12 Best Solar Companies in Baltimore, MD (Jan 2023 Review)

The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Baltimore

Solar panels run off a free energy source — the sun — but before you can take advantage of this you must first pay to set up your panels. There are quite a few factors you should consider when trying to determine the overall cost and how much you can save, including:

• The amount of sunlight your roof gets: Thanks to Baltimore's high amount of average daily sunlight, you should be able to save a decent amount on your energy bills.
• The make and model of solar panels you want: More efficient panels are more expensive, so that will affect your budget for your solar project.
• Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit currently lets you reduce your taxes by 30% of the project cost. Your state and even local utility companies may also have incentives and rebates that you can use. Additionally, you can save about $14,000 over 20 years on your utility bills, without incentives.
• Your current power bills: Solar panels can dramatically reduce, or completely eradicate, your utility bills. In Baltimore, you can save an average of $70 a month.

Even though a solar panel system costs a sizable chunk of money upfront, it can save you much more over the lifespan of your panels. The question of how much, though, depends on several factors, like the kind of solar panels you get and your local electricity rates.

Solar Incentives in Baltimore

Although installing solar panels is typically a large investment, it can save you a substantial amount of money over time because of smaller utility bills and government incentives. Regardless of where you live, you can take advantage of the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which allows you to claim 30% of how much your solar project cost on your tax return, lowering the amount of taxes you owe that year. In addition, there may be some state and city incentives that stack with the ITC too. In our article on solar incentives, you can see the incentives you qualify for in Baltimore.

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Baltimore

There are a few main reasons why many people want to invest in solar energy: to put more money in their bank account and to help the planet. Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Baltimore, though. In a city like Baltimore where commute times can be very long, going solar can help help reduce the carbon footprint of being on the road a lot. Although solar panel production releases carbon dioxide emissions, the panels make up for it by considerably decreasing the amount of CO2 you would have released if you still used nonrenewable energy. In Baltimore, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 60 pounds a year with solar panels. The perks of solar power are infinite — just like solar power is! That's why so many homeowners have been happy with using solar energy.