Is Solar Worth It in Your City?
Calculate Your Payback.
Real solar irradiance data from Open-Meteo + EIA electricity rates + federal & state incentives. Get a 25-year ROI estimate in seconds.
Top Solar Markets by ROI
Ranked by combined solar resource and electricity rate. Higher score = faster payback.
Honolulu, HI
5.81 hrsElectricity: $0.328/kWh · Hawaii
Solar potential score: 1.91
San Jose, CA
5.44 hrsElectricity: $0.198/kWh · California
Solar potential score: 1.08
San Diego, CA
5.4 hrsElectricity: $0.198/kWh · California
Solar potential score: 1.07
Los Angeles, CA
5.37 hrsElectricity: $0.198/kWh · California
Solar potential score: 1.06
San Francisco, CA
5.07 hrsElectricity: $0.198/kWh · California
Solar potential score: 1.00
Boston, MA
4.06 hrsElectricity: $0.224/kWh · Massachusetts
Solar potential score: 0.91
New York, NY
4.11 hrsElectricity: $0.218/kWh · New York
Solar potential score: 0.90
Las Vegas, NV
5.59 hrsElectricity: $0.158/kWh · Nevada
Solar potential score: 0.88
Phoenix, AZ
5.62 hrsElectricity: $0.145/kWh · Arizona
Solar potential score: 0.81
Miami, FL
5.26 hrsElectricity: $0.152/kWh · Florida
Solar potential score: 0.80
Albuquerque, NM
5.71 hrsElectricity: $0.138/kWh · New Mexico
Solar potential score: 0.79
Tampa, FL
5.18 hrsElectricity: $0.152/kWh · Florida
Solar potential score: 0.79
Showing top 12 metros. Browse all 30 cities below.
State Incentive & Net Metering Guide
Federal ITC is 30% nationwide. See what your state adds on top.
Arizona
State ITCNEM 3.0 exported at ~75% retail
No state tax credit. APS and SRP offer battery incentives.
California
No State ITCNEM 3.0 (export rates ~5–8¢/kWh)
SGIP battery rebates available. No state income tax credit.
Colorado
No State ITCFull retail net metering
Xcel Energy offers renewable*energy credits. Property tax exemption.
Florida
No State ITCRetail net metering (varies by utility)
Property tax exemption. No state income tax = no state ITC.
Georgia
No State ITCavoided-cost net metering
No statewide net metering. Some utility rebates exist.
Hawaii
State ITCCustomer Grid Supply / CGS+
State tax credit up to $5,000. High electricity rates make solar very attractive.
Illinois
No State ITCFull retail net metering
Illinois Shines SREC program. Property tax exemption.
Massachusetts
State ITCFull retail net metering
SMART program base rates. State ITC 15% up to $1,000.
Nevada
No State ITCTiered export rates (75% retail)
No state income tax. NV Energy offers battery incentives.
New York
State ITCFull retail net metering
NY-Sun Megawatt Block incentives. State tax credit 25% up to $5,000.
North Carolina
No State ITCRetail net metering
Duke Energy rebates. Property tax exemption.
Oregon
No State ITCFull retail net metering
Energy Trust of Oregon rebates. Property tax exemption.
Pennsylvania
No State ITCFull retail net metering
SREC market active. Property tax exemption.
Texas
No State ITCNo statewide mandate (varies by utility)
No state income tax. Some municipal utilities offer rebates.
Washington
No State ITCFull retail net metering
Sales tax exemption. State production incentive ended 2020.
Wisconsin
No State ITCRetail net metering
Focus on Energy rebates. Property tax exemption.
New Mexico
State ITCFull retail net metering
State tax credit 10% up to $6,000. Solar sales tax exemption.
Utah
No State ITCExport at ~90% retail
State tax credit ended 2021. Rocky Mountain Power transition program.
Tennessee
No State ITCavoided-cost
TVA Green Power Providers. No state income tax.
Indiana
No State ITCRetail net metering
Net metering capped. Property tax exemption.
Ohio
No State ITCRetail net metering
SREC market. Property tax exemption.
Quick Solar ROI Calculator
Adjust system size and cost. Assumes 30% federal tax credit. For state-specific incentives, visit your city page.
Defaults: 5.0 peak sun hours, $0.14/kWh, 80% derating. Visit a city page for location-specific rates and state incentives.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is the solar data?
Solar irradiance comes from Open-Meteo's historical archive (satellite + reanalysis models). It is a reliable proxy but not a site-specific assessment. For a precise quote, get a professional shading analysis.
Does the 30% federal tax credit apply to everyone?
The Residential Clean Energy Credit (30% through 2032) applies to federal income tax liability. You must owe enough tax to use the credit. Consult a tax professional for your situation.
What about battery storage?
Standalone batteries qualify for the 30% ITC if ≥ 3 kWh. Batteries paired with solar also qualify. This calculator focuses on PV-only ROI; battery payback depends heavily on time-of-use rates and backup value.
How often is incentive data updated?
We flag DSIRE updates quarterly. State legislatures can change programs mid-year. Always verify current incentives with your installer and state energy office before signing.