Solar energy is lighting up Tempe, AZ

The state of solar in Tempe

Clean energy is important to the city of Tempe. In 2014, the city council set a goal to produce at least 20% of its energy from clean energy sources by 2025. Tempe has implemented several solar projects across the city to work toward this goal, including installing solar arrays at water treatment plants, the rec center, library, and more. The city also encourages its residents to implement solar energy sources for their homes by providing a website with helpful resources about how to go solar and incentives that may reduce your costs.

How much solar energy does Tempe produce?

Tempe enjoys an impressive 300 sunny days per year—about 46% more than the average U.S. city.^*Best Places. Climate in Tempe Arizona. April 2021. It’s no wonder, then, that 96% of the city’s rooftops are solar viable. As of November 2018, Tempe had only utilized a small number of those building’s with an estimated 852 solar installations across the city.^*Google, Project Sunroof data explorer (November 2018).

However, that number continues to grow as the city strives to meet its 2025 clean energy goals and implements municipal solar sources.

The Johnny G. Martinez Water Treatment Plant currently features a 1.2 MW solar energy system that provides for 30% of the plant’s energy needs. Tempe also has several smaller municipal solar plants, such as the 537 kW system at the East Valley Bus & Operations Center and the 372 kW system at the Kiwanis Recreation Center. The total solar capacity for all the municipal-owned solar installations in Tempe is 4.098 MW.

What are the advantages of going solar in Tempe?

While electricity costs in Arizona are generally lower than in other states, they are slowly climbing with rates in the Phoenix area up .9% in 2020 and another .2% in the first two months of 2021. In contrast, solar installation costs in the state have dropped 45% over the last five years.^*Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). Arizona Solar. Q4 2020. As electricity costs continue to rise and solar prices drop, a solar system has the potential to offer significant savings.

A 5 kW solar system could pay for itself in as little as 7-8 years and offer electricity cost savings of upwards of $42,000 over 20 years of use—and that's before factoring in things like the federal and state tax credits.^*Energy Sage. Solar panels in Tempe, Arizona. April 2021. Tax credits subject to change. Consult your tax advisor regarding the solar tax credit and how it applies to your specific circumstances. Visit dsireusa.org for detailed

Going solar offers more than potential just monetary benefits, too. Solar is also a carbon-neutral energy source. While one solar system will have a minimal impact on local greenhouse gas emissions, as more community members make the switch, it adds up fast. If every rooftop in Tempe installed a solar system, it would offset 871,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of taking 184,000 cars off the road for a year.^*Google, Project Sunroof data explorer (November 2018).

How much does solar cost in Tempe?

The cost of a home solar system can vary, even in the same city, due to a range of factors. These include:

• Weather

• Roof space

• Angle of the roof

• Quality of the solar system’s panels and parts

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.^*Local Solar Installers 2020/2021, Solar Reviews 2021, Energy Sage 2021, Wood Mackenzie 2020, National Renewable Energy Laboratory 2020

In Tempe, we found that the cost of owning a 5 kW solar system ranges from $13,450 to $30,000, or in other words, from $2.69 to $5.00 per watt. And that's before considering the benefits of any available tax credits or incentives.

You may be able to take advantage of both the federal 30% tax credit (no limit) and Arizona’s 25% Residential Arizona Solar Tax Credit (capped at $1,000). Additionally, solar system installation costs are sales and property tax exempt.^*Incentives, rebates, and tax credits vary and are subject to change. Please visit the dsireusa.org website for detailed solar policy information.

What’s the best way to go solar in Tempe?

The first step in going solar is determining the right solar system for your property and specific needs, including your budget, available unshaded roof space, typical energy usage, and more.

Some homeowners prefer to produce excess solar energy to sell back to their utility companies through net metering programs.^*The availability of net metering varies by location and is subject to change. Please visit the dsireusa.org website for detailed solar policy information. Others look for small systems to keep costs low while reducing their electricity bills. The best way to ensure that the solar system you choose is suitable for your home is to contact a local solar provider. They can answer all your questions, provide a custom system design, price and savings estimate, and an overview of any available incentives.

Get started now by requesting a free consultation. We’ll follow up with a quick call to schedule a time that works for you. You can also call us directly at (800) 786-7693.