6 Best Solar Companies in French Island, WI (2024 Reviews)

We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 6 in French Island based on:

  • Customer review scores
  • Service area for French Island, WI
  • Company policies and services offered
  • Accreditations and certifications

Average French Island homeowner saves $1,570/year with solar panels

By EcoWatch Local Advisors

Data Analysis: James Savino

Ranking Methodology: Karsten Neumeister

Updated April 21, 2024

Why you can trust EcoWatch

We work with a panel of solar experts to create unbiased reviews that empower you to make the right choice for your home. No other site has covered renewables as long as us, which means we have more data and insider information than other sites. Our rankings are never affected by revenue or partnerships.

Best Solar Companies in French Island

As a homeowner or business owner in French Island, you may be considering switching to solar energy and curious about the best solar companies in your area. Solar could be a good idea since it comes with many perks. Because solar panels produce their own power, they can vastly bring down your electricity bill each month, if not completely eliminate it. In fact, you could be looking at about $19,000 of savings over 20 years.


As you start your search for the best solar companies in French Island, you’ll find that there are many providers to choose between. So, we’ve organized a carefully curated list of the top solar companies in the area.To get an estimate of what it could cost to install solar panels on your roof, you can click the button below to be connected to a certified installer near you.

Best National Provider

SunPower

★★★★★
5.0
  • Most efficient panels on the market
  • National coverage
  • Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
  • Great warranty coverage
  • Expensive
  • Customer service varies by local dealer

Best for Leasing

Sunrun

★★★★★
4.0
  • Expansive service area
  • Many financing options
  • Some reported issues with customer service
  • Some reported issues with door-to-door sales

Best Social Impact

Palmetto Solar

★★★★★
4.0
  • 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 French Island

Best Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

4.9/5

Olson Solar Energy

  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Panel Installation
  • Service icon Consultation
  • Service icon Grid-Tied Solar System

Website: http://www.olsonsolarenergy.com/
Address: 1447 Oak Forest Dr, Onalaska, WI 54650
Phone: 6087802347
Outstanding Local Installer
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EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

Solar Connection Inc.

  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Panel Installation
  • Service icon Consultation
  • Service icon Permit Assistance

Website: https://solarconnectioninc.com/
Address: 920 10th Ave N, Onalaska, WI 54650
Phone: 6087814683
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

4.9/5

Ethos Green Power Cooperative

  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Panel Installation
  • Service icon Battery Storage
  • Service icon Financing Assistance
  • Service icon Consultation

Website: http://ethos.green/
Address: 729 N Main St, Viroqua, WI 54665
Phone: 6086373797
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

Champion Solar

  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Financing Assistance
  • Service icon Panel Installation
  • Service icon Consultation
  • Service icon Permit Assistance
  • Service icon Skilled Repairs
  • Service icon Battery Storage
  • Service icon Cleaning and Maintenance

Website: http://www.championsolar.com/
Address: 7010 US-61, Minnesota City, MN 55959
Phone: 5073120190
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

Blake Electric, Inc.

  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Permit Assistance
  • Service icon Cleaning and Maintenance
  • Service icon Consultation
  • Service icon Panel Installation

Website: http://www.blakeelectricinc.com/
Address: 3 W Main St, Waukon, IA 52172
Phone: 5635683686
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

Midwest Solars

  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Battery Storage
  • Service icon Panel Installation

Website: https://midwestsolars.com/
Address: 910 Countryside Pkwy, Mondovi, WI 54755
Phone: 3214469029

Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in French Island

EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in French Island 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 French Island


Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Wisconsin 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 French Island

While solar panels can save you a decent chunk of change on energy over time, it’s necessary to take into consideration the upfront costs.A few main factors that dictate how much it will cost to install a solar panel system on your home and how much it could save you over time are:

  • Energy consumption: Installing a solar system may be too steep of an investment for homes that don’t use a lot of energy a month.
  • System size and type: Some models are more pricy than others, so the one you get can raise or lower your upfront cost. Plus, the more solar panels you need, the more it'll cost.
  • The amount of sunlight your roof gets: Because of French Island’s relatively low amount of average daily sunlight, you might not see as many savings on your energy bills.
  • Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit currently allows you to decrease your taxes by 0 of the project cost. Your state and even local utility companies may also have incentives and rebates that you can use. Additionally, you can save about $19,000 over 20 years on your utility bills, without incentives.

Due to the cost of solar panels being lower than before as well as various solar incentives, they are a sound investment for the majority of homeowners.

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Solar Incentives in French Island

Although solar power is typically a big investment, it can save you a lot of money over the lifespan of your solar panels because of smaller power bills and government incentives.On top of the federal solar investment tax credit, there are also some local programs, which in the majority of cases, can be claimed in addition to the federal incentive, so you can save even more. In our article on solar incentives, you can read about the incentives you qualify for in your area.

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in French Island

Switching to solar energy can have a meaningful effect on the environment.Something many homeowners might be thinking about is how much can they really help protect the environment by switching to solar power anyway? The average person has a rather large carbon footprint. Between their car, which releases over 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions a year, and electricity for their home, it can be overwhelming to figure out what to do. Installing solar panels is a simple thing you can do to help.When you go solar, your carbon emissions can be lowered by about 90 pounds a year. Since solar energy is plentiful and produces electricity without a carbon footprint, adding solar panels to your home is one easy step you can take to help the environment.

Best National Provider

SunPower

★★★★★
5.0
  • Most efficient panels on the market
  • National coverage
  • Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
  • Great warranty coverage
  • Expensive
  • Customer service varies by local dealer

Best for Leasing

Sunrun

★★★★★
4.0
  • Expansive service area
  • Many financing options
  • Some reported issues with customer service
  • Some reported issues with door-to-door sales

Best Social Impact

Palmetto Solar

★★★★★
4.0
  • Expansive service area
  • Makes charitable contributions
  • Certified B Corp
  • No leases or PPAs
  • Quality of installation may vary by location

EcoWatch's French Island, WI Solar Company Rankings FAQs

Which solar company is the best near me?

In French Island, Olson Solar Energy is the best local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.90 stars, so it's a solid choice if you're planning to add solar panels to your house.

Are solar panels really environmentally friendly?

Solar panels can be detrimental 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. Solar panel manufacturing needs a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.

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 13.8 years, but the exact period varies by the cost of electricity where you are, incentives and net metering programs.

How long do solar panels last?

On average, the lifespan of solar panels is about 25 to 30 years. Some even last up to 50 years, but efficiency goes down by about 0.8% each year. You can choose to replace them sooner if you want to maintain a higher 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.