Best 5 Solar Companies in McMinnville, OR

McMinnville homeowners are purposeful about conserving resources and practicing eco-friendly lifestyles. That's why many people are purchasing panels from the top solar companies for their homes. With all the options to choose from in this vibrant community, you might feel burnt out searching for a good installer. In this guide, we'll highlight McMinnville's best solar providers and offer tips for your company choice, so you can find the perfect one for your home.

Ranking Methodology

Our team has screened dozens of solar contractors near McMinnville, emphasizing the following criteria:

• Service offerings and warranties: Solar providers should stand behind their equipment and services with warranties. We evaluated how each provider responds to issues and warranty claims, focusing on timeliness and customer happiness.
• Professional licenses and credentials: Each installer on our list meets state and city licensing requirements and stays up to date with industry best practices. Many of them have served the McMinnville community for more than a decade.
• Educational programs and business model: Solar technicians must be good teachers. They should use their years of experience address your questions on how to look after your system and optimize its performance.
• Panel quality and brand offerings: The leading solar companies stay up-to-date with new technology, providing equipment from reliable, innovative manufacturers.
• Feedback and reviews from customers: Most McMinnville solar contractors have both favorable and unfavorable reviews. However, a good review ratio indicates a company's trustworthiness and responsiveness to issues.

Benefits of Solar Energy

Solar energy has numerous advantages that will enhance your home for years to come.

• Reduced carbon footprint: Embracing solar is a surefire way to minimize your carbon footprint and home fossil fuel dependency.
• Lowered energy bills: With a solar array, you produce power without paying the tacked-on costs of grid-connected power. You can eliminate your bills completely if you go off-grid. Plus, a significant number of states offer net metering, which permit you to earn money by selling your unused energy back to the grid.
• Better energy independence: Adding a solar battery storage system lets you have trustworthy energy during storms and grid outages.

What Solar Incentives Are Available to McMinnville Homeowners?

Oregon homeowners who choose solar could qualify for special financing, tax credits, reimbursements and rebates. Here are just a few of the local incentive programs.

How To Choose the Best Solar Company in McMinnville

The cost and performance of solar panels often rely on the solar company that installed them. Consider all of these criteria in your contractor search.

Licensing and Training

Solar contractors in Oregon must be licensed and bonded according to the terms of the Oregon Construction Contractors Board. For PV installations, each standard journeyman on the job will have at least 8,000 hours of hands-on experience and must keep up with continuing education requirements. Installers of solar thermal systems must be either a licensed solar heating installer and a plumbing journeyman. You should also visit a company's website to learn about its private credentials. Two of the most prestigious are the Solar Heating Installer and PV Installation Professional certificates, granted by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). Some companies don't publish this information online, so you should also ask your estimator about them.

Cost of Solar Panels in McMinnville

Different solar panel types look and perform differently. Monocrystalline panels offer the best energy production but cost more than other options and generally have the highest quality. Polycrystalline panels produce less power, but start at a more budget-friendly price point. Thin-film panels work well for small projects like RVs and sheds, but they're not ideal for larger installations due to their low performance.

You can also add electric car (EV) chargers and battery backup systems. These will increase your total installation cost, but they can improve your solar system's efficiency. Not all solar providers include these optional components, so look for a contractor that sells them if it's essential for you.

If you're a resident of McMinnville and are looking into a five-kilowatt solar energy system, you could expect to pay about $17,500 for parts and installation. Find more information on specific component and solar panel costs in the table.

Financing Solar Energy in McMinnville

Choosing the right financing plan will affect your overall solar system cost and expected savings. Common payment options include power purchase agreements, loans, cash payments, and leases. Though it requires a large up-front payment, cash is the most economical choice because it doesn't accrue interest and qualifies you for incentives. Solar loans are the runner-up option. As with a home or auto loan, you'll pay a monthly rate towards system ownership, including interest. You can still apply for valuable solar incentives, and depending on your lender, you could put as little as $0 down. Solar leases involve paying a set monthly rate to use rooftop panels. A PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) lets you pay a monthly rate determined by the energy you use, like an electric bill. We generally don’t recommend these two options because you won't own the panels and are disqualified from using solar incentives. We suggest working with a contractor that offers multiple financing options. Ask each representative about what's available, and acquire more than one estimate for the best odds of staying within your budget.

The table below lists the average payback periods for different capacities of solar systems in McMinnville.

A 26% federal solar tax credit applies to recently-purchased solar equipment purchased through 2032. Extra incentives may be available through city and state governments, usually in the form of rebates and special financing programs.

Sources

• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
• U.S. Department of Energy