days of research beforehand, making the total process three to four months.

"It's definitely not a 'wait till the last minute on December 31st, find your installer' situation," she warned. "I feel even a four or five-month leeway is probably best."

That translates to starting research and getting quotes right now.

On installation day, Bash's excitement was palpable. "This might not be the most glamorous home project, but it's definitely the one I'm most excited about," she shared in a video documenting the process.

The installation team completed the work in less than a day, and remarkably, her system kicked on immediately.

"The install was so fast. The guys got it done in less than a day. And on the same day that it was installed, we were generating, which was really cool," she said.

However, like many solar customers, Bash discovered that utility companies don't always make the final steps easy. "We're still in the process of getting the solar meter set up with the utility company," she explained, noting the delays from Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in getting her system fully connected to the grid for net metering.

Her system now generates significantly more power than her household needs, especially during Los Angeles's abundant sunny months. She said she’s excited to feed excess clean energy back into the grid for her neighbors to use.

Despite current federal policy uncertainties, Bash said she remains optimistic about the long-term benefits of her solar investment. She pointed to her mother, who installed solar panels in LA about 15 years ago, before any incentives existed.

"My mom has obviously paid off her panels because she's had them for so long, and she doesn't have an electricity bill," Bash said. "Her bill used to be $3,000 a year, and now it's $30 a month for whatever fee you have to pay the utility company."

For Bash, going solar represents something deeper than financial savings—it's about health, values, and community impact.

"We're even making a cute little sign for our fence that says 'this house is fossil fuel free' because we're truly off of gas," she said. "We're not contributing to any of the toxins in the atmosphere that impact our community or our neighborhood."

For homeowners considering solar, time is running short to claim the full 30% federal tax credit. "You can still get solar and qualify for the [tax credits] if your system is fully installed before December 31st,” said Bash. “Don't hesitate, and use EnergySage to find your solar installers and start generating your own energy independence right on your own roof."