Solar Energy Blog
Expert guides, reviews, and tips to help you make informed solar energy decisions.
Why Solar Payback Is Getting Better: Electricity Rates Up 6.2% YoY
EIA's May 2026 data shows US residential electricity at 18.44 cents/kWh - up 6.2% year-over-year. Every region rose, with Illinois up 28.4%. Here's why rising rates are quietly shortening solar payback periods across the country.
How Much Solar Tax Credit Is Left in 2026? (Most Calculators Are Wrong)
The last federal solar tax credit door closed July 4, 2026 — yet GreenEnergyCalc and SolarNiverse still advertise a 30% credit. Here's what's actually left and why it's costing homeowners real money.
Texas Solar Battery Storage Guide 2026: ERCOT Arbitrage, Pricing & the No-Rebate Reality
Texas has a 40%+ battery attach rate yet no state storage rebate. This is the definitive ERCOT battery deep-dive: installed pricing ($700–$1,300/kWh, ~$13.5K for a Powerwall 3), TOU arbitrage (4–9 PM peak, $5,000/MWh scarcity cap), the honest 10–14 yr battery-only payback, resilience value (Winter Storm Uri, Gulf hurricanes), and battery-optimized REPs (Tesla Electric, Base Power).
Solar Tax Credits in 2026: What to Do Now That the Federal Credit Is Gone
As of July 4, 2026, there is no federal tax credit for a new owned residential solar system. 25D expired (Dec 31 2025) and the 48E construction-start window just closed. Here is exactly what is left — lease/PPA passthrough, state credits, standalone storage, and the realistic legislative timeline.
Texas Solar Buyback Rates 2026: Best ERCOT REP Plans for Solar Homes
Texas has no statewide net metering — each ERCOT REP sets its own 2026 solar buyback rate. Compare Chariot, TXU, Octopus, Rhythm & more, plus municipal utilities and battery-optimized programs. Representative rates and how to pick the right plan.
SEIA Mid-Year 2026: Solar Crossed 6 Million Installations — and 45% Now Include Batteries
The US crossed 6 million solar installations in H1 2026. 45% of new systems now include batteries (up from ~25% in 2024), solar-plus-storage was 91% of new grid capacity, and residential grew 6% YoY without the federal credit. What it means for homeowners.
Solar Panel Prices Just Hit $0.10/W — What Homeowners Need to Know in 2026
Solar module prices plunged to all-time lows of ~$0.10/W in 2026 — below the ~$0.16/W cost to make them. 1.8 TW of overcapacity and a brutal price war reversed the earlier rise. Why it's a buyer's market — and why your installed quote still won't move much.
California NEM 3.0 in 2026: Is Solar Still Worth It After the Federal Credit Expired?
NEM 3.0 cut export value ~75% — then the 30% residential credit (25D) expired. With battery prices collapsed to ~$350/kWh, SGIP equity tiers, and 48E lease/PPA financing, is California solar still worth it in 2026? The 2026 economics, with the math.
Selling a Solar Home in Maryland? How to Transfer Your SRECs (2026 Guide)
The panels convey with the deed. The SRECs do not. An untransferred SREC stream (~$50/SREC) can quietly keep paying the prior owner for years. Here's how SRECs transfer separately, the seller's and buyer's checklists, and what to do if you already lost yours.
Solar Module Prices Are Rising in 2026: China VAT Removal and a US Pricing Floor
US module prices climbed to ~$0.28/W even after Section 201 tariffs expired. China's VAT rebate removal, FEOC supply tightening, and record 511 GW demand explain the counterintuitive move — and why your installed quote won't move much.
Solar Tariffs & Trade Policy in 2026: How 4 Overlapping Programs Stack
Section 201 tariffs expired in 2026 — but AD/CVD, Section 301, and FEOC rules still overlap, pushing combined solar import rates past 300% in some cases. Here's how they stack and what it means for your quote.
Section 201 Solar Tariffs Expired in 2026: What It Means for Panel Prices
Section 201 solar panel tariffs ended February 7, 2026, making imported panels duty-free for the first time since 2018. How FEOC rules and the tariff expiry affect 2026 solar prices — and your quotes.
Q1 2026 Solar Market Update: The 25D Pull-Forward Worked — But What Happens Now?
SEIA/Wood Mackenzie Q1 2026 data: total US solar fell 27% while residential rose 6%. Why residential defied gravity, why utility-scale collapsed, and what homeowners should do in 2026.
OBBBA One Year Anniversary: 3 Critical Tax Credit Deadlines You Cannot Miss
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act rewrote clean-energy tax credits one year ago. Two hard deadlines have now passed — June 30, 2026 and July 4, 2026 — with the December 31, 2027 phase-out still ahead. Here's what expired and what to do now.
Post-25D Financing Inversion: Why Lease/PPA Now Beats Cash (2026)
In 2026 the 30% residential credit (25D) is gone for buyers while Section 48E still flows to lease/PPA providers. Here's why leasing now produces a lower lifetime cost than cash for most mid-bill homeowners.
Solar Tax Credits in 2026: The Complete Guide to What Changed
The 30% residential solar credit (Section 25D) expired Dec 31, 2025. Here's the 25D vs 48E split, how lease/PPA passthrough works, and what homeowners can still claim in 2026.
Can You Still Save With Solar After the Tax Credit Expired?
Yes — with caveats. Worked payback math without the 30% federal credit, how leases and PPAs still capture the 48E credit, and when direct ownership still wins in 2026.
Battery Storage Tax Credits After 2025: What You Need to Know
Does a battery still get a federal credit after 25D expired? Owned vs leased storage, Section 48E, paired vs standalone, and the state battery incentives still available.
How to Calculate Your Solar Panel ROI in 2025
Learn the step-by-step process of calculating your return on investment for a residential solar panel system, including state incentives.
The Complete Guide to the Federal Solar Tax Credit (ITC)
Everything you need to know about the 30% federal Investment Tax Credit for solar — now expired as of January 1, 2026.
Best Solar Panels for 2025: Top Brands Compared
We compare the top solar panel brands including SunPower, LG, REC, and more based on efficiency, warranty, and cost per watt.
Is Solar Battery Storage Worth It? A Cost-Benefit Analysis
Breaking down the costs and benefits of adding battery storage to your solar system, including Tesla Powerwall and Enphase IQ Battery.
Solar Panel Costs by State: A Complete Breakdown
Average solar installation costs vary significantly by state. We break down the costs, incentives, and savings for all 50 states.
Net Metering Explained: How You Get Paid for Solar Energy
Understanding net metering policies, how they affect your savings, and what to know before going solar in your state.
Solar Panel Cost in 2026: Complete Guide (Without Federal Tax Credit)
National average cost is ~$3.50/W ($24,500 for 7kW system) WITHOUT federal ITC. Complete cost breakdown, state-by-state ranges, and what you'll actually pay.
Is Solar Still Worth It Without the Federal Tax Credit? (2026 Analysis)
With the ITC eliminated, system costs are effectively 43% higher — but rising electricity rates and state incentives still make solar a solid investment in most states.
State Solar Incentives Still Available in 2026 (Federal ITC Expired)
The federal ITC is gone, but many states still offer solar incentives. Find rebates, tax credits, SRECs, and more in your state.
Solar Panel Financing Options in 2026: How to Pay Without the ITC
With the federal ITC eliminated, upfront costs are higher. Compare solar loans, leases, PPAs, HELOCs, and cash purchase options for 2026.
EnergySage vs EnergyTools: The Truth About Hidden Costs and Free Solar Estimates
Why EnergySage adds $1K–2K in hidden lead fees, requires your phone number, and how EnergyTools gives you professional-grade solar tools 100% free.
Why Solar Tools Should Be Free: No Phone Numbers, No Hidden Fees
The problem with gated solar calculators and why EnergyTools provides professional-grade solar tools free for everyone — no sign-up, no catch.
EnergySage Alternatives: Best Solar Calculators and How to Get Quotes Without the Middleman
Looking for EnergySage alternatives? Compare the best solar calculators and learn how to get solar quotes directly from local installers without middleman markup.
Complete Guide to Solar ROI in 2026: Payback, Returns & What Changed
Everything you need to know about solar panel return on investment in 2026 — how payback works, state-by-state comparisons, the impact of losing the federal ITC, and whether solar is still worth it.
Solar ROI vs Other Home Improvements: Which Pays Off Best?
Compare solar panel ROI against kitchen remodels, bathroom upgrades, new roofs, and other home improvements. Data-driven analysis of cost recovery and long-term returns.
Solar Financing and ROI: Cash, Loans, Leases & PPAs Compared
How your financing choice impacts solar ROI. Compare cash purchase, solar loans, leases, and PPAs — monthly payments, total cost, and lifetime returns for each option in 2026.
How NEM 3.0 Changes Solar ROI: What Homeowners Need to Know
California's NEM 3.0 slashed solar export credits by 75%. Here's how it affects payback periods, why batteries are now essential, and what other states can learn.
Top 5 Solar Sales Tactics to Watch Out For in 2026
The most common deceptive solar sales tactics in 2026 — expired ITC claims, pressure pricing, inflated production, hidden dealer fees, and misleading 'free solar' offers. Learn how to protect yourself.
How to Detect Expired ITC Claims in Solar Quotes (2026)
Step-by-step guide to spotting when a solar quote incorrectly claims the old 30% federal ITC that expired for owned residential systems. Includes real examples and verification tools.
All Major OBBBA Deadlines Have Passed — What's Left for Solar & EVs
Three major OBBBA deadlines have passed — Section 30D EV credit (Sep 30, 2025), Section 30C charger credit (June 30, 2026), and Section 48E solar construction-start (July 4, 2026). Learn what ended and what remaining options exist.
US Electricity Rates Up 11.8% Since 2024 — State-by-State Breakdown
Residential electricity rates climbed to 18.56¢/kWh by March 2026, an 11.8% jump since 2024. Interactive sortable 50-state table plus what rising rates mean for your solar payback.