15 Best Solar Companies in Empire, IL (2025 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Empire based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Empire, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Empire homeowner saves $1,297/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Empire
If you’re a home or business owner looking to make the most of the solar incentives in Empire, it can be challenging to narrow down which installer to choose. But, the process is worth it since switching to solar power is often a good idea. Solar panels can be expensive, but adopting solar will save you money on your power bills over many years. In fact, you can look forward to saving about $15,000 over 20 years.
Here, we’ll make a list of some of the best solar companies in Empire to make your decision a little easier.Keep reading to see our picks for the top solar companies in the city, or get connected with a highly rated solar company in your area right away by clicking the button below.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Empire
SunPower by Legacy Solar, LLC
Free Quotes- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Panel Installation- Financing Assistance
Sunrun Solar
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Skilled Repairs
SOLAR PANTHER
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Battery Storage
Sun Collectors
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
- System Decommissioning
- Cleaning and Maintenance
StraightUp Solar of Bloomington
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Route 66 Solar
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- System Decommissioning
- Grid-Tied Solar System
Halo Solar LLC
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
New Prairie Solar
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
WindSolarUSA, Inc.
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
Skydrop Energy
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
SunSent Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
Nelnet Renewable Energy
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Harvest Solar
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
IQ Group Inc
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
EFS Energy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Empire
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Empire based on criteria such as its reputation in the industry, customer reviews, services, warranty coverage and financing. Using this solar methodology, we used the data we collected to rate and rank each company and narrow down our picks for the best solar companies in Empire
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Illinois solar companies
- Brand reputation and certifications (20%): We take each company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) score into consideration, as well as how long the installer has been in business (at least 5 years is required, 10 preferred) and what type of solar certifications it holds.
- Customer reviews (20%): Trust is a top priority at EcoWatch, so we take customer experience under close consideration. We scour different review sites and customer testimonials when ranking our top solar companies, checking sites such as Trustpilot and Google Reviews. We also consider any potential complaints or lawsuits filed against these companies and award or remove points accordingly.
- Warranty (20%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers 25-year warranties that cover performance, product and workmanship. The industry standard that we measure companies against is 25-year product and performance warranties, along with a 10-year workmanship warranty. We also look closely into the track record of the post-installation support each company provides in terms of honoring its contracts
- Solar services (10%): All of the companies we review install solar panels, but we award companies higher points if they offer additional services for customers, like battery installation, energy-efficiency audits, and EV chargers.
- Pricing and financing (10%): It's hard to get exact quotes for solar projects, but we use marketplace research to determine how each company prices its equipment and installation services. Additionally, companies that offer more help for panel financing — like in-house loans, leases, or PPAs — score higher than those that don't.
- Availability (10%): The bigger the service area, the higher the company will score.
- Transparency and accessibility (5%): Solar installers that offer free consultations and easy contact methods score higher in this category.
- Environmental, social and corporate governance factors (5%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers public data disclosure, addresses end-of-life (EOL) products or processes, and demonstrates a commitment to uplifting the communities that it serves.
The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Empire
When picking a solar company, most homeowners or business owners worry about the costs the most.The cost of solar and the savings it generates vary depending on some key factors such as:
- Energy consumption: Installing solar panels may be too pricey an investment for homes that don’t use a good amount of energy a month.
- System size and type: Some models are more costly than others, so the one you get can raise or lower your upfront cost. Plus, the more solar panels you need to buy, the more it'll cost.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which everyone in the U.S. is eligible for, lets you deduct 0 of the cost of installing your solar panel system from your taxes. In addition, not including incentives, you can save about $15,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
- Your home's power bills: Due to fairly high monthly energy bills in Empire, you could save about $850 a year with solar.
There are lots of good benefits of solar despite the upfront cost of installation. It can help the planet and your wallet. Plus, it can increase the value of your home, leading to even more benefits if you decide to sell your home later.
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Solar Incentives in Empire
Since solar power is more sustainable than burning fossil fuels, there are several government incentives available to encourage its adoption.In addition to the federal solar investment tax credit, there are also some local incentives, which in most cases, stack with the federal incentive, so you can save even more. Check out our article on solar incentives to learn what incentives are available to you.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Empire
One of the most compelling reasons to embrace solar power is to decrease your reliance on traditional energy sources like burning fossil fuels, which are damaging for the environment.Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Empire, though. For homeowners and business owners who want to help preserve the planet, using solar power is an easy decision, especially since Empire produces a very high amount of carbon dioxide emissions from its energy generation.In fact, if you adopt solar power, you could look forward to lowering your carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 pounds each year. As you can see, going solar has so many other perks outside of saving money. One of the primary ones is that you can help save the environment too.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
EcoWatch's Empire, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar installation company is the best near me?
In Empire, SunPower by Legacy Solar, LLC is the top local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.80 stars, so it's a solid choice if you're planning to add solar panels to your home.
Are solar panels really eco-friendly?
Manufacturing solar panels requires chemicals and produces toxic waste that can be bad for the environment, which is the main negative thing about solar panels.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels can be a great investment for most homeowners, but honestly, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get a lot of direct sunlight or your electricity bills are already fairly low, solar panels might not be for you.
What is the efficiency of solar panels?
Solar panel efficiency is the amount of energy from the sun that is converted into electricity. Most panels today have an efficiency rating between 15 and 20%. If your panels are more efficient, you'll need less of them to meet your home's energy needs.
Our goal is to reach as many people as we can with sensible solutions like solar energy. Our team of full-time local researchers collects solar price and installation data for every city in America then compiles it to create these digestible city guides. If you want to read our solar expert’s opinion on the top solar companies featured here, follow this link.
Company research was conducted by Melissa Smith and Karsten Neumeister. Local data analysis was conducted by James Savino. See something we missed or could do better? Email the editor.