By installing solar panels on your roof, you can rely less on traditional energy sources and generate your own electricity. This means not only cutting down on your environmental footprint, but also reducing or even eliminating your electric bills.

Solar panels can come with a hefty price tag, but luckily, there are a number of financial incentives in place to help homeowners save money. The most widely available is the federal solar tax credit, which allows you to claim a whopping 30% of the cost of your installation as a credit against the federal taxes you owe.

Many states also have their own tax benefits and rebates to incentivize homeowners to go solar, but some are lagging behind. So, how solar-friendly is your state? Below are the top states for solar installations, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association’s 2021 Solar Market Insight Report.¹

If your state isn’t ranked highly on this map, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t invest in solar. In fact, many of the lower-ranking states, like Arizona, Louisiana and Mississippi, have excellent conditions for solar. But they may not have solar-friendly incentives and policies in place to encourage homeowners to make the switch to clean energy. This means you may be one of the first people in your neighborhood to do so.

Is Solar Right for You?

For many U.S. homeowners, going solar is a great way to help the environment while reducing the amount of money you spend on energy over time. But we’re not going to say solar is the ultimate energy solution for every home — because it isn’t. Here are a few key things to think about when deciding whether solar would work for you:

What direction does your roof face? In the Northern Hemisphere, unshaded homes facing south, southwest or west receive the most direct sunlight. Most solar companies won’t install solar on your roof if they’re not facing a suitable direction or are obstructed by trees or other buildings at peak sunlight hours.

How much is your typical home energy bill? If you’re not spending much on energy to begin with, you may not stand to save tons of money over time. However, if your energy bills are higher than you’d like them to be, solar could be a rewarding investment.

Can you reasonably afford to buy or finance your panels? Because the initial cost of solar panels can be steep, many homeowners take out solar loans to pay for their panels. But if you can’t secure a low interest rate, your monthly payments may significantly cut into your overall ROI, making solar less worth it.

How long are you planning to stay in your home? In most cases, you can’t take your solar panels with you when you move. The good news is that homes with solar sell for about 4% more than homes without.² However, a typical array will last for a minimum of 25 years, so if you don’t plan on staying in your house for at least half of that time, you may want to hold off on making the investment.

Solar Reviews See All

5 Best Solar Companies in Nebraska (2025 Reviews)

BY Kristina Zagame

5 Best Solar Companies in Montana (2025 Reviews)

BY Dan Simms

5 Best Solar Companies in Kentucky (2025 Reviews)

5 Best Solar Companies in Massachusetts (2025 Reviews)

5 Best Solar Companies in Maryland (2025 Reviews)

Solar News See All

Solar Energy Surpassed Coal in the EU for the First Time in 2024: Report

For the first time, solar power surpassed coal as a source of electricity in the European Union (EU) last year, according to a new report by thinktank Ember released on Thursday. Ember’s European Electricity Review 2025 found that solar generated…

BY Cristen Hemingway Jaynes

China Sets Wind and Solar Installation Records for Second Year in a Row

China broke its own records for the installation of new solar and wind power last year, with installed capacity increasing by 18 and 45 percent, respectively, according to new data released by the country’s National Energy Administration (NEA) on Tuesday.…

BY Cristen Hemingway Jaynes

What Is Jimmy Carter's Environmental Legacy?

In 1979, when President Jimmy Carter famously unveiled 32 solar panels on the White House roof, he remarked, “A generation…

Renewable Energy Made Up 62.7% of Germany’s Electricity in 2024

Renewables are now making up a majority of the net public electricity generation in Germany, according to a new report…

Rural Texas Receives USDA Funding for 400 MW Solar, 200 MW Battery Storage Project

At the end of December 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service awarded $1.4 billion in grant…

Solar Costs & Quotes

Get Connected With a Local Installer

To see how much you would pay to install a solar panel system on your roof, you can get a free, no-obligation quote from an EcoWatch-vetted local solar company below. A solar company representative can tell you:

How much your system will cost
How much power your system will produce
How much you’ll save on energy bills

Get Your Free Quote

Get More Information About the Solar Process

Want to learn more before speaking with an installer? Check out our solar installation guide, which outlines the steps you’ll need to take to put solar on your roof. We cover: