The short version

In 2019, I spent three months trying to figure out whether solar made sense for my home. I talked to six installers. Got six wildly different answers. One quoted me $3.80/watt, another $2.40/watt for basically the same system. Three of them gave me wrong information about Colorado's net metering rules.

I was pissed. Not because they were trying to sell me solar — that's their job. I was pissed because I had the skills to fact-check them and most people don't. I'd spent years working with NREL and EIA datasets. I knew where the clean data lived. Most homeowners don't have that advantage.

So I built the resource I wished had existed: a site that publishes real data — costs, incentives, utility rules — without trying to sell you anything.

What you'll find here

SolarStateData publishes independent research on:

• State incentives — Tax credits, rebates, net metering rules. Updated weekly because this stuff changes constantly.
• Honest cost data — I pull from EnergySage's market data (they publish real installer quotes). No made-up averages.
• Product comparisons — Spec analysis and owner reviews for solar gear. I don't do "top 10 best" lists full of affiliate garbage.
• Policy tracking — When California gutted net metering in 2022 (NEM 3.0), I had analysis up within 48 hours. This stuff matters.

Where the data comes from

I only use sources I'd trust for my own research:

• DSIRE — Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (maintained by NC State)
• EnergySage — Quarterly market pricing from 50,000+ real installer quotes
• SEIA — Solar Energy Industries Association installation statistics
• NREL — National Renewable Energy Laboratory (solar irradiance, system modeling)
• EIA — US Energy Information Administration (electricity rates by utility)

How this site makes money

I'm going to be direct about this because I think it matters:

• Affiliate links: Some product links (EcoFlow, Renogy, Bluetti) and the EnergySage installer quotes pay me a commission if you buy. This never influences my ratings or what I recommend. I've given negative reviews to products with lucrative affiliate programs.
• Display ads: I run Ezoic ads. They're annoying, I know. They pay the hosting bills.

What I don't do: No paid reviews. No "sponsored research." No installer has ever paid to appear on this site. When I recommend EnergySage for quotes, it's because I used them myself and they don't pressure you — not because the commission is good (it's decent, but that's not the point).

Corrections policy

Incentive data gets reviewed weekly. Cost data updates quarterly. If you spot something wrong, tell me — I take accuracy seriously and fix mistakes within 24 hours. Every correction gets noted at the bottom of the affected page.

Want to get in touch?

Research questions, corrections, media inquiries: use the contact form. I read everything and respond to most emails within a couple days.

If you're an installer wanting a "partnership" — save your time. I don't do paid placements.