NEBRASKA
Solar in Nebraska
Nebraska experiences an average of 223 sunny days per year, which is way above the U.S. average of 205 sunny days.* With that much sunlight, installing solar panels is more than enough to provide all the commercial or residential electricity you need.
According to Google’s Project Sunroof, if 85% of the buildings in Nebraska installed solar panels, the state’s solar electricity production would exceed 6 million MW of AC per year.
Solar potential in Nebraska?
Nebraska has a great potential for solar energy. The state receives an average of 4.5 hours of sunlight per day, which is above the national average of 3.8 hours of sunlight per day. This means that Nebraska has a good potential for solar energy generation.
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), in the first quarter of 2021, Nebraska had 1,325 solar installations producing 63.3 MW of electricity. That’s just 0.23% of Nebraska’s electricity supply but enough to power 7,931 homes.
Cost of solar in Nebraska?
The cost of a home solar system can vary, even in the same state, due to a range of factors. These include:
Roof size and angle
Weather
Installation company
Solar panel quality
Property energy requirements
In Nebraska, we found that the average investment to own a 5 kW solar system ranges from $14,800 to $15,850, or in other words, from $2.96 to $3.17 per watt—and that’s before considering the benefits of any available tax credits or incentives.
Advantages?
These advantages include:
Reduced electricity bills: Solar panels can generate electricity for your home, which can help you reduce your electricity bills. The amount of savings you can expect will vary depending on the size of your solar system, the amount of sunlight your home receives, and your current electricity rates.
Increased home value: Solar panels can increase the value of your home. A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that homes with solar panels sell for an average of $15,000 more than homes without solar panels.
Environmental benefits: Solar panels are a clean and renewable source of energy. They do not produce any emissions, which can help to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Solar panels can also help to make Nebraska a more sustainable state.
State incentives: Nebraska offers a number of incentives for homeowners who install solar panels. These incentives can include tax credits, rebates, and grants.
If you’ve been delaying going solar in Nebraska, now is a great time to pull the trigger on solar panels for home use. Why? Solar installation prices have dropped by 43% over the past five years and using solar electricity is cheaper than grid electricity.
If you install a solar system on your Nebraska home today, you can save enough money to recover your solar investment within 6.1 to 7.4 years.* Another reason to install a solar system is that it adds value to your property – If you install a 5 kW system, it can increase your home’s value by up to $17,000.*
Lastly, if you go solar, you will reduce your carbon footprint. In fact, if 85% of Nebraska buildings installed solar panels, C02 emissions within the state would drop by 3.4 million metric tons.*
Disadvantages?
Shade: Solar panels need direct sunlight to generate electricity. If your home is in a shady area, or things are covering your panels you may not be able to generate as much electricity with solar panels.
Weather: Some Solar panels can be damaged by hail, snow, and strong winds. However, our solar panels are designed to withstand these conditions and even extreme weather conditions like hurricanes, tornado, and blizzards.
Panels aesthetic: Our solar panels are different. They are all black, sleek, and thin. They have a more modern look. Some people find solar panels on homes unattractive and if your feel like that we also offer Ground mount installations. It’s a great option if you have open land that receives good sunlight.
Nebraska state policies?
These policies include:
Net metering: Nebraska has a net metering policy that allows homeowners to sell excess solar power back to the grid at the retail rate. This means that for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of solar power that you generate and send back to the grid, you will receive a credit on your electricity bill.
Property tax exemption: Nebraska exempts homeowners from paying property taxes on the increased value of their home that is due to solar panels. This means that if you install solar panels and your home value increases by $10,000, you will not have to pay property taxes on that $10,000.
Solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs): Nebraska offers Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) to homeowners who generate solar power. SRECs are tradable certificates that represent 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) of solar generation. Utilities are required to purchase SRECs from solar generators in order to meet their renewable energy goals. The price of SRECs varies depending on the market, but they can provide an additional source of income for homeowners who generate solar power.
Solar Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS): Nebraska has a solar RPS that requires utilities to generate a certain percentage of their electricity from solar power. The RPS is currently set at 1%, and it is scheduled to increase to 2% by 2025. This policy is expected to help drive demand for solar panels in Nebraska.
Nebraska Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Act: The Nebraska Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Act was passed in 2017. This law sets a number of goals for energy efficiency and renewable energy in Nebraska, including:
Increasing energy efficiency by 20% by 2030
Generating 25% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030
Providing financial assistance to low-income households to make their homes more energy efficient.
Maintaining solar panels?
Solar panels are relatively low-maintenance. However, you should have them cleaned every few years to remove dirt, dust, and debris. You can clean your solar panels yourself, or you can hire a professional to do it for you.
What's the best way to go solar?
Are you interested in going solar in Nebraska? If so, we can help!
Before going solar, be sure to keep in mind factors that will affect the output of clean energy to your home. For instance, South-facing roofs generate the most energy, followed by west-facing roofs. North-facing roofs generate the least amount of energy. We look into multiple aspects to make sure you have the most effective setup such as roof orientation, roof pitch, shade, and weather.
We offer a free virtual consultation and savings report to help you determine if solar is right for you. We will also help you access solar incentives and rebates to reduce the cost of installation.
Freedom Forever solar panels system is Top-Tier and backed by a 25-year full system production guarantee. We also offer a satisfaction guarantee, so you can be sure that you are making the right decision and test it out stress free.
If you are interested in learning more about solar power in Nebraska, please contact us today for a free virtual consultation.
We look forward to helping you make the switch to solar!