15 Best Solar Companies in Lincoln, IL (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Lincoln based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Lincoln, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Lincoln homeowner saves $1,003/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Lincoln
Getting the right solar panel installation company for your home is a huge decision, but it's one that can pay off big in Lincoln. Because solar panels produce their own electrical power, they can vastly lower your electricity bill each month, if not entirely eliminate it. In fact, you could look forward to about $12,000 of savings over 20 years.
In this article, we’ll help you narrow down the top options in your area.Want to know how much it’d cost to install solar panels on your roof? Click "get quote" below to get a free, no-obligation quote from a highly rated Lincoln solar installer.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
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 Lincoln
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
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Skilled Repairs
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Permit Assistance
- Battery Storage
Route 66 Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- System Decommissioning
- Financing Assistance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
StraightUp Solar of Bloomington
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Skydrop Energy
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
SOLAR PANTHER
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Permit Assistance
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
Sun Collectors
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
- System Decommissioning
- Consultation
WindSolarUSA, Inc.
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
IQ Group Inc
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Halo Solar LLC
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
EFS Energy
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
Nelnet Renewable Energy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
SunSent Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
New Prairie Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
Harvest Solar
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Lincoln
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Lincoln 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 Lincoln
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 Lincoln
For many readers, the decision of which solar installer to hire comes down to total costs.Some significant things that impact the upfront cost and potential savings over time include:
- Energy consumption: Installing solar panels may be a high-cost option for households that don’t consume a good amount of energy a month.
- The model of solar panels you can afford: This depends on how much you’re willing to invest upfront.
- Your city: This affects how much sunlight your roof gets, which helps determine how many panels you need.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit currently lets you lower your taxes by 0 of the project cost. Your state and even local utility companies may also have various incentives that you can benefit from. In addition, you can save about $12,000 over 20 years on your utility bills, without incentives.
So is installing solar panels worth it? Whether you’d like to reduce your electricity costs, carbon emissions or both, solar panels are a great investment for many Lincoln homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Lincoln
One of the great things about installing a solar panel system is receiving federal and potentially state incentives.These incentives usually include cash rebates, tax breaks and/or solar renewable energy credits. They can lower the cost you pay for going solar by 0, upwards of 50% depending on where you live. Check out our article on solar incentives to find out what incentives you can benefit from.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Lincoln
Installing solar panels can have a positive impact on the environment.Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Lincoln, though. The EPA reports that electricity generation is the second greatest source of greenhouse gas emissions and about 62% of our electricity is produced by burning fossil fuels. Installing solar panels and switching to renewable energy can help bring down that number in a city like Lincoln that produces a large amount of carbon dioxide emissions each year.In fact, if you make the switch to solar power, you could lower your carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 pounds each year. The advantages of solar power are plentiful — just like solar power is! That's why so many Lincoln residents have been happy with making the switch to solar.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
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 Lincoln, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar power company is the best in Lincoln?
In Lincoln, SunPower by Legacy Solar, LLC is the most reputable local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.80 stars, so it's a solid choice if you're looking to add solar panels to your roof.
What are some of the main advantages and disadvantages of going solar?
The main advantages of solar power are that it can reduce or, for some, entirely eradicate your electricity bills, raise your home’s value and reduce your carbon footprint. The disadvantages are that solar panels can be pricey to install, you may not save as much if you don’t use a lot of electricity and whether you can install solar panels depends on your roof configuration.
How long does it take for solar to pay for itself?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 21.0 years, but the exact period depends on the cost of electricity where you are, incentives and net metering programs.
How efficient is a solar panel system?
Solar panel efficiency is the amount of solar energy that is converted into electricity. Most panels today have an efficiency rating of about 15 to 25%. If your panels are more efficient, you'll need less of them for 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.