7 Best Solar Companies in Mankato, MN (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 7 in Mankato based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Mankato, MN
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Mankato homeowner saves $1,534/year with solar panels
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Best Solar Companies in Mankato
When you’re on the hunt for the best solar companies in Mankato, sifting through all the options can be intimidating, but it can pay off since adopting solar energy can offer so many good benefits. Though Mankato may not have a reputation for sunshine like Florida, it's a surprisingly hot place for solar growth, so several of the best solar companies in the nation have expanded to there to help residents get started with renewable energy.
Here, we’ll make a list of some of the top solar companies in Mankato to make your choice a little bit easier.To get free quotes from the top-rated solar companies in Mankato, click the "get quote" button 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 Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
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
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Mankato
The Solar Store Mankato
Reliable Customer Support- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Battery Storage- Panel Installation
SolarPod
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
Everlight Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
Austin Electric
- Family-Operated Business
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
American Energy LLC
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Go Green Energy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
Renewable Solar Resources
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Financing Assistance
- Community Solar Projects
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Mankato
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Mankato 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 Mankato
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Minnesota 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 Mankato
Solar panels are powered by a free energy source — the sun — but to take advantage of this you will first need to pay to install your panels.Some key factors that influence how much it will cost to install a solar panel system on your home and how much money you could save over time are:
- The model of solar panels you want to get: More efficient models are more costly, so that will shape your budget for your solar project.
- Electricity consumption: The average home in Mankato uses a decent amount of, and consequently may save on their energy bills.
- The amount of sunlight your roof gets: If your roof doesn’t get a lot of direct sunlight, your solar system won’t be able to produce as much energy, which will give you lower savings on energy bills than a house with a roof that gets lots of sunlight.
- Incentives: Something that can reduce the cost of your solar project is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which is a tax credit that’s equal to a percentage of the project cost. You can also save on your power bills, which can generate an average of $18,000 of savings over 20 years.
Solar is a valuable investment for most homeowners. You can make your own electricity instead of paying for it from a utility company and benefit from solar tax credits and rebates, all while helping protect the Earth.
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Solar Incentives in Mankato
If you’re thinking about making the switch to solar power, several government incentives and solar rebates can immensely lower your project costs and expedite the return on your investment.When you install solar panels, you become eligible to claim the federal tax credit, or ITC. This credit currently lets you reduce your tax bill by 0 of the cost of your solar panels. In addition, there are often some regional incentives that you can take advantage of to further cut back on the cost of solar of solar panels. Our article on solar incentives has more in-depth information on the incentives you can take advantage of in Mankato.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Mankato
If you want to add solar panels to your home, one of the principal reasons why may be to lower your greenhouse gas emissions.Something many might be wondering about is how much can they really help save the environment by going solar anyway? If your home uses a lot of energy, you can help the environment even more by switching to solar power.In fact, if you make the switch to solar power, you could look forward to lowering your carbon dioxide emissions by about 90 pounds each year. For homeowners who care about the environment, the upfront cost of solar is a small price to pay for the offset carbon emissions.
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 Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
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
EcoWatch's Mankato, MN Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar panel installer is the best near me?
The best local solar company in Mankato is The Solar Store Mankato, with a rating of 3.00 stars.
What is the negative environmental impact of solar panel manufacturing?
Solar panels can be detrimental for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals in the construction. 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.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels can be a good investment for a majority of homeowners, but honestly, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get enough sunlight or your energy bills are already pretty low, solar panels might not be for you.
How efficient are 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 of about 15 to 25%. If your panels are more efficient, you'll need fewer 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.