Independent guides to home solar
Solar for your home, explained plainly
What solar costs in 2026, how the equipment works and what to check before you sign anything. We don’t sell or install solar panels.
Updated for the 2026 tax credit changes
Sources listed on every guide
Independent: we don’t sell solar
Update for 2026
The 30% federal solar tax credit has ended for homeowners
If you buy a solar system with cash or a loan, you can no longer claim the federal Residential Clean Energy Credit unless the installation was finished by December 31, 2025. Congress ended it early in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed in July 2025.
Leases and power purchase agreements work differently. The company that owns the panels may still be able to claim a business tax credit, and some of that can show up in the price you’re offered. Many states and utilities also still run their own rebate programs.
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Popular guides
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost?
What a typical system costs in 2026, by size and by state.
Is Solar Still Worth It Without the Tax Credit?
How payback changed after the 30% credit ended, and where solar still pays off.
How Many Solar Panels Do I Need?
Size a system from your electric bill, step by step.
Are Solar Backup Batteries Worth It?
What a home battery costs, what it can run and when it pays.
Will Solar Panels Work in a Power Outage?
Why most systems shut off in a blackout, and the ways around it.
Tesla Solar Roof: What Happened
What it cost, why Tesla stopped selling it and what owners can do.
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About Solar Melon
Solar Melon started in 2017 to answer the questions people ask before going solar. Everything here is general information, not financial or tax advice. Incentives and utility rules change often, so check the current rules for your state and utility before you decide.