Santa Rosa, California

Santa Rosa, California goes solar with SunPower®

Go solar in the City of Natural Lakes

The state of solar in Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa, CA, is the ideal location for a solar system installation with an average of 256 sunny days per year* and 9.5 to 15 hours of daylight each day.* At 92%, nearly all the rooftops in the city are solar viable.* In 2020, the city committed to reaching carbon neutrality by 2030.


How much solar energy does santa rosa produce?

With a population of 176,753, Santa Rosa has 9025 kW per capita of installed solar capacity, equating to approximately 159.52 MW. Since becoming a Solar American City in 2008,* solar development in Santa Rosa has expanded significantly with much of the city's infrastructure running on solar power.

For instance, the Laguna Wastewater Treatment Plant relies on a 126 kW rooftop PV system, and Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital features a 1.6 MW array.* Private and commercial ventures in the city are also going solar. Santa Rosa Junior College has a 2.6 MW system, and Whole Foods Market has a total of 2.6 MW installed throughout the city.*

What are the advantages of going solar in Santa Rosa?

The current rate for grid-supplied electricity in Santa Rosa is 15.59 cents per kWh, 31.23% above the U.S. average.* As energy costs continue to rise, the most significant advantage of going solar is saving money with lower electric bills.

A 5 kW solar system in Santa Rosa can offer electricity cost savings as high as $47,000 over 20 years and will typically pay for itself within 6-7 years.* With favorable net metering policies in the area,* you can also send any excess electricity your system produces to the grid in exchange for credits to offset any electricity you use from the grid during times of low production.

As the state of California aims to run on 100% clean energy by 2045, various rebates, incentives, and financing options are in place to reach this objective, many of which are available to Santa Rosa residents.*

How much does solar cost in Santa Rosa?

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

  • Household's energy needs

  • Local weather

  • Available roof space

  • Quality of the solar system

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 Santa Rosa, we found that the cost of owning a 5 kW solar system ranges from $12,800 to $38,600, or in other words, from $2.56 to $7.72 per watt. And that's before considering the benefits of any available tax credits or incentives.

Various local and federal incentives are available to Santa Rosa residents, reducing the cost of going solar. With the Federal Solar Tax Credit, you may qualify for a 30% credit for the purchase of your solar PV installation costs on your federal income taxes,* including:

  • Labor costs of onsite installation

  • System assembly and installation

  • System piping and wiring

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) customers can also take advantage of the state-run Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP). SGIP offers a by-kW rebate for installed solar battery storage.*

The program runs on a step-down system with rebates decreasing over time. In Santa Rosa, the program will move to step seven soon with a rebate of .20 per kW. Low-income customers may qualify for higher rebates.*

What's the best way to go solar in Santa Rosa?

The process of going solar should start with a thorough assessment of your energy needs. For example, do you want your solar PV system to meet a portion of your electricity demand, or do you want to generate surplus energy to transfer to the grid for credit or store for downtimes?

You also have to consider various factors, including the roof space you have available for solar PV panels, your budget, and your property's aesthetics.

Working with a reputable professional solar company makes it easy to find the right solar energy system for your home or business. They should offer a free consultation providing a custom system design, monthly electric bill savings estimate, price quote, and an overview of available incentives and tax credits before signing a contract.

SunPower can guide you through the process of going solar in Santa Rosa. Our team will help you assess your energy and savings needs and provide you with high-quality, high-efficient solar panels. To get solar for your home and help reduce your electricity costs, schedule a free consultation with one of our solar experts below. Get started today!

Start saving with solar! Schedule your online appointment with SunPower.

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