Go Solar in Maine

It may not seem it in the midst of a Nor’easter, but Maine actually receives quite an incredible amount of solar energy each year – in fact, a full 33% more sunshine than Germany, the world leader in solar energy adoption. Our climate may be cold, but cold is actually good for solar panels. In the brisk but sunny fall and spring, solar panel installations in Maine will produce a disproportionately high amount of power, helping to make up for any power loss due to solar panels covered in snow.

Mainers going solar have a few options, the most popular is a grid-tied solar electric array. ‘Grid-tied’ means that the system will connect to the public utility grid, providing reliable backup power for when there is insufficient sun to power your home, such as at night or on cloudy days.

Conversely, a grid-tied system also sells excess power to the grid, meaning, when it is sunny and your system is producing more solar power than you can use, you’ll send the power back to the public grid, powering your neighbor’s house and earning you a credit. The solar credits you earn can be used against future power consumption from the grid.

Most of the systems we design will meet close to 100% of a home’s needs in a given year. In the summer, you will tend to produce more power than you need and you will earn a credit. In the winter, you will tend to need more power than you produce and so you’ll consume those solar credits. At the end of the year, you should be at or close to zero credits in the solar bank, a situation we call ‘net-zero’ (not to be confused with ‘off-grid,’ which means not using the utility grid at all!).

Recent pushes to develop Maine’s solar industry and expand installations resulted in numerous incentive programs that make installing solar with companies in Maine more cost-efficient and beneficial than ever before! In addition to net-metering, homeowners and businesses can take advantage of the federal solar tax credit, which is currently available at 30%. Learn more on our guide. 

During the free 1-2 hour consult, you’ll get a wealth of information about your home’s usage of energy, and a customized proposal, including return on investment calculations with financing options. Our goal is to help you come to an educated decision on why solar and complementary technologies (heat pumps, water heaters, etc.) are right for your home.

We provide this service free of cost and free of pressure. We listen to you so we can understand your goals related to energy in your home. Based on what you tell us, and a professional technical evaluation of your site, we custom design a system or multiple systems to accomplish those goals. This is not a sales pitch; we aim to become a trusted partner in your transition to clean energy.

• Which clean energy technologies will best meet your family’s energy goals
• What size solar array will fit on your roof and expected output for that system
• Ways to finance solar and other improvements – such as our zero money down “Own Your Power” loan or upfront purchase option
• How solar will improve the value of your home
• How solar works in tandem with heat pumps and other solutions to offer huge savings over fossil fuel alternatives

1. You schedule a call with our team.

Book a call above and a member of our team will be in touch ASAP.

2. We discuss your solar project together. 

We’ll use your address and electric bill to create a free preliminary estimate of your home’s solar potential, savings, and costs. 

3. An experienced specialist will come to your home. 

If solar looks like a good fit, one of our specialists will come to your home to check out your roof and discuss your energy goals.

4. We design your custom system.

Your specialist will design a personalized plan, present financing options, and provide a realistic overview of projected energy savings all within a comprehensive project quote.

5. We handle the paperwork and prep for install.

Once we move forward with the project, we’ll take care of permits, grid interconnection, and schedule a second site visit to ensure everything’s ready for a smooth installation.

6. We install your system

On installation day our crew will install your system, keeping you informed along the way and leaving no trace in your home.

7. Your system turns on and you start saving

Once connected to the grid, you’ll start enjoying lower bills and clean energy. We’re here to support you with any questions or service needs!

• We handle all paperwork and permits, and connect you with the right incentives
• High-quality installation from a crew made up entirely of employee-owners
• Tier 1 panels manufactured in the USA
• A 25-year solar manufacturer warranty for your system 
• 24/7 support from our in-house Service Team

A few factors impact whether or not solar will work for your home: the roof’s age, material, size, angle, and shading. The best roofs face Southeast to Southwest and don’t have obstructions like chimneys or skylights. If your roof isn’t ideal, there's the option to install a ground-mounted system instead!

We get that it’s tough to know what’s real and what’s just a sales pitch – we're here to make it easy. Our sales team isn’t paid solely on commission, so there’s no pressure to sell projects that aren’t a good fit. We’ll be honest with you about whether solar makes sense for your home. 

The cost of your installation will depend on how much energy you need, how much sunlight your home gets, and any local incentives available. If you pay a monthly electric bill, we offer financing options that are designed to be less than your current bill.

With solar, you can significantly lower or even eliminate your electric bill, depending on your energy use and local electricity rates (you'll still see a ~$17 charge on your bill because the utility company charges a fee for keeping your home connected to the power grid). Even if solar only cuts your bill by half, you'd save thousands over the life of your system. Plus, solar locks in a lower electric rate, protecting you from future increases in energy prices.

You have several ways to pay for your solar system. You can pay upfront with cash, which offers the best return, or choose a solar loan with flexible terms. We work with lenders to provide loans where your monthly payments are less than your current electric bill. You can also use a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) for lower interest rates or explore other financing options like personal loans.

Solar doesn’t demand much in terms of maintenance, but if any issues come up, our service team is on it. Unlike companies that rely on third-party warranty providers, we handle everything ourselves. Our technicians have decades of collective experience, and we provide 24/7 in-house remote support regardless of warranty status. Your system is in good hands for its entire life.  

The answer is that it's up to you. After finalizing your system details, our Customer Experience team will present you with a contract, help you navigate the details, and answer any questions. Once signed you will be added to our installation queue and a date will be set for your project.