Emily Kwong

Call up a solar installer and have them come to your house.

Maybe the shade isn't as significant as Darcy assumes.

Solar panels can work in cloudy weather.

Also, there are places besides her roof where she can put panels.

There are ground-mounted systems, pole-mounted systems, even plug-in solar panels.

This is Kevin Lucas.

He works for the Solar Energy Industries Association, like the big trade group that represents the solar industry.

Yes, trustworthy is important because NPR's Jeff Brady, who has been covering the solar industry for years now, says there's some high-pressure sales tactics out there.

Okay.

So Jeff suggests finding a local solar installer who's been doing this for a long time.

He likes this website called the Amicus Solar Cooperative for finding that trustworthy local person.

Okay, if your property is a good candidate for solar, break out your calculator because solar installation ain't cheap.

Jeff says read those contracts carefully before committing to that solar installer.

And also check if your area has incentives.

So state or local policies that allow you to lower the installation costs or even to offset your energy bill.

Like if you produce energy for the grid, you might get a discount on your electric bill.

Yeah, that cut was made at the federal level, and the growth of the solar industry did slow down last year.

And yet, solar still produced 7% of U.S.

energy last year.

That was unthinkable to Jeff 20 years ago.