Are you an Ohio Resident and thinking about going solar for your energy needs? The wisest thing to do first is to consider the pros and cons before making the shift to solar. Just like buying a new car or a house, it’s important to look at the positives and negatives before you make the final decision. So, let's dive into the details:
Solar In Ohio
Did you know that the utility companies in Ohio allow customers producing up to 25 kW of power (The average household uses 11,000 kW per year) to use net metering? Net metering is combined with the 30% federal tax credit and a small SREC program. With this, net metering makes solar an excellent choice for your home or business in Ohio. But, even with these promising statistics, residents are skeptical about solar installations in Ohio. Let’s dive a little deeper with the pros and cons of installing solar in Ohio to make it easier for you to decide:
Pros of Solar in Ohio
Among the pros of solar in Ohio, we have:
- Favorable climate - Although less than other places, Ohio still gets plenty of sunshine. Additionally, the colder temperatures up here actually improve the voltage of solar systems.
- Solar-friendly policies - Standard net metering, a small SREC program and the federal tax credit installing solar are available in Ohio already.
- Solid Growth - Thriving non-residential solar market in Ohio and a ranking at 20th place in the states’ solar ranking.
- Variety of Options - Over 300 solar companies are operating in Ohio state, with mostly locals employed by the companies. Through this, residents get a better understanding and solar installation options.
Cons of Solar in Ohio
The skepticism regarding solar installations in Ohio is justified because of issues such as:
- Comparative disadvantage - Solar panels produce less than they would in other parts of the country (compared to states like California). Even with the SREC programs and net metering, less output becomes a hurdle when estimating the costs of installations and ROI in Ohio.
- Residential setbacks - Projects like community solar are limited in Ohio
- Also, net metering might be ending soon and residents don't want to be left in the dark with the added costs of solar installations in Ohio in the future.
More common aspects like how cloudy Ohio is during winters become a con. But, when compared to productive outputs during summer, and how solar cells benefit from cold temperature and actually reduce the amount of panel-generated energy lost to heat, this becomes an advantage in the long run. These factors can shift for different places in Ohio, so contact us at YellowLite to find out more on how you can benefit from solar installations in Ohio.
