11 Best Solar Companies in Portland, ME (Jun 2022 Review)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 11 in Portland based on:
-
Customer review scores - Solar installers near you
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Updated 6/24/2022
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Best solar companies in Portland
When deciding on the best solar panel installers, Portland homeowners have more options to choose from than ever before, which can be a lot to consider, but we're here to make adopting solar energy easier. Installation costs can be high, but the switch will save you money on your utility bills in the long term. In fact, you can look forward to saving about $16,000 over 20 years.
Here, we'll narrow down some of the best solar companies in Portland to make your decision a little easier. We advise shopping around for several quotes and comparing them to see which is the best installer for your home. To get free, no-obligation quotes from the top solar companies in Portland, click the link below.
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
4.5
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 Portland
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
ReVision Energy, Inc.
- Employee owned and operated
- Can browse portfolio on website
- NABCEP-certified technicians
- Educational sales approach
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Batteries
- Solar Panels
Nationwide Service
Average Cost
Tesla Energy
- 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
Invaleon Technologies Corporation
- Licensing and credentials transparency
- Can browse portfolio on website
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Educational sales approach
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Batteries
- Solar Panels
Local Service
GoSolar NH, LLC
- Educational sales approach
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Solectria Renewables, LLC
- Educational sales approach
- Custom system designs
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Batteries
- Solar Panels
Local Service
SmartFlower North America, LLC
- Educational sales approach
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Batteries
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Applied Solar Technologies, LLC
- Educational sales approach
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Batteries
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Penobscot Solar Design
- NABCEP-certified technicians
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Batteries
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Invaleon Technologies
- Licensing and credentials transparency
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Educational sales approach
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Batteries
- Solar Panels
Local Service
BrightWay Energy, LLC
- Licensing and credentials transparency
- Educational sales approach
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Batteries
- 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 Portland
The cost of putting up a solar panel system has gone down greatly in the past several years, but it's still a large investment for most homeowners. The cost of solar and the savings it generates vary depending on some important factors such as:
- The type of solar panels you can afford: This depends on your income and budget.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which everyone qualifies for, lets you deduct 26% of the cost of your solar system installation from your federal taxes. In addition, not including incentives, you can save about $16,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
- Your home's power bills: With high monthly electric bills in Portland, you could save about $900 a year with solar.
- How much power your household needs: If your home uses a lot of energy, you'll see more savings from going solar.
There are lots of great benefits of solar in spite of the initial cost of installation. It can help the planet and your finances. 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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If you're interested in finding out how much you could impact the environment if you switch to solar, you can use the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Portland, ME.
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Solar Incentives in Portland
Although installing solar panels is typically a big investment, it can save you much money over time because of lower utility bills and government incentives. There are a lot of federal, state and local rebates and tax credits that earn a decent amount of money back after buying a solar panel system. You can learn about the incentives you can take advantage of in the table below.
| Name | Local Option - Property Assessed Clean Energy |
| Website | Visit here |
| More Info | Click here |
| Name | ITC |
| Type | Tax Incentive |
| Incentive Amount | 26% of installation cost |
| Website | Visit here |
| Name | Solar and Wind Energy Property Tax Exemption |
| Incentive Amount | 100% exemption |
| Website | Visit here |
| More Info | Click here |
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Portland
There are a few big reasons why many people are considering solar energy: to help their wallet and the environment. Something many might be thinking about is how much can they really help save the environment by switching to solar power anyway? One thing you should keep in mind is your overall carbon footprint. For example, if you spend lots of time commuting to work and have an electric vehicle, you can use solar energy for your home to power your EV and therefore help offset your carbon emissions. If you go solar, your carbon emissions can be lowered by about 40 pounds every year. Since solar energy is renewable and makes electricity without releasing carbon emissions, making the switch to solar power is one easy step you can take to help protect the environment.
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
4.5
- 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 Portland, ME Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar company is the best near me?
In Portland, ReVision Energy, Inc. is the most reputable local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.52 stars, so it's a great choice if you're planning on installing solar panels on your roof.
Are solar panels actually bad for the environment?
Solar panels can be detrimental for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals in the manufacturing process. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to recycle safely once they've reached the end of their lifespan. Making solar panels needs a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.
How long does it take to see a return on your investment after getting solar panels?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 12.1 years, but the exact period is influenced by local electricity costs, incentives and net metering programs.
What is the efficiency of 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 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.