MONATANA
Solar in Montana
Montana has about 189 sunny days per year.* Some cities, like Billings, get as many as 201 days of sunshine each year.* The state’s plentiful sunlight has attracted 26 solar companies and generated 288 solar power jobs. For now, just 0.29% of Montana’s power comes from solar,* but more homes and businesses are switching to solar because it is cheaper than grid power.
Solar potential in Montana?
Montana has a great potential for solar energy. The state receives an average of 5.1 hours of sunlight per day, which is above the national average of 3.8 hours of sunlight per day. This means that Montana has a good potential for solar energy generation.
The Treasure State has over 2,000 solar installations that generate 118.4 MW – enough to power over 16,000 homes. According to Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) projections, Montana’s solar output should reach 596 MW over the next five years.*
Cost of solar in Montana?
The cost of a home solar system can vary, even in the same state, due to a range of factors. These include:
Quality of the solar system
Permit and labor costs
Roof size and angle
Weather
Electricity requirements
To help you understand the price of going solar in your area, we’ve analyzed SunPower price quotes, as well as quotes gathered by third-party sources for thousands of homeowners across the country.* In Montana, we found that the average cost of a 5 kW solar system ranges from $12,700 to $15,650, or in other words from $2.54 to $3.13 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 Montana a more sustainable state.
State incentives: Montana offers a number of incentives for homeowners who install solar panels. These incentives can include tax credits, rebates, and grants.
Montana’s solar energy availability is 26% higher than the national average, making the state a prime location for home solar panels. Over the past five years, the cost of solar power in the state has dropped by 43%, making now a great time to invest in solar panels. The clean energy from installing a solar system will reduce your carbon footprint, so you will be contributing to the fight against climate change with solar power.
Besides powering your home with clean energy, adding solar panels to your home can increase your property value by up to $13,000. Since Montana is a grid parity state, powering your home or business with solar is cheaper than relying on the grid. The money you save on energy will pay for the solar system in as little as 13 years.
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.
Montana state policies?
These policies include:
Net metering: Montana 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: Montana 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): Montana 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.
Montana Solar Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS): Montana 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 Montana.
Montana Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Act: The Montana Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Act was passed in 2017. This law sets a number of goals for energy efficiency and renewable energy in Montana, 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.
What's the best way to go solar?
Are you interested in going solar in Montana? 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 Montana, please contact us today for a free virtual consultation.
We look forward to helping you make the switch to solar!
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