15 Best Solar Companies in Normal, IL (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Normal based on:
- Customer review scores
- Service area for Normal, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Normal homeowner saves $1,171/year with solar panels
Updated February 01, 2024
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Normal
On the hunt for the best solar companies in Normal? Installing solar panels is an exciting venture that many homeowners find beneficial for their wallets, communities and the planet. Plus, the solar industry is thriving in Normal, giving homeowners access to some of the best solar panel companies in the country.
As you begin your search for the best solar companies in Normal, you might see that there are many providers to choose between. So, we’ve organized an expertly curated list of the top solar companies in the area.To get an idea of how much it might cost to install solar panels on your roof, you can click the button below to get a quote from a certified installer near you.
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 Normal
SunPower by Legacy Solar, LLC
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Residential Panels
- Commercial Panels
Sunrun Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Residential Panels
- Consultation
StraightUp Solar of Bloomington
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Maintenance
- Battery Storage
- Commercial Panels
- EV Charger
- Residential Panels
- Tesla Powerwall
Nelnet Renewable Energy
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Maintenance
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
- EV Charger
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Residential Panels
- Battery Storage
- Full-Service
- Commercial Panels
Halo Solar LLC
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Residential Panels
- Commercial Panels
SOLAR PANTHER
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Residential Panels
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Permit Assistance
Sun Collectors
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Residential Panels
- Maintenance
- Consultation
- Commercial Panels
- System Decommissioning
- Solar Panel Upgrades
ROUTE 66 SOLAR
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Energy Efficiency Audit
- Residential Panels
New Prairie Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Residential Panels
- Financing Assistance
Harvest Solar
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Residential Panels
- Commercial Panels
- Financing Assistance
SunSent Solar
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Residential Panels
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
- Skilled Repairs
Skydrop Energy
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Residential Panels
- Commercial Panels
- Maintenance
WindSolarUSA, Inc.
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Commercial Panels
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Full-Service
- Residential Panels
IQ Group Inc
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Residential Panels
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
- Commercial Panels
- Emergency Services
- Maintenance
- Solar Panel Upgrades
EFS Energy
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Panels
- Residential Panels
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Maintenance
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Normal
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Normal 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 Normal
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 Normal
Solar panels are powered by a free energy source — the sun — but to take advantage of this you must first pay to install your system.The overall price and potential savings vary depending on some important factors such as:
- How much electricity your household consumes: Homes that use plenty of power each month may require more solar panels and, consequently, more upfront cost, but will also save more on their energy bills over time.
- Your location: This influences the average daily sunlight your roof gets, which helps determine how many panels you need.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which everyone qualifies for, lets you deduct 0 of the cost of your solar system installation from your taxes. Plus, not including incentives, you can save about $14,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
- System size and type: Some models are more expensive than others, so the one you want to get can raise or lower your initial investment. Plus, the more solar panels you need to buy, the more it'll cost.
So is buying solar panels worth it? Whether you’d like to lower your energy bills, carbon dioxide emissions or both, solar panels are a solid investment for many Normal homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Normal
Since solar power is a cleaner source of energy than fossil fuels, there are several government incentives in place to encourage its adoption.Regardless of what state you live in, you can take advantage of the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which lets you claim 0 of how much you paid for your solar installation when you file taxes, reducing the amount of taxes you owe that year. Plus, there may be some local incentives that can save you some extra money too. Our article on solar incentives has more in-depth information on the incentives you can benefit from in Normal.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Normal
There are tons of reasons to switch to solar power, like saving on electricity bills and helping to reduce your carbon footprint.But you may be wondering – how much exactly can you help the planet by making the switch to solar? Switching to renewable energy for electricity rather than relying on nonrenewable energy sources is an effective way to lower carbon dioxide emissions if you're conscious of Normal's large level of greenhouse gas emissions.Although solar panel production releases carbon dioxide emissions, the panels make up for it by significantly lowering the amount of CO2 you would have released if you still used traditional energy. In Normal, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 100 pounds a year with solar panels. If you want to do your part for the environment, you’ll most likely find that there are many advantages to adopting solar energy other than just saving money on electricity. You can also help preserve the environment, which some would argue is priceless.
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 Normal, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar panel installer is the best in Normal?
In Normal, 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 house.
What is the negative environmental impact of solar panel manufacturing?
Solar panels can be harmful for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals in the construction. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to dispose of safely once they’ve reached the end of their lifespan. Solar panel manufacturing uses a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.
Is it worth installing solar panels on my house?
Solar panels call for a large upfront investment that will cost you several thousands of dollars, but whether or not solar panels are worth it depends on a collection of factors like the cost of electricity near you and how much direct sunlight your roof gets.
How efficient are 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.