Solar energy is only just beginning to emerge as a power source in North Dakota. Today, coal and wind energy are the most common power sources in the state, with solar trailing far behind.
Though the SEIA says the cost of solar panels has fallen significantly in the last decade, North Dakota residents normally pay low energy prices, so investing in solar panels doesn't always make financial sense for the state's residents. If you live in North Dakota and are interested in solar panels for your home, you'll be more limited in your choice of installer and available incentives than in other states.
Aside from the residential clean energy credit, which is a federal tax credit that provides a 30% rebate on clean energy purchases for all US residents, there aren't many state-level incentives within the Peace Garden State. Net metering policies allow homeowners to send excess power generated by solar panels back to the grid, gaining credits they can use to pull energy from the grid outside of peak sunlight hours. Property tax exemptions simply disregard your solar panel system when your home's value is being calculated.
If you have high electricity bills, solar panels could help you save money on energy costs while also lowering your carbon footprint. These are the best solar panel installation companies operating within North Dakota.
Best national solar panel companies in North Dakota
Tesla Solar
Most affordable
Read full review
Tesla's solar branch seems to be the least loved of Elon Musk's ventures. Even Tesla's Solar Roof seems to get more love.
If price is the thing you won't budge on, consider Tesla. By all accounts, Tesla installs quality panels and makes the closest thing there is to a household name in solar storage: the Powerwall.
Where you might miss out is customer service. Discussion online seems to suggest Tesla's service is a bit of a gamble.
Local solar panel companies in North Dakota
Since there aren't many large solar companies in North Dakota, you might have more luck going with a local installer. Here are a few to consider.
With 18 years of experience, GenPro Energy Solutions was founded in South Dakota and offers a variety of energy-related services, including solar installations. GenPro offers grid-tied and off-grid solar installations. You can buy solar panels upfront or finance them with a solar loan. GenPro offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee, though its website doesn't elaborate on what this guarantee covers or specific warranty terms. If you're a customer of GenPro, you can submit a warranty request directly through its website.
Lightspring Solar is a local installer serving North Dakota and Minnesota. This company entered the market in 2018 and, according to its website, has installed hundreds of kilowatts of solar capacity and battery storage. Lighthouse Solar offers installations for residential, commercial and community solar projects. With this installer, you can purchase your system upfront or with a solar loan.
Lighthouse Solar installs rooftop and ground-mounted solar panels and can also design and install off-grid solar systems. If off-grid solar interests you, Lighthouse Solar might be a good fit. Its solar panels and inverters come with 25-year manufacturer warranties, and Lighthouse Solar offers a 25-year quality-of-work warranty.
How to determine which solar company in North Dakota is best for you
Solar is a costly investment. And you'll want to make sure you're picking the right installer for the job. Here are a few tips to help you find a reputable installer.
- Understand federal, state and local solar incentives. Make sure your installer can accurately explain how tax credits and incentives work.
- Read online reviews from multiple sources. Google and Yelp are a good place to start.
- Get recommendations from neighbors who have solar installed.
- Check an installer's licensing and certifications. Look for installers who are certified by NABCEP.
- Compare multiple solar quotes.
- Ask your installer all your questions, even the difficult ones.
- Assess your potential savings cost and your solar payback period. Your installer should be able to explain this to you.
Cost of solar panels in North Dakota
The cost of a solar panel system depends on many factors, including the system size, components like solar batteries, and installation costs. Because there are few residential solar systems in North Dakota, there isn't state-level cost data available at this time.
Here's a look at the cost of a typical solar system in the US, according to FindEnergy.com.
National average cost of solar panels
| Typical system size (kW) | Price per watt | Total installed cost | Cost after 30% federal tax credit | |
| National Average | 8.6 | $3.67 | $31,558 | $22,091 |
The following infographic presents the average total cash price, cost per watt and system size for a typical solar panel system in your state, according to data from FindEnergy.com. These prices don't factor in potential rebates from tax credits or state incentives. Certain states don't have any FindEnergy solar data and are grayed out on the map.
North Dakota solar panel incentives and rebates
Solar incentives, rebates and tax credits can lower the cost of solar panels. At the federal level, the residential clean energy credit (formerly known as the investment tax credit) is available in every state and offers 30% of the total cost of solar panels as a tax credit. There isn't a maximum amount set for this credit, so you can claim the full 30% regardless of your system size as long as you owe that much in taxes that year.
North Dakota solar panel incentives
| Program | Description |
|---|---|
| Residential clean energy credit | This federal tax credit covers 30% of the cost of a solar panel installation. To apply, fill out IRS form 5695 (PDF) following these instructions. After your application is approved, you'll receive your 30% credit when you file your federal tax return. |
| Property tax exemption | Solar panels typically raise the value of your home. The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimates an installed solar array increases the average home's value by about $15,000. If your home's value increases, your property taxes can also go up. When you buy and install solar panels in North Dakota, you will be exempt from paying increased property taxes for five years after installation. |
| Net metering | In North Dakota, you can participate in net metering, which lets you send extra solar energy from your system to the power grid in exchange for credits on your electricity bill. Net metering is normally considered a benefit to owning solar panels because it helps you save more on energy bills in a shorter period of time. |
How solar-friendly is your state?
CNET recently ranked states based on their residential solar policies: the laws and regulations affecting consumer-level solar panel installation and adoption. These policies play a major role in determining how accessible and affordable a solar panel system is to the average resident.
Each state was evaluated through a methodology and scored based on eight categories. The final score was converted to a letter grade.
Here's how your state scored on CNET's solar policy test.
North Dakota
Grade: F
Incentives available:
- State-governed net billing
- Solar panel systems fully exempt from property taxes for five years
Strongest scoring categories:
Solar panel system owners are able to get credited for exchanging their excess electricity on the grid in North Dakota, but they're going to be making that trade at the wholesale rate. Solar panel systems are fully exempt from all property taxes, though that exemption only lasts for five years post-installation.
Categories to improve:
The easiest improvements would be to institute retail rate net metering and bring that energy exchange up to a 1:1 credit for what gets sent to the grid, as well as fully exempting solar panel systems from property taxes.
How to pay for solar panels in North Dakota
Cash: Paying with cash is your best option. There's no interest rate or loan fee, and you'll be eligible for more incentives.
Financing options: If cash isn't an option, your installer will likely offer you a financing option, often referred to as a solar loan. But this isn't your only financing option. You could also consider taking out a personal loan with your bank or opening a home equity line of credit.
Solar lease or power purchase agreement: You may also have the option to sign a solar lease or power purchase agreement. With these options, you pay a monthly rate to use the electricity from the solar system, but you don't own the system and won't qualify for most state and federal incentives.
Read more: Just looking for an emergency backup? Check out portable folding solar panels and solar generators.
Installation factors to consider
Investing in solar panels is a big decision that you should consider from all angles beforehand. Figuring out whether it makes financial sense is one of the most important considerations. There are several factors that can impact whether solar is right for your home.
- Your roof's condition: According to the Department of Energy, roofs with a slope between 15 and 40 degrees are ideal for solar panel installation. The size of your roof will determine how many solar panels you can fit into the system. You should also consider the age and condition of your roof. Older roofs or roofs in poor condition may need to be replaced or maintained before installing solar panels.
- HOA and neighborhood requirements: Some states have a solar rights law, meaning homeowners associations and neighborhoods can't ban or restrict residents from installing solar panels. North Dakota doesn't have a solar rights law, so your HOA or neighborhood may have restrictions around whether you can install solar panels. Before signing a contract, check the regulations in your neighborhood for details specific to where you live.
- Insurance: After your solar panels are installed, you should contact your homeowners insurance agency to update your policy so it covers your solar system. Most standard policies cover rooftop solar, but check the terms of your policy for specific details.
- Where you live: Solar panels can produce electricity in all climates and temperatures. But they'll generate more electricity when they receive a lot of direct sunlight. North Dakota gets an average of 201 sunny days per year, which is close to the US average of 205 days. If your home receives a lot of direct sun every day, solar panels could make financial sense for you. If you live in a shaded area, a solar system might not generate enough electricity to cover your usage, so you'll save less on energy bills.
- Renting your home: If you rent your home or live in an apartment, you might not be allowed to install solar panels. If that's the case, community solar may be an alternative. Community solar lets you pay a monthly fee for solar power produced at another location (usually nearby). In exchange, you get a credit on your energy bills. The amount you pay for community solar should be cheaper than the credit you receive on your bills, so you come out ahead financially.
- Solar panel efficiency: Not every panel is created equal. Each manufacturer and brand comes with different efficiency ratings that can affect cost and optimal solar production and outputs.
How we found the best solar companies
The companies we listed above as "the best" are curated from CNET's best solar companies list. Companies making the best list are scored on the equipment, warranties and customer service they offer. Then, we make sure these recommendations are available in your state. You can read a full breakdown of how we review solar companies here.
Companies listed under the local installers were chosen in a less rigorous way. We chose them because they offered something unique or notable to customers in the state, they seemed well-regarded by internet reviewers or because they were one of the few installers we could find information on in the state.
Whether we've completed a full review on a company or not, it's always a good idea to get multiple quotes from different installers before choosing a company.
North Dakota solar FAQs
Does North Dakota have a solar easement law?
North Dakota doesn't have a solar rights law, but it does have a solar easement law, which protects your home's access to sunlight. For example, you can enter an agreement with your neighbor to guarantee they won't let trees get so tall that they block your solar panels. An easement can protect you even if your neighbor sells the property.
Are solar panels worth it in North Dakota?
Because solar panels are less popular in North Dakota, there are fewer installers and less cost data available in the state. This makes it difficult to estimate whether solar panels are a good move financially. If you tend to pay high electricity bills, you might be able to save a lot of money over the course of the panels' lifetime. Most residents in North Dakota pay low electric rates, so the upfront cost of solar might be too high to offset the price of traditional electricity. You can begin to estimate whether solar panels make sense financially for you based on your current energy bills and how much energy you normally consume.
How can I find a solar installer?
There are a limited number of installers operating in North Dakota, so comparing your options might be easier than in states with hundreds of installers available. Take your time to research your options thoroughly and compare multiple quotes from installers. You can also review CNET's choices for best solar companies as a starting point.