11 Best Solar Companies in Wood River, IL (Aug 2022 Review)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 11 in Wood River based on:
-
Customer review scores - Solar installers near you
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Updated 7/19/2022
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Best solar companies in Wood River
Hoping to go solar but trying to figure out which solar panel installer would be the best one for your needs? Although it can be challenging to choose a solar company, the effort will pay off because going solar has many great benefits. The average home can save $14,000 over 20 years after installing a solar panel system. And because solar panels have a lifespan of about 25 to 30 years, you can save will be even higher overall.
If you're considering going solar, the first step to take is to find the best solar companies in Wood River and compare quotes. That's why we went ahead and made a list of the best solar companies to make it easier on you. Keep reading to see our picks for the top solar companies in the city, or connect with a certified solar company near you 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 (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 Wood River
Nationwide Service
Average Cost
SunPower
-
Most efficient panels on the market - National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
-
Expensive - Customer service varies by local dealer
Services Offered
-
Solar Panels - Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- System Monitoring
Local Service
EFS Energy Inc
- Licensing and credentials transparency
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Custom system designs
- Educational sales approach
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Regional Service
Average Cost
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- System Monitoring
Nationwide Service
Average Cost
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
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- Solar Roof Shingles
- System Monitoring
Local Service
Barlecorn™ 4, LLC
- Licensing and credentials transparency
- Educational sales approach
- NABCEP-certified technicians
- Custom system designs
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
Regional Service
Average Cost
Sunpro Solar
- Industry-leading warranty coverage
- Expansive service area
- Some reported communication issues
- No leases or PPAs
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- Energy-Efficiency Upgrades
Regional Service
Average Cost
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- Energy-Efficiency Upgrades
Regional Service
Average Cost
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- Energy-Efficiency Upgrades
- Maintenance & Repairs
Local Service
Brightergy
- Can browse portfolio on website
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Educational sales approach
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Cain Electric Inc
- Can browse portfolio on website
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Educational sales approach
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Maintenance and Repairs
- Solar Panels
Local Service
STL Solar Plus LLC
- Locally owned and operated
- Educational sales approach
- NABCEP-certified technicians
- Some reported communication issues
- Some reported issues with customer services
- Some reports of long wait times for installation
- Some reports of high-pressure sales tactics
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
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 Wood River
We understand that for many homeowners, the choice to invest in solar rests on installation costs. The installation cost is just one important factor you should bear in mind when looking into installing solar panels. How much it'll cost and how much you can save depend on things such as:
- average energy usage: The more energy your home uses on average and the greater your current energy bills are, the more likely you'll benefit from switching to solar.
- Average daily sunlight: Since Wood River gets a decent amount of average daily sunlight, your solar panels can generally produce enough energy to power your whole home, which influences how much your solar panels can save you on your electricity bills.
- Incentives: Something that can make your solar project cost less 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 money on your utility bills, which can give you an average of $14,000 of savings over 20 years.
- The model of solar panels you're thinking of getting: More high-tech panels are more costly, so that will affect your budget for your solar project.
There are many good benefits of solar even with the initial cost of installation. It can help the environment and your wallet. In addition, it can increase the value of your home, resulting in even more benefits if you decide to sell your home later.
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Use the calculator below to see how much installing a solar panel system could affect the planet and your bank account. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Wood River, IL.
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Solar Incentives in Wood River
Switching to solar power has many considerable benefits. Not only can it help protect the Earth, but you can also save some money on your installation with various government incentives. On top of the federal tax credit incentive, there are also some local programs, which in almost all cases, stack with the federal incentive, so you can save even more. Take a look at the table below to learn what incentives are available to you.
| 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 Wood River
An important reason so many people are considering going solar is to help reduce their environmental impact. Something many might have in mind is how much can they really help the environment by switching to solar power anyway? Everyone can help save the planet by switching to solar energy, but homes that use more energy will have an even bigger impact. Since solar panels don't release carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere when producing electricity, they're a good trade for traditional energy sources. In fact, you could reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 pounds each year. Since solar energy is renewable and generates electricity without free from carbon dioxide emissions, adding solar panels to your home is one easy step you can take to help preserve the environment.
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 Wood River, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar company is the best near me?
The best local solar company in Wood River is EFS Energy Inc, with a rating of 4.52 stars.
What is the negative environmental impact of solar panels?
Manufacturing solar panels needs to use chemicals and produces toxic waste that can be bad for the environment, which is the main negative thing about solar panels.
Is it worth installing solar panels on my home?
Solar panels can be a fruitful investment for lots of homeowners, but frankly, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get a lot of direct sunlight or your power bills are already reasonably low, solar panels might not be for you.
How long do solar panels last?
On average, solar panels can last 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 level 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.