5 Best Solar Companies in Virginia, MN (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 5 in Virginia based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Virginia, MN
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Virginia homeowner saves $1,473/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Virginia
Looking to go solar but want to know which solar company would be the best one for your needs? Although it can be hard to choose a solar company, the search will pay off because going solar has many fantastic benefits. Due to Virginia's decent level of sunshine on average, the solar industry has been growing steadily.
To help you comb through the large variety of Virginia solar installers, we’ve come up with a list of the top ones.To get free quotes from the top-rated solar companies in Virginia, 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 Virginia
Nelson Collie Electric
Family-Operated Business- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Cleaning and Maintenance- Panel Installation
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Skilled Repairs
Wescom, Inc
- Informative Resources
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
- Skilled Repairs
Optimum Energy Group
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
Benson Electric Company
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Skilled Repairs
Wolf Track Energy
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Virginia
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Virginia 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 Virginia
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 Virginia
For many people, the decision of which solar company to go with depends on pricing.A few main factors that determine how much it will cost to install solar panels on your home and how much it could save you over time are:
- The kind of solar panels you can buy: This hinges on how much you’re willing to spend upfront.
- How much energy you use: If your family regularly uses a lot of energy, you'll see more savings from switching to solar.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit currently allows you to reduce your taxes by 0 of the project cost. Your state and city may also have incentives and rebates that you can benefit from. Plus, you can save about $17,000 over 20 years on your utility bills, without incentives.
- Your current electricity bills: Solar panels can significantly lower, or entirely eliminate, your utility bills. In Virginia, you can save an average of $1,392 a month.
Even though a solar panel system costs a sizable chunk of money upfront, it can save you a considerable amount over the lifespan of your panels. The question of how much, though, depends on several factors, including the kind of solar panels you get and your energy consumption.
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Solar Incentives in Virginia
In an effort 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 financially viable and accessible.These incentives mostly consist of cash rebates, tax benefits and/or performance-based incentives. They can lower how much you end up spending on installing solar panels by 0, upwards of 50% depending on your location. Our article on solar incentives has more in-depth information on the incentives you can benefit from in Virginia.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Virginia
Switching to solar energy can have a beneficial impact on the environment.You may be trying to figure out – how much do solar panels help the planet anyway? For those who care about the environment, switching to solar power is a no-brainer, especially since Virginia produces a very high amount of carbon dioxide emissions from its energy generation.Because solar panels don’t release CO2 emissions into the atmosphere when generating electricity, they’re a good swap for nonrenewable energy sources. In fact, you could reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 80 pounds each year. As you can see, using solar power has so many other rewards besides saving money. One of the most important 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
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 Virginia, MN Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar power company is the best in Virginia?
The top local solar company in Virginia is Nelson Collie Electric, with a rating of 3.00 stars.
What are the main advantages and disadvantages of adopting solar power?
A few of the biggest pros are that it lets you spend less on your power bills, it’s eco-friendly, and it gives you a good return on your investment (ROI). The most notable cons are that solar panels don’t produce electricity at night, the startup costs are high and solar panels can look clunky on your roof.
Is it worth putting solar panels on my roof?
Solar panels need a significant upfront investment that costs over ten thousand dollars, but whether or not solar panels are worth it depends on a variety of factors like local electricity rates and how much direct sunlight your roof gets.
How often do solar panels need to be replaced?
On average, the lifespan of solar panels is about 25 to 30 years. Some even last up to 50 years, but efficiency decreases by about 0.8% each year. You can choose to replace them sooner if you want to maintain a larger level of energy production.
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.