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The Residential Solar 30% Tax Credit Officially Died December 31, 2025: Why June 2026 Quotes Are Suddenly $9,000 Higher and Installers Are Cutting Crews
The federal 30% solar tax credit ended for cash buyers on December 31, 2025. Here's why a typical 8 kW system that cost about $17,000 net in 2025 now runs $24,000 to $32,000, why installers are laying off crews, and how lease and PPA buyers still capture 30% in June 2026.
Solar
IREC's 2026 Freeing the Grid Report: Why F-Rated States Can Leave $20,000 Solar Systems Sitting Dark for Months
IREC just released its first state-by-state interconnection scorecard since 2023. Only New Mexico got an A, 13 states got an F, and the grade quietly decides how long your new solar system sits dark before it earns a dime.
Solar
Solar Fences Just Arrived in US Cities in 2026: How $6,000 to $15,000 Vertical Panels Solve the No-Roof Problem
Vertical bifacial solar fences moved from European pilots into US neighborhoods in May 2026 with Sunzaun's San Rafael install. Here is what residential runs really cost, how they perform, and the permitting and inverter red flags to screen for.
Solar
Florida Just Leased Every State Stormwater Pond to a Floating Solar Developer: What It Means for Homeowner Solar Quotes in 2026
On May 19, 2026, D3Energy announced an exclusive statewide lease to build floating solar on Florida DOT stormwater ponds. Here is what it actually changes for a homeowner sitting on a rooftop solar quote, and what is just noise.
Pro Tip
Compare scope, timing, pricing, and warranty details in writing before you hire any contractor.
SolarHome Backup Batteries Just Had Their Biggest Quarter Ever in 2026: What 9.7 GWh of New Storage Means for Your $8,000 to $18,000 Backup System
The U.S. installed a record 9.7 GWh of energy storage in Q1 2026, but most of it was utility-scale. Here is what is actually changing for homeowners shopping a backup battery this spring, from new meter-collar hardware to the expired 30% federal tax credit.
SolarSolar Sales Reps Are Getting 'Certified' in 2026: How to Read the Pitch Before You Sign a $20,000 Contract
Starting in 2026, solar sales reps can carry a SEIA 'Certified' badge tied to an ANSI-approved consumer protection standard. Here is what that credential actually promises, what it does not, and the get-it-in-writing checklist for any solar contract worth $20,000 or more.
SolarNextEra and Dominion Are Merging Into the Country's Largest Electric Utility: What 10 Million Southeast Homeowners Should Expect on Rates and Solar Payback in 2026
NextEra Energy is buying Dominion Energy in a roughly $67 billion all-stock deal that would create the largest regulated electric utility in the United States. Here is the plain-English read on what it means for your monthly bill in Florida, Virginia, and the Carolinas, plus why the expired federal tax credit matters more for 2026 solar payback than the merger does.
SolarA New 2026 Solar Tariff Case Could Push Panel Prices Up Again: What the Ethiopia Trade Filing Means for Your $18,000 to $26,000 Rooftop Quote
U.S. solar makers filed a trade case over panels from Ethiopia on May 12, 2026. It is not a tariff yet. Here is what it means for your rooftop quote, the realistic timeline, and the low-cost way to protect your price.
SolarA New Solar Panel Tariff Case Landed in May 2026: Why the Ethiopia Investigation and US Factory Push Could Add $1,500 to $4,000 to Your Rooftop Quote
A May 2026 trade petition over solar imports routed through Ethiopia, plus a fast US factory build-out, is putting upward pressure on panel prices. Panels are only about 12 percent of an installed quote, so the swing is real but bounded. Here is the honest math and how to negotiate while the case is open.
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