Costs & Savings 5 min read
Is Solar Still Worth It in 2026 Without the Federal Tax Credit?
The 30% federal credit ended in 2025. Here's the honest math on whether home solar still pays off in 2026 — and the three factors that now decide it.
All Articles
Everything you need to know before going solar, in one place.
State Guides 3 min read
Solar Panel Costs and Savings in Arizona (2026 Guide)
Arizona solar in 2026: 6.5 peak sun hours, a 25% state tax credit up to $1,000, and export rates near 3¢/kWh with APS and SRP.
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Comparisons 2 min read
Community Solar vs Rooftop Solar: What's the Difference?
How community solar subscriptions work compared to installing your own rooftop system, and which one fits renters, shaded homes, or homeowners who want a simpler option.
Incentives & Tax Credits 4 min read
The Federal Solar Tax Credit Ended in 2025 — What It Means in 2026
The 30% residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025. What happened, who can still benefit, and what incentives remain in 2026.
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How Solar Works 3 min read
Solar Battery Storage: Do You Actually Need One?
What a home solar battery does, what it costs to add, and the situations where it genuinely pays off versus where it mostly adds cost.
State Guides 3 min read
Solar Panel Costs and Savings in Colorado (2026 Guide)
Colorado solar in 2026: full retail net metering, systems sized up to 200% of usage with Xcel, tax exemptions, and a mature community solar market.
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State Guides 3 min read
Solar Panel Costs and Savings in Florida (2026 Guide)
Florida solar in 2026: full retail net metering at FPL, Duke and TECO, sales and property tax exemptions, and hurricane resilience considerations.
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State Guides 3 min read
Solar Panel Costs and Savings in California (2026 Guide)
California solar in 2026: 35¢/kWh electricity, NEM 3.0 export rates near 5¢/kWh, SGIP battery rebates, and why storage changes the math.
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How Solar Works 3 min read
Grid-Tied vs Off-Grid Solar Systems: What's the Difference?
How grid-tied and off-grid solar systems differ in design, cost, and practicality — and why almost all home solar installations are grid-tied.
State Guides 3 min read
Solar Panel Costs and Savings in Georgia (2026 Guide)
Georgia solar in 2026: Georgia Power's instantaneous netting pays about 7¢/kWh for exports, the monthly netting program is full, and self-consumption rules.
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Choosing an Installer 3 min read
DIY Solar vs Professional Installation: Is It Worth the Risk?
What DIY solar kits actually involve, where they can make sense, and the real risks — permitting, safety, warranty, and insurance — most DIYers underestimate.
Maintenance & Lifespan 3 min read
How Long Do Solar Panels Actually Last?
Real expected lifespan of residential solar panels, how output degrades over time, and what "end of life" actually looks like for a solar system.
How Solar Works 3 min read
How Do Solar Panels Work? A Simple Explanation
A clear, non-technical explanation of how solar panels convert sunlight into electricity you can use in your home.
Costs & Savings 3 min read
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in 2026?
A realistic breakdown of solar panel costs: average price per watt, typical system costs by size, and what actually drives the price up or down.
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Installation & Sizing 3 min read
How Many Solar Panels Do I Need for My House?
A step-by-step way to estimate the number of solar panels your home needs, based on your actual electricity usage and your state's sun hours.
Installation & Sizing 3 min read
Is My Roof Right for Solar Panels?
The roof factors that determine whether solar makes sense for your home: orientation, shading, age, material, and structural considerations.
Choosing an Installer 3 min read
How to Choose a Solar Installer: A Practical Checklist
What to actually check before hiring a solar installer, beyond just comparing prices — licensing, experience, reviews, and warranty backing.
Costs & Savings 3 min read
Is Solar Worth It? How to Calculate Your Real ROI
A step-by-step way to figure out whether solar panels make financial sense for your home, beyond generic national claims.
State Guides 3 min read
Solar Panel Costs and Savings in Illinois (2026 Guide)
Illinois solar in 2026: net metering became supply-only for new customers in 2025, Illinois Shines pays SREC value upfront, and 20.5¢/kWh electricity.
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State Guides 3 min read
Solar Panel Costs and Savings in Maryland (2026 Guide)
Maryland solar in 2026: a $1,000 state rebate, SRECs at $50–$90, and a critical deadline — 1:1 net metering sunsets July 1, 2027.
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State Guides 3 min read
Solar Panel Costs and Savings in Massachusetts (2026 Guide)
Massachusetts solar in 2026: 29.5¢/kWh electricity, SMART 3.0 production payments, a 15% state tax credit, and full retail net metering.
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Incentives & Tax Credits 3 min read
Net Metering Explained: How It Affects Your Solar Savings
What net metering is, why it matters more than almost any other factor in your solar payback, and how policies differ between states.
State Guides 3 min read
Solar Panel Costs and Savings in New Jersey (2026 Guide)
New Jersey solar in 2026: SuSI pays $76.50 per SREC-II for 15 years, full 1:1 net metering, 23.5¢/kWh electricity, and sales and property tax exemptions.
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State Guides 3 min read
Solar Panel Costs and Savings in Nevada (2026 Guide)
Nevada solar in 2026: 6.4 peak sun hours, NV Energy net billing at about 75% of the retail rate locked for 20 years, and no state tax credit.
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State Guides 3 min read
Solar Panel Costs and Savings in North Carolina (2026 Guide)
North Carolina solar in 2026: Duke Energy's Bridge Rate closes December 31, the PowerPair battery rebate up to $9,000, and what the numbers look like.
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State Guides 2 min read
Solar Panel Costs and Savings in Ohio (2026 Guide)
Ohio solar in 2026: net metering credits only the generation portion of your bill, SRECs are worth almost nothing, and the quote price decides everything.
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State Guides 3 min read
Solar Panel Costs and Savings in New York (2026 Guide)
New York solar in 2026: a 25% state tax credit up to $5,000, NY-Sun rebates of 20–40¢ per watt, 29¢/kWh electricity, and how the CBC charge works.
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State Guides 2 min read
Solar Panel Costs and Savings in Pennsylvania (2026 Guide)
Pennsylvania solar in 2026: full retail net metering by law, SRECs trading around $22–$40, 21.5¢/kWh electricity, and no state tax credit.
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Choosing an Installer 3 min read
Questions to Ask Before Signing a Solar Contract
A practical checklist of questions to ask any solar installer before signing, covering pricing, equipment, warranties, and timelines.
Costs & Savings 3 min read
Solar Panel Cost by System Size: 4kW to 12kW Compared
Reference cost estimates for common residential solar system sizes, and how to figure out which size actually fits your home.
Costs & Savings 3 min read
Solar Financing Options: Cash, Loan, Lease, or PPA
Cash, loan, lease, or PPA in 2026 — how the end of the federal tax credit changed the comparison, and who each option actually fits now.
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Installation & Sizing 3 min read
The Solar Panel Installation Process, Step by Step
What actually happens between signing a solar contract and flipping the system on, from design to permitting to inspection.
Comparisons 3 min read
Solar Lease vs Loan vs Cash Purchase: Which Is Right for You?
A side-by-side comparison of the three main ways to pay for solar — cash, loan, and lease/PPA — and how each affects your savings and ownership.
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Comparisons 2 min read
Solar Only vs Solar Plus Battery Storage: Which Do You Need?
How to decide whether to add battery storage to your solar system, based on your goals around backup power, net metering rules, and budget.
Maintenance & Lifespan 3 min read
Solar Panel Maintenance and Cleaning: What Actually Matters
How much maintenance solar panels really need, when cleaning actually pays off, and what to monitor to catch problems early.
Costs & Savings 3 min read
What Really Affects Your Solar Panel Price
The specific factors that push your solar quote up or down: roof type, equipment tier, shading, permitting, and more.
Maintenance & Lifespan 2 min read
Solar Panels in Winter and Snow: What to Know
How solar panels actually perform in cold weather and snow, whether you need to clear snow off panels, and what to expect in northern states.
Maintenance & Lifespan 3 min read
Solar Panel Warranties Explained: What's Actually Covered
The different types of solar warranties — performance, product, and workmanship — and the questions to ask before you sign a contract.
Comparisons 3 min read
Solar Panels vs Solar Shingles: Which Makes More Sense?
How traditional solar panels compare to solar shingles (building-integrated photovoltaics) on cost, efficiency, appearance, and practicality.
Installation & Sizing 2 min read
Solar Permitting and Inspection: What to Expect
How solar permitting and inspection typically works, why it varies so much by city, and what inspectors are actually checking for.
Incentives & Tax Credits 3 min read
Solar Rebates and Grants: Where to Find Them
How to find legitimate solar rebates and grant programs at the utility, state, and local level, and how to tell a real program from a sales gimmick.
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Incentives & Tax Credits 3 min read
State Solar Incentives: A Complete Overview
With the federal solar tax credit gone since 2026, state incentives are what's left. The main types, which states have the strongest programs, and how to check yours.
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Incentives & Tax Credits 3 min read
What Are SRECs and How Do They Work?
Solar Renewable Energy Certificates explained: how they generate ongoing income from your solar system in states with SREC markets.
Choosing an Installer 3 min read
Common Solar Sales Scams and Red Flags to Avoid
The most common high-pressure tactics and misleading claims used in solar sales, and how to protect yourself as you shop.
How Solar Works 3 min read
String Inverters vs Microinverters: Which Is Better?
The difference between string inverters and microinverters, how each handles shading, and which one typically fits your roof.
State Guides 3 min read
Solar Panel Costs and Savings in Texas (2026 Guide)
Texas solar in 2026: no statewide net metering, buyback plans from 3¢ to retail-match, a 100% property tax exemption, and local utility rebates.
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How Solar Works 2 min read
Types of Solar Panels: Monocrystalline vs Polycrystalline vs Thin-Film
The three main solar panel technologies compared: efficiency, cost, appearance, and which type is typically used for home installations.