Advertising “free solar panels from the government” is one of the most common scams in the solar industry and has increased in prominence since the federal solar tax credit was increased and extended in August 2022.

However, amidst the numerous bad actors misleading the public, there are also a handful of niche government programs that do, in fact, provide solar systems for low-income households at no cost.

In this article, we’ll explore the scams and reputable programs surrounding the premise of free solar panels from the government.

Related reading: Solar Panel Cost: How do I calculate the cost of solar panels?

Is the US government giving away free solar panels?

The short answer here is no. The US government is not giving away free solar panels or paying people to go solar, no matter how many random YouTube and Facebook ads say otherwise.

This scam is usually a misrepresentation of the Residential Clean Energy Credit (aka solar tax credit). While this is a great incentive, it can hardly be considered “free solar panels.”

Here’s why:

• First, the solar tax credit is worth, at most, 30% of the installed cost of a solar and/or battery system
• Second, it’s a non-refundable credit that must be claimed on your federal income tax return – not a handout
• Third, this credit applies to several other technologies besides solar panels

So, while solar scammers would have you believe that there’s a federal government office dedicated to writing checks for solar panels, the reality isn’t anything close to that.

The goal of this scam is typically to collect (and sell) personal information or trick homeowners into long-term solar lease agreements or purchase contracts. This is why it’s very important to get multiple quotes for a solar project and to carefully vet solar companies before signing a contract with them.

With all that said, there are a handful of very niche state-run solar panels that provide eligible low-income households with solar systems at no cost.

The top results after searching “free solar panels” on YouTube. Top: An ad for a “free government solar program” likely designed to collect personal information or sell solar leases. Bottom: A local news report on GRID Alternatives, a non-profit that provides no-cost solar installations for qualifying low-income households.

Related reading: Can You Get Tesla Solar Panels for Free?

Can you get free solar panels from local government programs?

Perhaps the most frustrating part about free solar scams is that they overshadow genuine state-run programs offering no-cost solar panels for low-income families to help reduce their energy costs.

These programs are incredibly important because low-income households bear a disproportionate energy cost burden. According to the US Department of Energy, low-income households spend an average of 8.6% of their income on energy costs, compared to just around 3% for non-low-income households.

Low-income households also face greater barriers to solar technologies that can reduce energy costs, including:

• Insufficient cash resources
• Lack of financing due to poor or non-existent credit
• Inadequate site features (roofs, panel boxes, transmission infrastructure, etc.)
• Limited service by reputable installers

There are a handful of programs run through state governments that are designed to lower these barriers and even cover the cost of solar altogether for qualifying low-income households. The programs include, but are not limited to:

• GRID Alternatives
• California’s Low Income Weatherization Program (LIWP)
• California’s Disadvantaged Communities – Single-family Solar Homes (DAC-SASH)
• Colorado’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
• Washington DC’s Solar for All
• Illinois’ Solar For All

Currently, these programs are few and far between. The Inflation Reduction set aside $7 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Solar for All competition. This program is designed to fund up to 60 new and existing state, municipal, and tribal low-income solar programs. However, funding for these programs may be in jeopardy during the Trump Administration.

Related reading: Does Home Depot Have Free Solar Panels?

How to avoid free solar panel scams

Of course, for each new low-income solar program we can expect 10 more “free solar panels from the government” scams. Here are some tips for avoiding these scams.

• Be skeptical of any video on Facebook, YouTube, or anywhere else promising free solar panels – government programs rarely advertise on social media
• Make sure the program website has a “.gov” URL or is run by a government agency with a .gov URL. (Example: https://www.csd.ca.gov/Pages/Low-Income-Weatherization-Program.aspx)
• Double-check the addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses listed on the program page (again, look for “.gov” in the email addresses)
• Contact a state or local solar industry group to verify the program’s legitimacy
• Be skeptical of door-to-door salespeople pushing this program

As always, the best defense against scams is getting multiple quotes for your solar project and thoroughly vetting solar companies. Most low-income solar programs have a list of approved vendors to work with – make darn sure your installer is on that list!

The bottom line

False advertising for “free solar panels from the government” is perhaps the most common solar scam, especially on social media platforms.

This is especially shameful because it detracts from the genuine local government solar panels programs helping low-income and disadvantaged communities reduce their energy cost burden.

In order to avoid scams, take the time to thoroughly research and scrutinize anyone offering free solar panels and get multiple quotes for your project.

Solar panels are a great way for homeowners to reduce their energy costs, increase their home value, and lower their carbon footprint.

But every energy source has its drawbacks. Nuclear is expensive, hydroelectric dams disrupt waterways, and fossil fuels are warming the planet faster than life can keep up.

In this article, we’ll explore the negatives of solar energy and things to be aware of before installing solar panels on your roof.

What is the main downside of solar energy?

With solar panel cost falling substantially over time, the main downside to solar energy is that it is intermittent. Solar panels require sunlight to produce energy, and electricity production grinds to a halt when that sunlight isn’t available.

While this isn’t much to worry about for residential solar owners with net metering or battery storage, it poses challenges to grid operators. The mismatch in solar production and peak electricity consumption forms what’s known as the “duck curve.” Or, in solar-heavy markets like California, the “canyon curve.”

Photo courtesy of EPI.

There are two main problems with a steep canyon curve:

1. It can lead to the overproduction and waste of clean solar energy during the day
2. It requires baseload energy sources (like hydro and natural gas) to shutdown during the day and restart at night, which is expensive

How to flatten the duck curve

The primary solutions to this problem are various forms of load shifting and energy storage.

For instance, utilities use time of use rates to encourage homeowners to use more electricity during the day and less in the evening. And in California, the Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved a new solar billing policy called NEM 3.0 that makes pairing battery storage with solar panels especially beneficial.

While intermittence poses a substantial challenge to grid operators, it’s worth pointing out that solar energy is also cheaper and many times cleaner than fossil fuels. Solar panels are also incredibly versatile and can be used in various applications to increase crop production, reduce water loss, and power off-grid systems.

Next, let’s consider the pros and cons of putting solar panels on your home.

What are 3 cons of using solar panels on your home?

The three major cons of home solar are intermittence, upfront solar panel cost, and the need for storage to provide backup power.

Intermittence

Since solar power is intermittent, most home solar systems are connected to the local utility grid, which stores excess solar electricity produced during the day and provides backup power at night.

Although this is beneficial for residential solar owners (especially with net metering), it contributes to the duck curve that we mentioned above.

The main downside of solar energy is that it needs to be paired with storage or other forms of energy in order to provide a constant source of electricity.

Upfront cost of solar panels

Another con for rooftop solar is that it can be cost prohibitive. Going solar can substantially reduce your energy costs – but only if you have enough cash or good enough credit to qualify for financing.

Even with rising interest rates, financing a solar system is often more affordable than paying for utility electricity. However, you first have to be able to qualify for financing.

You typically need a 650 FICO credit score and a debt-to-income ratio (DTI) below 50% to qualify for a solar loan, which prevents many lower- and middle-income households from being able to buy solar panels.

If you want to go solar in the future, use a solar panel calculator to get a rough estimate of how much it would cost and check your DTI and FICO credit score to see if you qualify for financing. If you don’t, work on improving your credit score and DTI now so you can go solar in the future.

Need battery for backup power

The final con of solar panels is that they need to be paired with battery storage in order to provide backup power during grid outages.

When the grid goes down, solar-only systems are automatically shut off in order to protect the utility workers repairing the grid. But, if you have battery storage, your system stays on and can continue to power your house and charge your battery during the outage.

Solar panel regrets

Every home improvement project is subject to errors, oversights, and scams that can cause buyer’s remorse – and solar is no exception.

The majority of solar regrets fall into two categories:

• Entering a long-term leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs) without fully understanding the contract
• Poor installer performance and/or scams

Leases and PPAs are often advertised as “free solar” in order to lure people into signing a long-term contract that’s far less favorable than purchasing a solar system. These agreements often become troublesome when the homeowner tries to sell the house.

There are also solar owners with buyer’s remorse stemming from shoddy workmanship, customer service, or scams.

The key to avoiding solar panel regret is getting multiple quotes from trusted local installers. Better yet, use a marketplace like solar.com so you have an entire team of people advocating for your project instead of going it alone.

Connect with an Energy Advisor to discuss the pros and cons of solar for your home.