NEVADA
Solar in Nevada
With an average of 252 sunny days in Nevada,* it’s no surprise that the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) ranks the Sagebrush State sixth in the nation for solar energy production.* In addition, the scorching Western sun – and several aggressive state government-backed incentives – work to increase Nevada residents’ commitment to pursuing clean energy.
Solar potential in Nevada?
Nevada has a great potential for solar energy. The state receives an average of 5.2 hours of sunlight per day, which is above the national average of 3.8 hours of sunlight per day. This means that Nevada has a good potential for solar energy generation.
Nevada currently produces a whopping 3,903.8 MW of solar energy per year.* That said, Google’s Project Sunroof indicates that the state has plenty of room to grow. The study suggests that 95% of Nevada’s buildings are solar-viable and could produce up to 10,900 MW of solar power annually,* the equivalent of removing 1.4 million cars from the road for a year.
Cost of solar in Nevada?
The cost of a home solar system can vary due to a range of factors, even in the same state. These include:
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Local weather
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Household energy needs
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Quality of the solar panels
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Percentage of the roof that has shade
In Nevada, we found that the cost of owning a 5 kW solar system ranges from $12,550 to $37,800, or in other words, from $2.51 to $7.56 per watt—and that’s before considering the benefits of any available tax credits or incentives.
As in the rest of the country, the average cost of solar panels for a home in Nevada has decreased by 43% over the last five years. Solar energy projects can range from comprehensive installations, power farms, and other large-scale ventures to small consumer installations for individual homes.
Nevada does offer various incentive programs for qualifying residential and business property owners.
For example, after purchasing a home solar system, you may be eligible for a 30% federal Investment Tax Credit, which you can claim on your income taxes for the year of installation.*
Local municipalities and utility companies may offer additional benefits, as well, in the form of net metering. Utility providers such as NV Energy and Valley Electric Association provide credits to solar panel owners for every MW of excess solar energy that their systems produce and send back to the grid.*
Solar panels for homes in Nevada do more than reduce the homeowners’ tax bills. The state has seen a significant decrease in solar system installation costs over the past five years. As a result, the payback period has dropped to only 8 to 9.8 years, meaning that your solar system will pay for itself in less than a decade. Additionally, installing a standard 5.9 kW system on your home can lead to as much as $33,700 in lifetime savings.
Advantages?
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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.
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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.
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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 Nevada a more sustainable state.
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State incentives: Nevada offers a number of incentives for homeowners who install solar panels. These incentives can include tax credits, rebates, and grants.
Solar systems can help keep Nevada’s stunning scenery clean and unpolluted for future generations as well. Solar power systems drastically reduce greenhouse gas that homes and businesses produce as they improve local air quality.* In fact, installing a standard 5 kW solar system at your home has the same CO2-reducing effects as planting 200 trees.*
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.
Nevada state policies?
Net metering: Nevada 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: Nevada 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): Nevada 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): Nevada has a solar RPS that requires utilities to generate a certain percentage of their electricity from solar power. The RPS is currently set at 1.5%, and it is scheduled to increase to 2.5% by 2025. This policy is expected to help drive demand for solar panels in Nevada.
Nevada Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Act: The Nevada Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Act was passed in 2017. This law sets a number of goals for energy efficiency and renewable energy in Nevada, 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 Arizona? 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 Arizona, please contact us today for a free virtual consultation.
We look forward to helping you make the switch to solar!