17 Best Solar Companies in Columbia, MI (Mar 2023 Review)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 17 in Columbia based on:
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Customer review scores
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Solar installers near you
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Company policies and services offered
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Accreditations and certifications
Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code!
Updated March 14, 2023
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best solar companies in Columbia
When you're trying to find the best solar companies in Columbia, sifting through all the options can be daunting, but it can pay off since switching to solar power can offer so many good perks. While solar is a great investment, you'll be able to make that amount back and then some, all while doing your part for the environment. In fact, you could be looking at saving about $22,000 over 20 years.
The cost of installing solar panels can vary substantially according to your home's configuration and your household energy needs. If you're ready to start receiving free, no-obligation quotes from the best Columbia solar companies, you can click the button below to learn more.
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
Solar Veteran
Michigan Solar Solutions
- Great warranty coverage
- Outstanding customer service
- Offers products from leading manufacturers
- Slightly limited service offerings
- No leases or PPAs
Outstanding Local Installer
Strawberry Solar
- Outstanding customer service
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Educational, no-pressure sales approach
- Limited warranty coverage
- No leases or PPAs
- Limited brands of solar equipment available
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Columbia

Michigan Solar Solutions, M46, Riverdale, Mi 48877
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Educational sales approach
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Locally owned and operated
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More transparent pricing than competitors
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Excellent reputation
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Solar Panels
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Commercial Solar Services

Solect Energy, LLC
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Can browse portfolio on website
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Educational sales approach
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Excellent reputation
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Solar Batteries
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Commercial Solar Services
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Solar Roof Shingles
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Solar Panels

Helios Solar, LLC
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Can browse portfolio on website
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NABCEP-certified technicians
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Educational sales approach
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Licensing and credentials transparency
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Solar Batteries
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Commercial Solar Services
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Solar Panels

Strawberry Solar
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More transparent pricing than competitors
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Offers a free quote process
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Educational sales approach
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Can browse portfolio on website
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Assists with maximizing rebate
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Excellent reputation
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Commercial Solar Services
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Solar Panels

Scholl Electric LLC
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Family owned and operated
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Excellent reputation
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Solar Panels
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Maintenance and Repairs
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Commercial Solar Services

Rustic Resource Enterprises Inc
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Offers a free quote process
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Educational sales approach
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Excellent reputation
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Commercial Solar Services
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Solar Panels

Tiger Solar
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More transparent pricing than competitors
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Educational sales approach
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Custom system designs
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Can browse portfolio on website
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NABCEP-certified technicians
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Excellent reputation
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Commercial Solar Services
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Solar Panels

Oak Electric Service, Inc.
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Licensing and credentials transparency
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More transparent pricing than competitors
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Educational sales approach
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Family owned and operated
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NABCEP-certified technicians
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Assists with maximizing rebate
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Excellent reputation
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Maintenance and Repairs
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Commercial Solar Services
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Solar Panels

Solar Mounts LLC
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Educational sales approach
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More transparent pricing than competitors
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Excellent reputation
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Solar Batteries
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Commercial Solar Services
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Solar Roof Shingles
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Solar Panels

The Green Panel
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Educational sales approach
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Assists with maximizing rebate
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Has an online quote form
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Excellent reputation
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Solar Batteries
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Commercial Solar Services
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Solar Panels

Mid-America Solar, LLC
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Offers a free quote process
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Educational sales approach
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Speedy and efficient installations
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Custom system designs
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Assists with maximizing rebate
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Excellent reputation
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Solar Panels
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Commercial Solar Services

Quality Solar
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Educational sales approach
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More transparent pricing than competitors
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Custom system designs
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Excellent reputation
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Solar Panels
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Commercial Solar Services

Fast Solar Company
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More transparent pricing than competitors
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Excellent reputation
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Solar Batteries
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Solar Panels
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Commercial Solar Services

Michigan Solar Solutions
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Educational sales approach
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Locally owned and operated
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More transparent pricing than competitors
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Excellent reputation
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Solar Panels
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Commercial Solar Services

PowerPanel
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Educational sales approach
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More transparent pricing than competitors
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Excellent reputation
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Commercial Solar Services
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Solar Panels

GEM Energy
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Can browse portfolio on website
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Educational sales approach
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Excellent reputation
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Commercial Solar Services
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Solar Panels

CRESIT Energy
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Educational sales approach
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More transparent pricing than competitors
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Excellent reputation
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Commercial Solar Services
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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 Columbia
Solar panels run off a free energy source — the sun — but before you can take advantage of this you must first pay to install your panels. Some main factors that affect how much it will cost to install solar panels on your home and how much money you could save over time include:
- Incentives: Tax-paying citizens who purchase and install a solar system this year can save 30% of their overall solar costs by taking advantage of the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $22,000 on your energy bills over 20 years excluding incentives.
- Average daily sunlight: Since Columbia doesn't get a lot of average daily sunlight, your solar system may not be able to produce enough energy to power your whole home, which impacts how much your electricity bills will be.
- Your home's power bills: Based on the fairly high monthly energy bills in Columbia, you could save about $1,400 a year with solar.
- System size and type: Some models are more pricy than others, so the one you want to get can raise or lower your upfront cost. Plus, the more solar panels you need, the more it'll cost.
Though a solar panel system costs a sizable chunk of money upfront, it can save you a considerable amount over time. The question of how much, though, depends on a number of factors, such as the kind of solar panels you get and your energy consumption.
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If you're interested in finding out what your impact could be if you switch to solar, you can use the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Columbia, MI.
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Solar Incentives in Columbia
Although solar power is typically a big investment, it can save you a substantial amount of money in the long term due to lower power bills and government incentives. There are several federal, state and local rebates and tax credits that let you earn some money in return after paying for a solar panel system. For detailed information about incentives that apply to you, visit our our article on solar incentives.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Columbia
There are a few important reasons why homeowners are considering solar energy: for the good of their bank accounts and the planet. A question many might be wondering about is how much can they really help protect the environment by going solar anyway? If your family consumes a lot of energy, you can have an even greater impact on the planet by switching to solar energy. While making solar panels emits carbon dioxide, the panels make up for it by greatly lowering the amount of CO2 you would have produced if you still used traditional energy. In Columbia, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 100 pounds a year with solar panels. As you can see, going solar has so many other rewards besides saving money. One of the main ones is that you can help save the planet too.
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
Solar Veteran
Michigan Solar Solutions
- Great warranty coverage
- Outstanding customer service
- Offers products from leading manufacturers
- Slightly limited service offerings
- No leases or PPAs
Outstanding Local Installer
Strawberry Solar
- Outstanding customer service
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Educational, no-pressure sales approach
- Limited warranty coverage
- No leases or PPAs
- Limited brands of solar equipment available
EcoWatch's Columbia, MI Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar power company is the best near me?
In Columbia, Michigan Solar Solutions, M46, Riverdale, Mi 48877 is the best local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 5.00 stars, so it's a good choice if you're looking to install solar panels on your home.
What are a few of the biggest pros and cons of adopting solar power?
The main advantages of solar power are that it can lower or, in some cases, totally eradicate your electricity bills, raise your home's value and bring down your carbon footprint. The main disadvantages are that solar panels can be pricey to install, you may not save as much if you don't use a lot of electricity and it doesn't work for all roof types and locations.
How long does it take to see a return on your investment after installing solar panels?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 8.7 years, but the exact period depends on the cost of electricity where you are, incentives and net metering programs.
How long do solar panels last?
Even though the average lifespan of solar panels is 25 to 30 years, that doesn't mean they stop working completely. What this means is the amount of energy they produce will have decreased significantly after that point. You can decide to replace them once you've had them for that long or you can continue to use them at a lower efficiency after that time.
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.