Solar
19 guides
Solar
Is Balcony Solar Worth It Now That California Allows It?
California's new Plug and Play Solar Act lets you plug a small solar kit into a wall outlet starting Jan. 1, 2027. Here's what a kit costs, what it can power, how it compares with rooftop solar, and why the smart move right now is to plan, not buy.
Oct 3, 2026
Solar
The Solar Company Still Offering You "30% Off" Is Claiming a Credit You Cannot
The homeowner solar tax credit ended January 1, 2026, but the 30% pitch never stopped. Here is who actually claims that money now, why the lease version is still legal, and the questions to ask before signing a 25-year agreement.
Aug 31, 2026
Solar
Home Batteries Just Set a Record With No Federal Tax Credit at All, and the Reason Is Your Utility Bill
U.S. homeowners installed a record 673 MW of battery storage in the first quarter of 2026, the first full quarter after the 30% federal credit expired. Part of that record was a backlog rushing to beat the deadline, and analysts expect a dip this year. But the demand that remains is being driven by rising electricity bills and utility rate design, not by Washington. Here is what a battery actually costs now, how to build a payback number without the credit, and when it still does not pencil.
Aug 19, 2026
Solar
The 30% Solar Tax Credit Is Gone for 2026 Buyers: Why a Cash or Loan Install Now Costs Thousands More
The federal solar tax credit ended for owned systems on December 31, 2025. If you buy solar with cash or a loan in 2026, you get $0 back from Washington, which adds roughly $7,500 to $9,000 to a typical install. Here is what changed and the one workaround still left.
Jul 17, 2026
Solar
Free Roof in Exchange for Solar Panels? A $275 Million Fraud Case and 7,000 FTC Complaints Say Read the Contract First
A salesperson offers you a free roof and free solar paid for by a government program. New York's $275 million fraud case against installer Attyx shows why that pitch should make you close the door. Here is how solar financing really works, the red flags to watch, and what to do if your installer goes under.
Jun 30, 2026
Solar
The Residential Solar 30% Tax Credit Officially Died December 31, 2025: Why June 2026 Quotes Are Suddenly $9,000 Higher and Installers Are Cutting Crews
The federal 30% solar tax credit ended for cash buyers on December 31, 2025. Here's why a typical 8 kW system that cost about $17,000 net in 2025 now runs $24,000 to $32,000, why installers are laying off crews, and how lease and PPA buyers still capture 30% in June 2026.
Jun 12, 2026
Solar
IREC's 2026 Freeing the Grid Report: Why F-Rated States Can Leave $20,000 Solar Systems Sitting Dark for Months
IREC just released its first state-by-state interconnection scorecard since 2023. Only New Mexico got an A, 13 states got an F, and the grade quietly decides how long your new solar system sits dark before it earns a dime.
May 24, 2026
Solar
Solar Fences Just Arrived in US Cities in 2026: How $6,000 to $15,000 Vertical Panels Solve the No-Roof Problem
Vertical bifacial solar fences moved from European pilots into US neighborhoods in May 2026 with Sunzaun's San Rafael install. Here is what residential runs really cost, how they perform, and the permitting and inverter red flags to screen for.
May 22, 2026
Solar
Florida Just Leased Every State Stormwater Pond to a Floating Solar Developer: What It Means for Homeowner Solar Quotes in 2026
On May 19, 2026, D3Energy announced an exclusive statewide lease to build floating solar on Florida DOT stormwater ponds. Here is what it actually changes for a homeowner sitting on a rooftop solar quote, and what is just noise.
May 21, 2026
Solar
Home Backup Batteries Just Had Their Biggest Quarter Ever in 2026: What 9.7 GWh of New Storage Means for Your $8,000 to $18,000 Backup System
The U.S. installed a record 9.7 GWh of energy storage in Q1 2026, but most of it was utility-scale. Here is what is actually changing for homeowners shopping a backup battery this spring, from new meter-collar hardware to the expired 30% federal tax credit.
May 21, 2026
Solar
Solar Sales Reps Are Getting 'Certified' in 2026: How to Read the Pitch Before You Sign a $20,000 Contract
Starting in 2026, solar sales reps can carry a SEIA 'Certified' badge tied to an ANSI-approved consumer protection standard. Here is what that credential actually promises, what it does not, and the get-it-in-writing checklist for any solar contract worth $20,000 or more.
May 19, 2026
Solar
NextEra and Dominion Are Merging Into the Country's Largest Electric Utility: What 10 Million Southeast Homeowners Should Expect on Rates and Solar Payback in 2026
NextEra Energy is buying Dominion Energy in a roughly $67 billion all-stock deal that would create the largest regulated electric utility in the United States. Here is the plain-English read on what it means for your monthly bill in Florida, Virginia, and the Carolinas, plus why the expired federal tax credit matters more for 2026 solar payback than the merger does.
May 18, 2026
Solar
A New 2026 Solar Tariff Case Could Push Panel Prices Up Again: What the Ethiopia Trade Filing Means for Your $18,000 to $26,000 Rooftop Quote
U.S. solar makers filed a trade case over panels from Ethiopia on May 12, 2026. It is not a tariff yet. Here is what it means for your rooftop quote, the realistic timeline, and the low-cost way to protect your price.
May 17, 2026
Solar
A New Solar Panel Tariff Case Landed in May 2026: Why the Ethiopia Investigation and US Factory Push Could Add $1,500 to $4,000 to Your Rooftop Quote
A May 2026 trade petition over solar imports routed through Ethiopia, plus a fast US factory build-out, is putting upward pressure on panel prices. Panels are only about 12 percent of an installed quote, so the swing is real but bounded. Here is the honest math and how to negotiate while the case is open.
May 17, 2026
Solar
Coal Pollution Is Quietly Cutting Rooftop Solar Output: What Oxford's 2026 Study Means for Your $20,000 Investment
A May 2026 Oxford and UCL study found aerosol pollution cut global solar output by 5.8 percent in 2023, with coal a major culprit. Here is what that means for US homeowners weighing or maintaining a $20,000 panel investment.
May 15, 2026
Solar
Solar Tax Credit Confusion in 2026: Why Homeowners Think the 30% Credit Expired and What Actually Changed for $20,000 Rooftop Quotes
The 30% residential solar tax credit really did end on December 31, 2025. But a separate commercial credit survived, and it still lets homeowners capture close to that same value, if you know which pathway to ask for. Here is what actually changed for a typical $20,000 rooftop quote.
May 14, 2026
Solar
AI Data Centers Are Reshaping 2026 Electric Bills: What Solar Payback Actually Looks Like Near Tech Hubs
Approved 2026 residential rate hikes near major data-center clusters are running roughly 4% to 14%, not the 8% to 22% you may have seen. Here is the honest math on what that means for solar payback now that the 30% federal credit has expired for owned systems.
May 13, 2026
Solar
Hawaii's 35% Solar Tax Credit Faces Repeal: What Homeowners With $30,000 Quotes Need To Know This Week
Hawaii lawmakers passed SB 3125 on May 8, 2026, capping and eventually ending the 35% state solar tax credit that pays homeowners up to $5,000 per system. Here's what changes, when, and what to do if you're holding a quote.
May 13, 2026
Solar
Colorado Just Legalized Plug-In Balcony Solar in May 2026: Why $400 to $1,500 DIY Kits Are Cracking the Rooftop Install Monopoly
Governor Polis signed HB26-1007 on May 7, 2026, making Colorado the third state to legalize plug-in solar kits and forcing utilities to accept meter collar adapters. Here is what homeowners and renters need to know about kit prices, payback math, and the gaps that remain.
May 13, 2026