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Going Solar in Wyoming
Help birds by installing rooftop solar panels. It's never been so easy.
Every day, the sun channels energy onto your roof. Solar panels let you capture some of that energy and use it to power your home, business, or electric car while lowering your electricity bill. By switching to solar power, you’ll reduce the carbon pollution behind climate change that threatens many birds, like the Sharp-tailed Grouse above, and their habitats.
What’s the catch? Installing rooftop solar takes some research, planning, and upfront costs. Those costs vary by state, and different states have different funding opportunities. Keep in mind that you will probably recoup those upfront costs within a decade with the money saved on your electricity bill—and you'll continue to save more money later.
Solar Power in Wyoming
Not many homes and businesses in Wyoming are powered by solar panels, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. However, in 2016, $2 million was invested on solar installations in the state, which supports more than a dozen solar companies that employ more than 150 people.
Nearly one-third of the state's solar energy was installed in 2016 alone, suggesting that the installation rate is accelerating. That’s not entirely surprising as studies have shown that solar is contagious—people are more likely to install solar panels after they see their neighbors do the same.
Information for Homeowners
If you want solar panels on your roof, you have two options: own the solar panels or rent them from a third-party owner. If you lease, you'll pay a monthly fee to use the solar panels and their electricity, and avoid the upfront cost.
If you do choose to purchase your panels, you can pay for them up-front or finance them with a solar loan, which allows you to pay them off over the course of several years. In either case, you can save extra money by taking advantage of rebates and incentives, which are offered to encourage solar panel installations. One of these is the Investment Tax Credit, a federal tax credit that helps people pay for solar projects—and lets you subtract 30 percent of the system's cost from your tax bill. Many states offer additional incentives, and Wyoming has more than 70 policies and financial incentives to help you pay for solar power.
Learn about options for installing rooftop solar in Wyoming here. Check back in a few months, as we continue to develop our solar program to cover the entire United States.
Information for Renters
Renters can't usually install solar panels on their roofs, but in some states they still have the option to use and invest in solar power and other renewable energy sources. Unfortunately, Wyoming is not one of those states that allows renters to choose their electricity supplier. Learn more about energy choice from the American Coalition of Competitive Energy Suppliers.
Community solar programs, which share electricity among many households, are also available for people who can’t install solar panels on their roofs. Learn more about how community solar works from EnergySage.
