Painting a new picture of the future with solar energy

The state of solar in Harrisburg

At 193 days, Harrisburg sees more sunshine than many cities in Pennsylvania^*Best Places. Climate in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. May 2021.—the state average is 179 days.^*Best Places. Climate in Pennsylvania. May 2021. An estimated 78% of the city’s rooftops are also solar viable, ^*Google, Project Sunroof data explorer (November 2018). and as the state pushes for clean energy adoption with generous solar incentives, more residents are making the switch.

How much solar energy does Harrisburg produce?

While neither Harrisburg nor Dauphin County has released any official stats on their solar capacity, based on the Generation Attribute Tracking System (GATS) for Renewable Energy Credits (REC), Dauphin County is home to no less than 1,039 installations generating 196.093 MW of solar energy.

Not all installations in the GATS database provide an address, but of those that do, 89 are in Harrisburg. Those installations have a combined solar capacity of 1,904.75 kW.

What are the advantages of going solar in Harrisburg?

Solar power can offer significant environmental benefits. Harrisburg features many aquatic-adjacent activities such as Riverfront Park and the riverboat cruises on the Pride of the Susquehanna.^*Select Registry. 6 Interesting Things to do in Harrisburg, PA. December 2020. However, due to climate change, the river has brought an elevated flood risk.

Warmer winters have also failed to kill off tick populations as the once chilly December days did in years past, leading to an increase in tick-transmitted disease.^*PA Media. Wolf Administration Reminds Pennsylvanians to Avoid Ticks. March, 2021. Solar energy is one small step towards stopping these environmental issues. Solar energy is carbon neutral and reduces greenhouse gas emissions in our community.

Going solar is also advantageous for your wallet. A 5 kW solar PV system can offer electricity cost savings of up to $26,000 over 20 years and potentially pay for itself within ten years.^*Energy Sage. Solar Panels in Harrisburg, PA. April 2021.

How much does solar cost in Harrisburg?

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

• Household’s energy needs

• Available unshaded roof space

• Efficiency of the solar panels

• Chosen equipment options (batteries, grid-tie inverter, etc.)

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 Harrisburg, we found that the cost of purchasing a 5 kW solar system ranges from $11,850 to $20,100, or in other words, from $2.37 to $4.02 per watt. And that's before considering the benefits of any available tax credits or incentives.

In Pennsylvania, opting for a grid-tied system can open the door to a few incentives. First, net metering allows you to transfer any excess electricity you produce to the grid for a credit on your bill.^*The availability of net metering varies by location and is subject to change. Visit dsireusa.org for detailed solar policy information. Net metering can be an effective way to offset any electricity usage from the grid at night or other times of low production.

You may also be able to couple net metering with the Pennsylvania solar renewable energy certificate (SREC) program. You could earn one SREC per megawatt-hour of electricity your solar PV system generates—and you can sell SRECs.^*Local incentives and rebates vary and are subject to change. Visit dsireusa.org for detailed solar policy information.. The value of an SREC varies based on supply and demand, but as of May 2021, an SREC in Harrisburg is worth around $23.^*SRECTrade. Pennsylvania. May 2021.

Finally, you may be eligible for the 26% federal tax credit. To qualify, you must purchase rather than lease your system. The credit applies to equipment costs, including your installation and permitting costs.^*Tax credits are subject to change. Visit dsireusa.org for detailed solar policy information.

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

As installing a solar system is an involved process with many factors to consider, it's best to work with a reputable solar provider.

Your solar provider should help you design a custom solar system that fits the unique slope of your roof, accounts for any shaded areas, adheres to your budget, and suits your energy needs. If you have questions regarding your system options, such as whether to add battery storage, your solar provider should be able to walk you through everything.

If you’re ready to get started, request a free consultation today. We’ll follow-up with a quick call to schedule a time, or you can also call us directly at 1-385-489-5552.