6 Best Solar Companies in Onalaska, WI (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 6 in Onalaska based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Onalaska, WI
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Onalaska homeowner saves $1,582/year with solar panels
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Best Solar Companies in Onalaska
Hoping to go solar but not sure which solar panel installer would be the best one for you? Although it can be challenging to find a solar company, the effort will pay off because going solar has many fantastic benefits. With good levels of average daily sunlight in Onalaska, the solar industry is growing steadily. An overlooked reason for this growth has been national and statewide incentives that help with residential and commercial solar projects.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to the top Onalaska solar installers so you can find the best one for your home’s solar energy needs.To get a sense of what it would cost to install solar panels on your roof, you can click the button below to get a quote from a certified installer near you.
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 for Leasing
Sunrun
- 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
- 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 Onalaska
Olson Solar Energy
Free Quotes- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Consultation- Panel Installation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
Solar Connection Inc.
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
Ethos Green Power Cooperative
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
Champion Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Consultation
Blake Electric, Inc.
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
Midwest Solars
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Onalaska
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Onalaska 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 Onalaska
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 Onalaska
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 several factors you should consider when trying to determine costs and your potential savings, such as:
- The type of solar panels you can buy: This is dependent on your income and budget.
- 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. In addition, you can save about $19,000 over 20 years on your utility bills, without incentives.
- The amount of sunlight your rooftop gets: Due to Onalaska’s relatively low amount of average daily sunlight, you might not see as many savings on your power bills.
- Typical energy usage: The more energy your home uses on average and the greater your current energy bills are, the more benefits you’ll see from switching to solar.
Although a solar panel system costs a good chunk of money upfront, it can save you a considerable amount over time. The question of how much, though, depends on a number of factors, like the size of your solar panel system and incentives.
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Solar Incentives in Onalaska
Adopting solar power has many great benefits. Not only can it help preserve the planet, but you can also save some money on your installation with various government incentives.Local solar incentive programs vary by location and, sometimes, utility company. A lot of states offer rebates for solar power systems, in addition to the federal solar tax credit. In our article on solar incentives, you can see the incentives you qualify for near you.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Onalaska
Lots of people want to do what they can for the environment, which for many is the main reason for installing solar panels.But how much can using solar energy instead of traditional energy actually affect the environment? According to the EPA, electricity generation is the second greatest source of greenhouse gas emissions and about 62% of our electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels. Using solar power can help reduce that number in a city like Onalaska that produces a large amount of carbon dioxide emissions each year.In Onalaska, the average homeowner can reduce their carbon footprint by 90 pounds a year after going solar. As you can see, using solar power has so many other benefits apart from saving money. One of the major ones is that you can help save the Earth 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 for Leasing
Sunrun
- 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
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch's Onalaska, WI Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar panel installer is the best near me?
The top local solar company in Onalaska is Olson Solar Energy, with a rating of 4.90 stars.
What are the best and worst things about solar power?
The advantages of solar power are that it can lower or, in some cases, completely cut your electricity bills, raise the value of your home and lower your carbon footprint. The disadvantages are that solar panels can be costly to install, you may not save a lot if you don’t use a lot of electricity and whether you can install solar panels depends on your roof configuration.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels call for a large upfront investment that costs over ten thousand dollars, but whether or not solar panels are worth it depends on a collection of factors like the cost of electricity near you and how much direct sunlight your roof gets.
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 for 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.