A Vermonter’s Guide to Residential Solar

There are many ways to build and finance a solar PV system. “A Vermonter’s Guide to Residential Solar” can help residents decide whether it makes sense for them to go solar and, if so, how. The guide is divided into sections that offer relevant information needed at different points during the decision making and installation process:

• Reasons Vermonters are choosing solar
• The physical components of a PV system
• Consumer needs, opportunities, and system design considerations
• Ways to finance a solar system
• Solar savings and incentives, including the federal tax credit, net metering, and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
• Choosing a solar contractor and reviewing a solar contract
• Solar system permitting
• After a system is installed

It also includes appendices that cover questions to ask a solar contractor, a project checklist, a glossary, and other resources.

This guide was produced by the Clean Energy States Alliance for the Vermont Public Service Department. Development and publication of this guide was funded through the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative Rooftop Solar Challenge II as part of the New England Solar Cost-Reduction Partnership.

The guide was originally published in September 2016, and it was updated in September 2018 to reflect changes in Vermont’s net metering rules.