Julia Westbrook

Feel like your electricity rate is set at the whim of the utility? Solar is your answer for avoiding rate hikes and electric bill fluctuations.

Most people think about electricity one way: Turn on a light, pay the utility for it. (Grumble about how expensive it is and turn the light off.) But when you go solar with a battery backup system, you get a whole host of ways to use—and optimize—your power.

You know what powder days look like on the slopes, but what does it mean for your solar panels? The good news: You don’t need to get cold feet for solar because of the snow.

Looking for a way to offset the cost of buying a battery and help keep Vermont green? Check to see if your utility offers a battery program. Here’s what you need to know.
A battery is the ultimate in peace of mind technology, but that’s not the only benefit. Some Vermont utilities—namely, Green Mountain Power and Vermont Electric Co-op—have Vermont Battery Storage programs that will pay you for some of your stored power and make the grid greener and more resilient for all. Here’s how.
How Doe...

Going solar can seem like a big undertaking, but when this Vermonter finally decided it was right for her, she realized just how easy it can be.

How one woman went solar in Vermont, in spite of COVID quarantine restrictions.

Everyone shudders to open their heating bill when temps plummet in the winter, but for many Vermonters, the stakes are higher than you could imagine.

Want the inside scoop on going solar—before you go solar? We asked our install crew what questions customers ask all the time. Here’s what they said.
No one knows solar panels quite like the team that installs them. From installation to troubleshooting, this crew has seen it all. Ben McFeeters, lead solar and battery technician at Green Mountain Solar, answers the most common solar installation questions he gets all the time.
How do you install solar panels?
Measuring everything first is very...

Should I go solar? We’ve got 5 answers that point to yes!

Find out if a solar panel and battery combo is right for you. Plus, we address one of the biggest solar misconceptions out there. (Hint: It’s about power outages!)

Myth: I need a big paycheck to afford solar. Fact: A Berkeley Lab study found that one-third of solar adopters in 2018 had an annual household income between $50,000 and $100,000. (For reference, the average income in Vermont is about $60k). And thanks to improved financing options, going solar has never been more in reach.

You know that it pays to switch to a renewable energy source, but it turns out that solar can save you money in more than one way.

Thinking about an off-grid solar system? Here are a few reasons to reconsider.