14 Best Solar Companies in Brainerd, MN (Mar 2023 Review)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 14 in Brainerd 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
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Updated March 14, 2023
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Best solar companies in Brainerd
If you're a home or business owner looking to make the most of the solar incentives in Brainerd, it can be a lot of work to narrow down which company to choose. But, it's worth it since switching to solar power is typically a good idea. Plus, the solar industry is growing in Brainerd, giving homeowners access to some of the most respected solar installers in the country.
In this article, we'll give you a list of the top Brainerd solar installers so you can make the best decision for your home's solar energy needs. We advise shopping around for quite a few quotes and comparing them to figure out which is the best installer for your home. To receive free, no-pressure quotes from the best solar installers in Brainerd, click the link below.
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
Best Technology
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
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Brainerd

Solar Midwest, Inc. - Solatube Premier Dealer
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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

Wolf River Electric Company
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Educational sales approach
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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

Cedar Creek Energy Corporation
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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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Custom system designs
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Can browse portfolio on website
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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

Apadana Solar Technologies
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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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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

TM Electric LLC
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Can browse portfolio on website
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Educational sales approach
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Makes charitable contributions
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More transparent pricing than competitors
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Commercial Solar Services
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Solar Panels

Blattner Company
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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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Commercial Solar Services
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Solar Panels

Sota RV Solar
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Educational sales approach
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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

Legacy Solar, LLC
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NABCEP-certified technicians
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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

Richards HVAC & Solar
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Educational sales approach
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Assists with maximizing rebate
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Maintenance and Repairs
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Solar Panels

Rural Renewable Energy Alliance
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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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Makes charitable contributions
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Can browse portfolio on website
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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

Talk Solar
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Offers a free quote process
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Educational sales approach
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Assists with maximizing rebate
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More transparent pricing than competitors
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Solar Panels
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Commercial Solar Services

Solar Attic, Inc
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Educational sales approach
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Solar Panels

SunPower
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Most efficient panels on the market
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National coverage
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Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
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Great warranty coverage
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Expensive
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Customer service varies by local dealer
Services Offered
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Solar Panels
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Solar Batteries
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EV Chargers
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System Monitoring

Tesla Energy
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Price-match guarantee
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Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
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Best solar battery on the market
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Some reported issues with customer service
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Customer service varies by local dealer
Services Offered
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Solar Panels
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Solar Batteries
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EV Chargers
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Solar Roof Shingles
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System Monitoring
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 Brainerd
The cost of putting up solar panels has dropped significantly over the past several years, but it's still a large investment for most homeowners. Some key things that determine the cost and possible savings include:
- Your energy bills: This will influence how much money you might save. In Brainerd, the average resident can save about $1,200 a year on their electricity bills.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit currently lets you decrease your taxes by 30% of the project cost. Your state 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.
- How much energy your home consumes: Households that need a lot of electricity each month may require more solar panels and, as a result, be more expensive, but will also benefit more over time.
- Choice of solar panels: The kind of solar panels you are interested in getting will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels are more expensive upfront but can also save you more money over the lifetime of your system. If you don't need to maximize efficiency, you can go with a higher number of more affordable panels.
Thanks to solar panels now being cheaper than ever as well as local and federal solar incentives, they are a solid investment for the majority of homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Brainerd
To increase the number of homes and businesses that use solar power, federal, state and local governments — and even some utility companies — offer incentives to help make going solar more economical and accessible. In addition to the federal solar investment tax credit, there are also some local programs, which in the majority of cases, stack with the federal incentive, so you can save even more. For more information about incentives for homeowners in Brainerd, visit our our article on solar incentives.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Brainerd
Many want to do their part to help save the environment, which for many is the main reason for installing a solar system. Something many homeowners might be asking themselves is how much can they really help protect the environment by going solar anyway? If your household uses lots of energy, you can have an even greater impact on the planet by switching to solar energy. Once you go solar, your carbon emissions can be cut by about 90 pounds every year. If you want to do what you can for the environment, you'll most likely understand that there are many benefits of adopting solar power other than just saving money on electricity. You can also help preserve the environment, which some would argue is more valuable.
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
Best Technology
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
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch's Brainerd, MN Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar company is the best near me?
In Brainerd, Solar Midwest, Inc. - Solatube Premier Dealer 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 add solar panels to your house.
Are solar panels really eco-friendly?
Solar panels can be bad for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals in the manufacturing process. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to dispose of safely once they've reached the end of their lifespan. Making solar panels uses a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.
How long does it take for solar to pay for itself?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 11.7 years, but the exact period varies by the cost of electricity where you are, incentives and net metering programs.
What is the efficiency of solar panels?
Solar panel efficiency is the amount of solar energy 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 to meet 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.