15 Best Solar Companies in Salinas, CA (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Salinas based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Salinas, CA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Salinas homeowner saves $2,903/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Salinas
When choosing between the best solar panel companies, Salinas homeowners have more providers to choose from than ever before, which can be too much to take in, but we’re here to make making the switch to solar power easier. You may have to spend a decent amount of money upfront for solar panels, but switching to solar will save you money on your power bills in the long term. In fact, you can potentially save about $34,000 over 20 years.
If you want to take advantage of the great number of benefits of solar, we’re here to help you narrow down your options to find the Salinas solar installer that’s in the right price range for you.Want to know the cost of installing solar panels on your roof? Click "get quote" below to get a free, no-obligation quote from a top-rated Salinas solar installer.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Salinas
Monarch Home Services (Salinas)
Reliable Customer Support- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Prompt Service Delivery
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Cleaning and Maintenance- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
FMJ Electric, Inc.
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Skilled Repairs
Premo Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Tesla Powerwall
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
Scudder Solar Energy Systems
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Tesla Powerwall
- Solar Carports
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
Bright Future Solar Energy
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Quality Home Services
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tesla Powerwall
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
SolarTecture - Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Allterra Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Tesla Powerwall
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Sandbar Solar & Electric
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
Nomadic Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
Cinnamon Energy Systems
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Permit Assistance
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Tesla Powerwall
Infinium Solar, Inc.
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- System Decommissioning
- Solar Carports
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
Sunternal
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Tesla Powerwall
TN Electrical and Solar Services
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Battery Storage
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Greentech Renewables Santa Cruz
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Salinas
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Salinas based on criteria such as its reputation in the industry, customer reviews, services, warranty coverage and financing. Using this solar methodology, we used the data we collected to rate and rank each company and narrow down our picks for the best solar companies in Salinas
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for California solar companies
- Brand reputation and certifications (20%): We take each company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) score into consideration, as well as how long the installer has been in business (at least 5 years is required, 10 preferred) and what type of solar certifications it holds.
- Customer reviews (20%): Trust is a top priority at EcoWatch, so we take customer experience under close consideration. We scour different review sites and customer testimonials when ranking our top solar companies, checking sites such as Trustpilot and Google Reviews. We also consider any potential complaints or lawsuits filed against these companies and award or remove points accordingly.
- Warranty (20%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers 25-year warranties that cover performance, product and workmanship. The industry standard that we measure companies against is 25-year product and performance warranties, along with a 10-year workmanship warranty. We also look closely into the track record of the post-installation support each company provides in terms of honoring its contracts
- Solar services (10%): All of the companies we review install solar panels, but we award companies higher points if they offer additional services for customers, like battery installation, energy-efficiency audits, and EV chargers.
- Pricing and financing (10%): It's hard to get exact quotes for solar projects, but we use marketplace research to determine how each company prices its equipment and installation services. Additionally, companies that offer more help for panel financing — like in-house loans, leases, or PPAs — score higher than those that don't.
- Availability (10%): The bigger the service area, the higher the company will score.
- Transparency and accessibility (5%): Solar installers that offer free consultations and easy contact methods score higher in this category.
- Environmental, social and corporate governance factors (5%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers public data disclosure, addresses end-of-life (EOL) products or processes, and demonstrates a commitment to uplifting the communities that it serves.
The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Salinas
For many people considering switching to solar, the decision of which solar company to choose depends on how much it’ll cost.The cost and possible savings vary depending on some key factors such as:
- The kind of solar panels you’re thinking of getting: More efficient panels are more highly priced, so that will affect your budget for your solar project.
- How much sunlight your roof gets: If your roof gets limited direct sunlight, your solar panel system won’t be able to generate as much energy, which will leave you with lower savings on power bills than a house with a roof that gets plenty of sunlight.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which everyone in the U.S. is eligible for, allows you to deduct 0 of the cost of your solar system installation from your federal taxes. In addition, not including incentives, you can save about $34,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
- How much you spend on energy: The average household in Salinas spends around $1,500 a year on energy alone, so you could be looking at that much in savings.
Solar is a valuable investment for most homeowners. You can produce your own electricity instead of paying for it from the grid and benefit from solar incentives, all while helping the planet.
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Solar Incentives in Salinas
Switching to solar power has plenty of wonderful benefits. Not only can it help preserve the Earth, but you can also save a good amount of money on your installation with various government incentives.There are several federal, state and local rebates and tax credits that may earn you a decent amount of money in return after paying for a qualifying system. Our article on solar incentives has more information on the incentives you can find in Salinas.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Salinas
An important reason so many homeowners are considering adopting solar energy is to help lower their environmental impact.You may be trying to figure out – how much does making the switch help the environment anyway? Switching to clean energy for electricity instead of using nonrenewable energy is a good way to lower carbon dioxide emissions if you're worried about Salinas' fair level of greenhouse gas emissions.Even though making solar panels emits carbon dioxide, the panels make up for it by significantly lowering the amount of CO2 you would have produced if you still used nonrenewable energy. In Salinas, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 50 pounds a year with solar panels. As you can see, using solar power has so many other benefits besides saving money. One of the main ones is that you can help save the Earth too.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
EcoWatch's Salinas, CA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar installation company is the best near me?
In Salinas, Monarch Home Services (Salinas) is the best local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.70 stars, so it's a great choice if you're planning to add solar panels to your roof.
Are solar panels really bad for the environment?
Solar panels can be detrimental for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals in the manufacturing process. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to recycle safely once they’ve reached the end of their lifespan. Solar panel manufacturing uses a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.
How long does it take to see a return on your investment after buying solar panels?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 6.7 years, but the exact period is influenced by the cost of electricity where you are, incentives and net metering programs.
What is the best type of solar panel?
The different types of solar panels are monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film. Monocrystalline panels are more efficient but also more costly. Polycrystalline panels cost less but also less efficient than monocrystalline. Thin-film solar panels are flexible, so they can be used where the other kinds can’t, such as on curved surfaces or cars, but they are also less efficient. The best one for you depends on your budget, roof configuration and how much efficiency you're looking for.
Our goal is to reach as many people as we can with sensible solutions like solar energy. Our team of full-time local researchers collects solar price and installation data for every city in America then compiles it to create these digestible city guides. If you want to read our solar expert’s opinion on the top solar companies featured here, follow this link.
Company research was conducted by Melissa Smith and Karsten Neumeister. Local data analysis was conducted by James Savino. See something we missed or could do better? Email the editor.