14 Best Solar Companies in St Clair, MI (2023 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 14 in St Clair based on:
-
Customer review scores - Service area for St Clair, MI
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average St Clair homeowner saves $1,350/year with solar panels
Updated May 04, 2023
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in St Clair
Getting the right solar panel installation company for your home is a big decision, but it's one that can save you a lot of money in St Clair. With high amounts of average daily sunlight in St Clair, the solar industry is doing fairly well. An underrated driver of this has been Michigan's statewide incentives that help with residential and commercial solar panel installation.
In this article, we'll help you narrow down the top companies in your area. If you'd like to get free, no-obligation quotes from the top St Clair solar companies, you can click the button below to learn more.
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 St Clair
Average Cost
SunPower
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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
Average Cost
Michigan Solar Solutions
- Great warranty coverage
- Outstanding customer service
- Offers products from leading manufacturers
- Slightly limited service offerings
- No leases or PPAs
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
Average Cost
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
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
Average Cost
The Green Panel
- Outstanding customer service
- Excellent reputation
- Great warranty coverage
- No leases or PPAs
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- Solar Carports
- Electrical Work
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
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
U.S. Renewable Energy Association
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
Orange Cell Solar
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
- Integrated roofing
- Home installations
Solar On Inc
- Family-Operated Business
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
Solar Source
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
Solar Solutions of America Inc
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
Vac-Met, Inc, A Solar Atmospheres Company
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
RG Resource Technologies
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
Ease Solar
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Recognized Excellence
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in St Clair
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in St Clair based on criteria such as its reputation in the industry, customer reviews, services, warranty coverage and financing. Using this solar methodology, we used the data we collected to rate and rank each company and narrow down our picks for the best solar companies in St Clair
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Michigan solar companies
- Brand reputation and certifications (20%): We take each company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) score into consideration, as well as how long the installer has been in business (at least 5 years is required, 10 preferred) and what type of solar certifications it holds.
- Customer reviews (20%): Trust is a top priority at EcoWatch, so we take customer experience under close consideration. We scour different review sites and customer testimonials when ranking our top solar companies, checking sites such as Trustpilot and Google Reviews. We also consider any potential complaints or lawsuits filed against these companies and award or remove points accordingly.
- Warranty (20%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers 25-year warranties that cover performance, product and workmanship. The industry standard that we measure companies against is 25-year product and performance warranties, along with a 10-year workmanship warranty. We also look closely into the track record of the post-installation support each company provides in terms of honoring its contracts
- Solar services (10%): All of the companies we review install solar panels, but we award companies higher points if they offer additional services for customers, like battery installation, energy-efficiency audits, and EV chargers.
- Pricing and financing (10%): It's hard to get exact quotes for solar projects, but we use marketplace research to determine how each company prices its equipment and installation services. Additionally, companies that offer more help for panel financing — like in-house loans, leases, or PPAs — score higher than those that don't.
- Availability (10%): The bigger the service area, the higher the company will score.
- Transparency and accessibility (5%): Solar installers that offer free consultations and easy contact methods score higher in this category.
- Environmental, social and corporate governance factors (5%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers public data disclosure, addresses end-of-life (EOL) products or processes, and demonstrates a commitment to uplifting the communities that it serves.
The Cost and Benefits of Solar in St Clair
Solar panels are powered by a free energy source — the sun — but to take advantage of this you first need to pay to set up your panels. There are quite a few factors you should consider when determining costs and your potential savings, including:
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit currently allows you to lower your taxes by 30% of the project cost. Your state and city may also have incentives and rebates that you can use. In addition, you can save about $16,000 over 20 years on your utility bills, not including incentives.
- Your power bills: This will determine how much you can save. In St Clair, the average homeowner can save about $1,000 a year on their electricity bills.
- System size and type: Some models are more costly than others, so the one you choose can raise or lower your initial investment. Plus, the more solar panels you need to get, the more it'll cost.
- How much energy you use: If your home needs to use a lot of energy, you'll reap more rewards from switching to solar.
Though a solar panel system costs a good chunk of money upfront, it can save you much more over the lifespan of your panels. The question of how much, though, depends on a number of factors, including the amount of daily direct sunlight available and your energy consumption.
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For an idea of both how much you could save and help the Earth by installing a solar panel system, you can try out the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for St Clair, MI.
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Solar Incentives in St Clair
To increase the number of homes and businesses that use solar power, federal and local governments — and even some utility companies — offer incentives to help make going solar more financially viable and accessible. In addition to the federal tax credit incentive, there are also some local benefits, which in the majority of cases, stack with the federal incentive, so you can save even more. Take a look at our article on solar incentives to find out what incentives you can benefit from.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in St Clair
There are a few important reasons why people want to invest in solar energy: for the good of their bank accounts and the planet. A question many homeowners might have in mind is how much can they really help preserve the environment by going solar anyway? No matter where you are, you can help protect the planet by switching to solar energy, but homes that consume more energy will have an even greater impact. Although solar panel manufacturing releases carbon dioxide emissions, the panels make up for it by significantly decreasing the amount of CO2 you would have been responsible for if you still used nonrenewable energy. In St Clair, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 100 pounds a year with solar panels. Since energy from the sun is abundant and produces electricity without a carbon footprint, adding solar panels to your home is one easy step you can take to help protect the planet.
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 St Clair, MI Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the top solar panel installer in St Clair?
The best local solar company in St Clair is Strawberry Solar, with a rating of 5.00 stars.
Are solar panels actually environmentally friendly?
Producing solar panels requires chemicals and produces toxic waste that can be dangerous 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 great investment for many 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 fairly low, solar panels might not be for you.
When is the best time of year to install solar panels?
Despite summer being the most popular time people install solar panels, the ideal time is actually winter. You can save money since there's decreased demand during the winter months, and it allows you to be up and running with solar for the higher power bills you may get during the summer.
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.