15 Best Solar Companies in Salem, IL (Sep 2022 Review)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Salem based on:
-
Customer review scores - Solar installers near you
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code!
Updated 9/16/2022
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best solar companies in Salem
As a homeowner or business owner in Salem, you may be planning on switching to solar power and curious about the best solar companies in your area. Solar could be a great choice since it comes with a lot of benefits. You may have to spend a decent amount of money upfront for solar panels, but switching to solar will save you money on your power bills over time. In fact, you can look forward to saving about $15,000 over 20 years.
If you want to take advantage of the great number of perks of solar, we can help you narrow down your options to find the Salem solar installer that's perfect for you. Interested in seeing the cost of installing solar panels on your roof? Click "get quote" below to get a free, no-obligation quote from a top-rated Salem solar installer.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
Best Technology
The Green Panel
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Salem
Local Service
Mobius Solar
-
Can browse portfolio on website - Educational sales approach
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Custom system designs
- Excellent reputation
-
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
-
Commercial Solar Services - Solar Panels
Local Service
Route 66 Solar
- Educational sales approach
- Assists with maximizing rebate
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Family owned and operated
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Ryan Electrical Solutions
- Educational sales approach
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Family owned and operated
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Maintenance and Repairs
- Commercial Solar Services
Local Service
Ruby Electric Inc.
- Locally owned and operated
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Maintenance and Repairs
- Commercial Solar Services
Local Service
EFS Energy Inc
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Educational sales approach
- Licensing and credentials transparency
- Custom system designs
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Commercial Solar Services
Local Service
Pink Energy St Louis
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Offers a free quote process
- Educational sales approach
- Custom system designs
- NABCEP-certified technicians
- Assists with maximizing rebate
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Maintenance and Repairs
- Commercial Solar Services
Local Service
Statewide Solar
- Offers a free quote process
- Educational sales approach
- Assists with maximizing rebate
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Maintenance and Repairs
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
- Solar Roof Shingles
Local Service
EFS Energy
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Educational sales approach
- Custom system designs
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Licensing and credentials transparency
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Commercial Solar Services
Local Service
Exceptional Energy Solutions
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Educational sales approach
- Custom system designs
- Can browse portfolio on website
- NABCEP-certified technicians
- Assists with maximizing rebate
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Commercial Solar Services
Local Service
Jackson Solar LLC
- Educational sales approach
- Locally owned and operated
- Has an online quote form
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
C.H. Electrical
- Offers a free quote process
- Educational sales approach
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Excel Home Solar
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Educational sales approach
- Assists with maximizing rebate
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
AES Solar
- Offers a free quote process
- Educational sales approach
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Exceptional Electric
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Educational sales approach
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Maintenance and Repairs
- Commercial Solar Services
Local Service
Ohio Valley Solar
- Offers a free quote process
- Educational sales approach
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Maintenance and Repairs
- Commercial Solar Services
Solar Company Ranking Methodology
Click here to see a more detailed overview of our solar company ranking methodology.
The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Salem
Even though solar panels can save you money on power bills over time, it's important to take into consideration the upfront costs. Some main factors that determine the cost of installing a solar panel system on your home and how much money you could save over time include:
- How much energy you use: If your household needs to use a lot of energy, you'll benefit more from switching to solar.
- The amount of sunlight your house gets: Due to Salem's high amount of average daily sunlight, you should be able to save a decent amount on your electric bills.
- Incentives: One thing that can save you money on your solar project is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which is a tax credit that's equal to a percentage of the project cost. You can also save on your power bills, which can result in an average of $15,000 of savings over 20 years.
- The kind of solar panels you're thinking of getting: More high-tech panels are more costly, so that will influence your budget for your solar project.
Due to solar panels now being cheaper than ever as well as various solar incentives, they are a cost-effective investment for the majority of homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Salem
To increase solar panel installation and usage, federal and local governments — and even some utility companies — offer incentives to help make going solar more economical and accessible. When you install a solar panel system on your house, you can take advatage of the federal tax credit, or ITC. This credit currently lets you lower your tax bill by 30% of the cost of your solar panels. Additionally, there are often some state and city incentives that you can benefit from to further save. Check out the table below to find out what incentives you can benefit from.
| Name | Solar Renewable Energy Credits |
| Incentive Amount | Negotiated with procurement administrators |
| Incentive Max | Benchmarks set by procurement administrators |
| Website | Visit here |
| More Info | Click here |
| Name | ITC |
| Type | Tax Incentive |
| Incentive Amount | 26% of installation cost |
| Website | Visit here |
| Name | Special Assessment for Solar Energy Systems |
| Incentive Amount | Varies |
| Incentive Max | None specified |
| Website | Visit here |
| More Info | Click here |
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Salem
One of the best reasons to embrace solar power is to reduce your reliance on nonrenewable energy sources like burning fossil fuels, which are destructive for the environment. But — how much exactly can you help the environment by going solar? Going solar is an impactful choice for the environment, because the greatest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the country is from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation — all of which can be powered by solar instead. In Salem, the average resident can reduce their carbon footprint by 100 pounds a year after going solar. For those who are worried about the environment, the upfront cost of solar is a small price to pay for reducing your carbon footprint.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
Best Technology
The Green Panel
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
EcoWatch's Salem, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the top solar panel installer in Salem?
The highest-rated local solar company in Salem is EFS Energy Inc, with a rating of 4.52 stars.
What is the negative environmental impact of solar panel manufacturing?
Solar panels can be harmful for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals when they're made. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to dispose of safely once they've reached the end of their lifespan. Making solar panels uses a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.
How long does it take for solar to pay for itself?
Solar panels generally pay for themselves in about 11.8 years, but your solar payback period will vary based on your utility costs. The more your typical power bill, the quicker your solar panel system will pay for itself.
How long do solar panels last?
On average, the lifespan of solar panels is about 25 to 30 years. Some even last up to 50 years, but efficiency goes down by about 0.8% each year. You can choose to replace them sooner if you want to maintain a higher amount of energy production.
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.