Clean solar energy lights up the Golf Capital of the World

The state of solar in Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City may not be among the sunniest city in the U.S. with an only slightly above-average 220 sunny days per year,^*Best Places. Salt Lake City, Utah Climate, May 2021. but it is one of the top cities in the nation for solar capacity, earning the distinction of a “Solar Star” city from the Environment America Research & Policy Center. Salt Lake City ranks 11th for per capita solar capacity and 22nd for total capacity.

In keeping with the city’s Climate Positive 2040 Plan, Salt Lake City has worked towards removing barriers to solar adoption to help achieve its goal of net-100% clean energy by 2040. For homeowners, there’s never been a better time to go solar in Salt Lake City.

How much solar energy does Salt Lake City produce?

Salt Lake City boasted a combined 28.32 MW of installed solar capacity at the end of 2019—enough energy to power between 11,000 and 25,000 homes per year. That works out to a per-capita capacity of 114.17 Watts per person. According to the city, solar met 14% of the municipality’s energy needs in 2018.

What are the advantages of going solar in Salt Lake City?

Environmental benefits are one popular reason to go solar in Salt Lake City. If every solar-viable rooftop in the city were to feature a solar system, the resulting reduction in carbon emissions would have the same environmental impact as removing 105,000 cars from the road for one year.^*Google, Project Sunroof data explorer (November 2018).

That said, there are also monetary advantages of going solar. Installing a 5 kW solar system could save you nearly $20,000 over 20 years of use. Your system may even pay for itself within a decade.^*Energy Sage. Solar Panels in Salt Lake City, UT. May 2021. Once you recoup your installation costs, you’ll enjoy virtually free electricity from the solar system.

Adding battery storage to your system can also grant more energy security. With backup solar power, you can keep lights and other appliances on, even if grid power goes out. That’s one reason adding a solar system to your home will increase its value.

How much does solar cost in Salt Lake City?

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

• Type of roof

• Available unshaded roof space

• Quality of the solar system

• Size 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 a third-party source 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 Utah, we found that the cost of owning a 5 kW solar system ranges from $13,950 to $34,750, or in other words, from $2.79 to $6.95 per watt. And that's before considering the benefits of any available tax credits or incentives.

If you purchase your system rather than lease it, you might be able to claim the 26% Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC). Utah also offers a Renewable Energy Systems Credit, which allows you to claim up to 25% of your system costs on your state income taxes with a maximum credit of $2,000.^*The availability of tax credits is subject to change. Please visit the dsireusa.org website for detailed solar policy information.

What’s the best way to go solar in Salt Lake City?

If you’re ready to install a home solar system, keep in mind that all solar systems are not created equally. The quality, appearance, and durability of your system will vary depending on the solar company you choose to work with.

The size of your system and the number of panels you need will depend on several factors, including your budget, available unshaded roof space, your household energy needs, and your goals. If you need to minimize costs while maximizing energy production, you may prefer a few high-efficiency solar panels.

On the other hand, if you want to generate extra solar power to sell back to your utility provider or store at your home, you may choose a larger system that covers all available roof space with high-efficiency panels. A reputable solar provider can help you take all these factors into consideration and provide a custom system design to meet your needs.

Get started today by requesting a free consultation, and we’ll follow up with a quick call to schedule a time. You can also call us directly at (800) 786-7693.