Why Michigan is a Great Place for Solar

Does solar energy work in Michigan? That’s a great question.  Solar power in Michigan has grown massively in the past few years. This is mostly due to lower prices, tech improvements, and financial incentives. There have been an abundance of new large-scale solar farms across the state and an influx of commercial and residential solar installations in Michigan. In fact, the great state of Michigan had over 759 MW of solar capacity by the end of 2021. You might be thinking: wait, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Isn’t Michigan weather a bit too ‘all over the place’ for solar panels? Actually, although Michigan is amongst the lowest ranked states for solar irradiance, our state performs better for solar than you might think.  For example, Michigan is much further south than Germany, where solar power accounts for 10% of their total energy consumption. Which is impressive: considering that a northern European country gets a tenth of its electricity from the sunshine! Michigan is Solar Country It’s actually very exciting to learn about all of the solar happenings in Michigan!  One example of a large solar with battery storage project in western Michigan is “Circuit West”, a massive microgrid in Grand Rapids that features a 0.65MW array of 1,800 panels across the roofs of three buildings. They are connected with a 500 kW-hr battery. Multiple community solar projects have sprung up across the state including a 3 MW solar farm at Grand Valley State University, or in Escanaba where they constructed a 1MW partly community solar installation. There are currently plans for a 125 MW solar farm near Muskegon which would be the largest in the state. In Sept. 2020, Gov. Whitmer signed an order for "statewide decarbonization by 2050. This requires that all of Michigan utilities' energy generation should be renewable by that year. In fact, the facts on what solar energy is bringing to Michigan is quite spectacular. In 2021, there were almost 4,000 solar jobs in Michigan while around 178 solar companies were operating in the state. There has been an entire $1.2 billion solar investment in the state and thus far only 0.0079% of Michigan’s electricity is generated from solar. Plenty of room for growth! Michigan Solar Incentives to Remember One option is the Federal Solar Tax Credit. This investment tax credit (aka ITC) is often known as the “Residential Clean Energy Credit” for residential solar installations. How does it work? If you purchase a solar installation with cash or financing you get a tax credit of 26%.  This tax credit can be claimed on federal income taxes. For example, if you purchase a solar installation in Michigan for $30,000 you can get a $7,800 tax credit.  Not a bad deal! There are also other programs in Michigan that offer homeowners a way to upgrade their home’s energy efficiency via solar, roofing, insulation and more. These are available in most states and we can help homeowners identify the best deals based on their situation and preferences.  Bill Walton Says: Go Stellar Solar! You shouldn’t always take it from us. Ask our thousands of happy customers who consistently refer us to their friends. Actually, referrals are our #1 source of new business! Ask NBA Hall of Famer Bill Walton, our solar evangelist who would happily fill you in. Bill powers his home and electric vehicles with solar and is also a massive fan of Stellar Solar.  Bill Walton recently gave his top 10 reasons he chose to be the solar evangelist for Stellar Solar: Click here to view the video on YouTube. Why Stellar Solar as Your Michigan Solar Installer Going solar is an important way to claim your energy independence. Independence is a fundamental virtue for any Michigander. Not being controlled or taken advantage of by any entity - governmental or otherwise.  This is why it’s a shame that so many Michiganders are sleeping on solar energy. If you go solar you can actually reduce or eliminate your electricity bill. Sadly, the utilities will consistently raise rates every year. This is a fact of life and will not change. There is only one way to combat rising electrical rates: going solar! By the way - if you go solar, get an electric car, and a home battery - you can claim total energy independence. Many of our customers have done this and saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in gas and electricity bills.  US vehicle manufacturers such as Ford are releasing the electric Ford F-150 lightning. Luckily, times are changing and we don’t need to rely on gasoline vehicles and the traditional grid.  It’s also worth mentioning that going solar can prevent blackouts during grid outages. Why rely on the grid when you can rely on yourself? In today’s rapidly evolving world, having access to a reliable energy source is important. You never know when there might be a grid outage. Don’t forget that buying solar in Michigan can increase your home value. It’s quite logical: any homebuyer would love having easy access to solar panels or a home battery. Go solar and watch your home value go up! Solar is an excellent option for any homeowner. Why not enjoy clean, green, renewable energy for your home - it’s a fiscal decision equally as much as environmental one!  Stellar Solar has installed thousands of residential and commercial solar installations across America. We do it all, from home solar installations, to ground mounts, to massive commercial solar installations for famous commercial clients. In fact, we have completed solar installations for big names such as The Salk Institute, Cedars Sinai Hospital, US Foods, and the United States Navy.  Remember - customer referrals are our #1 source of new business. This is a strong testament to our track record of customer success. With over 15,000 successfully completed installations, we have a track-record that you can count on. Take your first step towards energy independence - call Stellar Solar for a free solar site evaluation today.   

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