Solar Resources for Residents & Businesses
Solar Potential
Factors that may affect your property's potential for solar include the amount of sunlight your roof receives, available square footage of your roof, the property's location, and other factors. It is also important to understand your facility's electric usage, so you can select a solar array size that fits your energy needs. Typically you can access your electric usage at your utility's website.
Two useful tools for understanding your property's solar potential are Project Sunroof, where you can leverage Google Earth images of your property, and PV Watts Calculators, where you can estimate the performance of a potential PV project.
Financing & Incentives
Typically, individuals and businesses pay for solar installations through a combination of financing and incentives.
Resources for homeowners:
- Homeowner's Guide to the Federal Tax Credit for Solar Photovoltaics - learn about the federal tax credit, eligibility, and other common questions & answers from the U.S. Department of Energy.
- A Homeowner's Guide to Solar Financing - learn about financing options from CESA, the Clean Energy States Alliance.
- Focus on Energy offers information and incentives for solar energy projects.
- The Inflation Reduction Act offers funding for home improvement upgrades, including adding solar systems.
Resources for Businesses and Nonprofits:
- DOE Guide to Solar Tax Credits for Businesses and Dane County's guide to IRA Tax Credits for Solar.
- Focus on Energy offers information and incentives for solar energy projects.
- PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) - long-term financing for renewable energy, energy efficiency, and water conservation projects.
Permitting & Inspection
The City of Sun Prairie is proud to announce its partnership with SolarAPP+ which is a platform developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory that streamlines the permitting process for solar PV on one- and two-story family homes. SolarAPP+-qualified projects are approved instantaneously, allowing solar PV owners to get their systems online quicker. Non-SolarAPP+ projects have an expected review time of 7-10 business days. Relevant links to begin the solar PV permitting process are provided below.
Finding a Solar Installer
- Choosing a Solar Installer - a short informative video explaining the questions to ask and research before purchasing solar.
- RENEW List
- Focus on Energy List
- Certified practitioners can be found through NABCEP or the Solar Energy Industries Association's list of vendors. In addition, the Midwest Renewable Energy Association's annual Energy Fair is an excellent opportunity to talk to installers and learn about renewable energy technologies.
- The State of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection also offers helpful tips for buying a system and selecting a contractor.
Solar Zoning Ordinance
As part of the SolSmart designation process, Sun Prairie has worked hard to reduce and eliminate barriers and restrictions related to solar in the Title 17 Zoning Ordinance. View the ordinance here.