FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re new to solar photovoltaic technology, you might have a lot of questions. Our team at Champion Solar is here to walk you through the things you need to know before we get down to work.

Homeowners

The cost of a solar system for your home depends on several factors, including your current electricity usage, roof space and angle, shading, and whether you’re adding battery backup. For most homeowners in Minnesota and Wisconsin, a typical system falls between $20,000 and $40,000 before incentives — but the key is, you don’t need to pay that upfront AND typically get a big chunk of that back in incentives.

Champion Solar offers $0 down, low-interest financing, allowing many homeowners to switch to solar with monthly payments that are often lower than their current electric bills. You’ll also benefit from a 30% federal tax credit, plus net metering, which credits you for excess energy your system produces — typically offsetting most or even all of your utility costs (some even make money back from the utility!).

For example: A household using about 900 kWh/month might need a system in the 7–9 kW range. At around $3 per watt, that would come to $24,000–$27,000 before incentives, or $16,800–$18,900 after the 30% tax credit. With financing, monthly payments can be $100–$150, often with no upfront cost and immediate savings.

Champion Solar handles the entire process in-house — from consultation to installation — so you’re working with a local, trained team, not subcontractors. We install the most American-made materials possible and go the extra mile to align our values with yours: we recycle old panels, power our headquarters with solar energy, and plant a tree for every kilowatt installed.

In short, solar is not just more affordable than ever — it’s also a long-term investment in your home, your savings, and your values.

Average Savings Over 25 Years

Minnesota homeowners typically save between $24,000 and $45,000 over the 25-year lifespan of a solar panel system, depending on system size, electricity rates, and local incentives.

For example, in Minneapolis, a 5-kW system yields approximately $36,942 in savings over 25 years, with a payback period of about 11 years.

In Mound, MN, the same system offers around $40,050 in savings, with a payback period of 11.6 years.

Statewide, the average homeowner sees $41,212 in total energy savings over 25 years.

Monthly Energy Savings

Monthly savings vary based on system size and household energy consumption. For instance, in Coon Rapids, MN, a 5-kW system can save homeowners about $82.34 per month, totaling nearly $988 annually.

Sources:

Minnesota residents looking to install solar panels in 2025 can benefit from a combination of federal, state, and utility incentives that significantly reduce upfront costs and enhance long-term savings. Here’s a concise overview:

Federal Incentives

Federal Solar Panel Investment Tax Credit (ITC)

Homeowners can claim a 30% tax credit on the total cost of solar installation, including equipment and labor. For example, a $22,000 system would yield a $6,600 credit. This credit applies to systems installed through 2032 and can be carried forward if not fully used in the first year.

Minnesota Solar Installation Incentives

  1. Sales Tax Exemption: Minnesota exempts solar equipment from the 6.875% state sales tax, saving approximately $1,500 on a $22,000 system.
  2. Property Tax Exemption: The added home value from solar installation is exempt from property tax assessments, ensuring increased home value without higher taxes.
  3. Net Metering: All Minnesota utilities must offer net metering for systems up to 40 kW. Excess energy is credited at the retail rate, reducing future electricity bills.

Utility & Local Programs

Xcel customers can receive $0.03 per kWh of solar energy produced annually for 10 years, totaling around $2,900 for an average system. Income-qualified customers may receive up to $23,000.

Energy Storage Rebates

Xcel Customers: $175 per kWh of storage capacity, up to $5,000; income-qualified customers may receive $370 per kWh.

Non-Xcel Customers: $250 per kWh, up to $7,000; income-qualified customers may receive $1,000 per kWh, up to $15,000.

Local Utility Rebates

Minnesota Power: Up to $5,000 based on first-year energy production.

Austin, Dakota Electric, Rochester, Owatonna: Rebates ranging from $500 to $1,200 for qualifying installations.

Sources:

solarreviews.com

If you have a standard grid-tied solar system without a battery, your solar panels will not power your home during a power outage. This is a built-in safety measure — when utility workers are repairing the grid, your system must automatically shut off to prevent back feeding electricity and putting them at risk.

To keep your power on when the grid goes down, you would need to add battery storage or a backup generator. Champion Solar offers both options, giving you control over how you want to maintain power when it matters most.

Battery storage is the most seamless and smart solution. It stores excess solar energy during the day and automatically powers your home during outages — no need to lift a finger. Want even more control? By pairing your battery system with a smart electrical panel, like the SPAN Panel, you can use your smartphone to monitor and manage your home’s energy usage in real time, even during an outage.

Here’s what a smart panel and battery combo can do:

  • Keep essential devices powered: Choose what stays on — like your fridge, lights, internet, sump pump, or medical devices.
  • Remotely turn off non-essential circuits: Use your phone to reduce battery load and extend your backup time.
  • Track battery charge and usage live: See exactly how much power you have left, and what’s using it most.
  • Automatically prioritize circuits: Smart panels can pre-set which areas get power, saving time and stress when an outage hits.

For homes with larger needs or extended outages, a backup generator can be a reliable alternative or supplement. Champion Solar helps you determine the best mix of storage, smart controls, and backup for your home, based on your usage and goals.

Even though outages are still less common in Minnesota and Wisconsin compared to other regions, they’re becoming more frequent and disruptive. With more people working from home, using electric heating or driving EVs, backup power is more important than ever.

With Champion Solar, you’re not just installing solar — you’re building energy resilience you can control from the palm of your hand.

A modern solar energy system has a warranty to last 25 to 30 years and will still be producing power well beyond that. In fact, Champion Solar panels come with 30-year performance warranties, guaranteeing at least nearly 90% of their original output after three decades!

Here’s how long the key components typically last:

  • Solar Panels: These are built to withstand the elements — rain, snow, hail, and heat — especially in the Midwest. They continue producing clean energy long after their warranty ends, delivering 30+ years of performance with little or no maintenance.
  • Inverters: Inverters convert solar power into usable electricity. The newer technologies like the microinverters Champion Solar uses are warranted for 25 years and the warranty covers any labor costs as well.
  • Racking and Mounting Hardware: Designed to hold strong through harsh weather, these components also typically last 25+ years.
  • Battery Storage (if installed): Batteries are warranted for about 10–15 years depending on type and usage. Champion can help you maintain, replace, or upgrade storage over time.

At Champion Solar, we use top-tier materials, as much as currently available American-made, and only in-house crews, not subcontractors. That means your system is built to last — and we’re here to support it every step of the way. We also plant a tree for every kilowatt installed and recycle old solar panels when they’re eventually replaced.

When you invest in solar, you’re choosing decades of cleaner, more affordable power — and we’re committed to making sure it pays off for the long haul.

Minnesota Solar Financing Options for Homeowners

Center for Energy and Environment (CEE): Offers solar-specific loans with fixed interest rates and terms up to 10 years. The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) provides Home Energy Loans starting at 7.125% APR and Fix Up Fund Loans starting at 7% APR.

CU Green® Solar Loans: Through participating in Minnesota credit unions, homeowners can access 100% financing with no down payment. These loans often result in systems paying for themselves within seven years.

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE): Allows homeowners to finance solar installations through property tax assessments, offering up to 20-year terms with fixed interest rates. This method often results in utility savings exceeding payment obligations.

Additional Financial Tools

Home Equity Loans & HELOCs: Local banks and credit unions may offer these options, though they might come with higher fees and payment obligations compared to specialized solar loans.

Clean Energy Resource Teams

Solar Loans from Specialized Lenders: Companies like GoodLeap and Mosaic provide solar-specific financing. However, it’s essential to review terms carefully, as some lenders have faced legal actions regarding deceptive practices.

Sources

Yes — installing solar panels can significantly increase your home’s value. A recent study by Solar Reviews found that homes with solar sold for an average of 6.8% more than comparable non-solar homes, translating to an average value boost of over $25,000 for a typical U.S. home: solarreviews.com

This makes solar one of the smartest home upgrades you can make. Unlike a kitchen or bathroom remodel, solar not only improves curb appeal and energy efficiency — it also pays you back through lower monthly energy bills and often results in faster home sales.

Here in Minnesota and Wisconsin, Champion Solar systems are customer-owned, which means you keep the tax credits and benefits, and the system becomes a real asset that transfers with your home. Plus, systems installed by Champion include:

  • 25-year performance warranties from trusted manufacturers.
  • In-house installation by local crews — not subcontractors.
  • Net metering credits that transfer to the new homeowner.
  • Battery-ready designs that appeal to energy-conscious buyers.

Buyers increasingly value homes that generate their own clean energy, especially as electricity rates rise and more people drive electric vehicles or work from home. That makes solar a powerful differentiator in the housing market.

And because Champion uses American-made components whenever possible and offers full-service support for the long haul, your investment will hold both performance and value for decades to come.

Business Owners

Solar energy is a powerful way for locally owned businesses to lower costs, improve cash flow, and gain energy independence. Instead of renting electricity from the utility forever, solar lets you generate your own clean power — often for less than you’re already paying.

Many of Champion Solar’s commercial clients see savings of 70-100+% on electricity costs, and those savings increase every year as utility rates rise. With $0 down PACE financing, you can install solar with no upfront cost and typically achieve positive monthly cash flow from day one.

Over the life of the system, most businesses save hundreds of thousands of dollars, with a typical payback period of 3-6 years. After that, your system continues generating free electricity for decades — with little or no maintenance and no fuel costs.

Available incentives make math even better:

  • 40% federal tax credit
  • Accelerated and MACRS depreciation schedules (worth 20–40% of system cost).

Combined, these benefits can cover up to 80% of your system’s total cost within the first few years.

Champion Solar also offers integration with smart panels and remote monitoring, so you can track energy production, usage, and savings right from your smartphone. Smart load management helps you reduce peak demand charges, control specific circuits, and ensure your building operates efficiently.

From small shops and offices to farms and industrial buildings, we design each system to maximize your return — using in-house crews, the maximum American-made components available, and ongoing support long after the install.

Average Savings Over 25 Years

Minnesota homeowners typically save between $24,000 and $45,000 over the 25-year lifespan of a solar panel system, depending on system size, electricity rates, and local incentives.

For example, in Minneapolis, a 5-kW system yields approximately $36,942 in savings over 25 years, with a payback period of about 11 years.

In Mound, MN, the same system offers around $40,050 in savings, with a payback period of 11.6 years.

Statewide, the average homeowner sees $41,212 in total energy savings over 25 years.

Monthly Energy Savings

Monthly savings vary based on system size and household energy consumption. For instance, in Coon Rapids, MN, a 5-kW system can save homeowners about $82.34 per month, totaling nearly $988 annually.

Sources:

Minnesota businesses have access to a variety of incentives that make commercial solar installations more affordable and financially attractive. These include federal tax credits, state-level exemptions, utility rebates, and specialized financing programs.

Federal Commercial Solar Incentives

Investment Tax Credit (ITC): Businesses can claim a 30% federal tax credit on the total cost of solar installation. This credit applies to systems installed through 2032 and can be carried forward if not fully used in the first year.

Accelerated Depreciation (MACRS): Under the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System, businesses can depreciate solar equipment over five years, reducing taxable income. Bonus depreciation allows for a larger deduction in the first year, though the percentage decreases annually through 2026.

Production Tax Credit (PTC): Alternatively, businesses may opt for a per-kilowatt-hour credit based on electricity generated over 10 years. This option is beneficial for systems with high energy output.

Minnesota Commercial Solar and Utility Incentives

Sales Tax Exemption: Minnesota exempts solar equipment from the 6.875% state sales tax, lowering upfront costs.

Property Tax Exemption: The added value from a solar installation does not increase property taxes, preserving long-term savings.

Net Metering: For systems up to 40 kW, utilities must credit excess energy sent to the grid at the retail rate, reducing electricity bills.

Xcel Energy Solar*Rewards: Commercial customers receive $0.03 per kWh for energy produced over 10 years, totaling approximately $2,900 for an average system.

Utility Rebates: Utilities like Minnesota Power and Dakota Electric offer rebates ranging from $500 to $5,000, depending on system size and location.

Additional Programs

Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE): This financing option allows businesses to fund solar projects with no upfront costs, repaid through property tax assessments.

USDA REAP Grants: Rural businesses and agricultural producers can apply for grants covering up to 50% of solar project costs.

iSolar

Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority (MnCIFA): Provides loans and grants to support clean energy projects, including solar installations.

Sources

Installing a commercial solar energy system in Minnesota typically spans 2 to 6 months, though this can vary based on project complexity, permitting, and utility interconnection timelines. Here’s a concise breakdown of the process:

  • Initial Consultation & Site Assessment (1–2 weeks): Solar professionals evaluate your energy needs, site conditions, and business goals to design a tailored system.
  • System Design & Proposal (1–2 weeks): A custom design is developed, detailing panel layout, equipment specifications, and projected energy savings.
  • Permitting & Approvals (2–6 weeks): Securing necessary permits from local authorities ensures compliance with building codes and regulations.
  • Equipment Procurement (4–8 weeks): Ordering and receiving solar panels and related equipment, with timelines influenced by availability and shipping.
  • Site Preparation (4–6 weeks): Preparing the installation site, which may include structural enhancements and electrical upgrades.
  • Installation (2–6 weeks): Mounting panels, wiring, and integrating the system with your building’s electrical infrastructure.
  • Inspection & Grid Connection (Up to 16 weeks): Post-installation inspections and utility interconnection processes, such as with Xcel Energy, can take up to 12–16 weeks.

Overall, while the core installation might be completed within a few weeks, the entire process—from initial assessment to full operational status—can extend over several months, depending on various factors including permitting and utility coordination.

Sources

xcelenergy.com

Adding solar to a commercial property can increase its value in several ways — not just by improving cash flow, but by making the building more attractive to buyers, tenants, and lenders.

Solar reduces operating expenses by cutting or eliminating electric bills, which increases net operating income (NOI). Since commercial real estate is often valued based on income, this directly boosts appraised value. In fact, many building owners find that the value increase from solar exceeds the cost of installation, especially when incentives are factored in.

For example:

  • A business saving $10,000 per year in electricity could see a property value increase of $100,000–$150,000, based on a 7–10% cap rate.
  • This value increase is often realized immediately — even before the system is fully paid off.

Solar also makes your property more attractive to:

  • Tenants, who benefit from lower utility costs.
  • Buyers, who want predictable overhead and long-term energy savings.
  • Investors, who favor properties with improved cash flow and ESG alignment.

Because Champion Solar systems are customer-owned, all the financial benefits — including tax credits, grants, and energy savings — belong to you and transfer easily if you sell the property.

Whether you’re planning to hold, lease, or eventually sell your building, solar adds long-term value that compounds over time.

Yes — but only if your system includes battery storage or a backup generator. A standard commercial solar system is grid-tied, which means it automatically shuts off during a power outage to protect utility workers. So, while solar lowers your electric bill, it doesn’t provide backup power on its own.

Champion Solar offers full energy resilience solutions for businesses, including:

  • Battery storage systems that automatically keep critical loads running during outages.
  • Smart panel integration, so you can use your phone or tablet to control which parts of your building stay powered.
  • Optional generator backup, ideal for large facilities or extended outages.

You can choose to back up the entire building or just essential operations — like servers, refrigeration, point-of-sale systems, or security. We help you design the right system based on your energy needs, outage risk, and budget.

More businesses are investing in backup power due to:

  • Growing reliance on digital systems and 24/7 uptime
  • Frequent outages in rural areas
  • Concerns about grid reliability and future energy costs

Whether you want peace of mind or full-scale resilience, Champion Solar can design a commercial solar + storage solution that keeps your business running — even when the grid goes down.

When you sell a commercial property with a solar system, the system and its financial benefits transfer to the new owner, making your building more attractive AND more valuable.

Because Champion Solar systems are customer-owned, not leased or third-party controlled, the transfer is simple:

  • The system becomes part of the real estate — just like the roof or HVAC.
  • Any remaining financing can often be paid off at closing or assumed by the buyer, depending on the terms.
  • All ongoing energy savings, net metering credits, and warranties transfer to the new owner.

Solar enhances your building’s net operating income (NOI), which is a key factor in its appraised value. That means a buyer isn’t just getting a property — they’re acquiring one with lower operating costs and higher financial performance. In many cases, that allows sellers to command a higher sale price.

Buyers today — whether they’re investors, business owners, or tenants — are looking for properties that are energy-efficient, sustainable, and future-proofed. A solar system delivers all of that, especially when it’s backed by a 25–30-year warranty and installed by a local, reputable company like Champion Solar.

If you think you may sell your building in the next 5–10 years, solar can help you build equity faster, improve your valuation, and set your property apart when it hits the market.

Yes — commercial solar is one of the most stable, high-return investments a business or property owner can make. Unlike many upgrades that depreciate, solar reduces your operating costs more every year, increases cash flow, and adds long-term value to your building.

Here’s why commercial solar power consistently outperforms expectations:

  • High ROI: Most commercial systems pay for themselves in 3–6 years and generate 30+ years of pure savings after that.
  • Massive incentives: Between the 40% federal tax credit, accelerated and MACRS depreciation, up to 80–90% of your system’s cost can be recovered in the first couple of years.
  • Predictable energy pricing: Solar locks in your electricity rate for decades — helping you budget with confidence, even as utility prices continue to rise.
  • Asset appreciation: Lower operating expenses = higher net operating income (NOI), which can increase your building’s value significantly.
  • Sustainability wins: As ESG reporting becomes more important, solar supports compliance while improving your brand image and customer trust.
  • Unlike volatile investments, solar delivers guaranteed cost savings every month — and the benefits grow as electric rates go up. When installed by Champion Solar, your system is backed by decades-long warranties, local service, and top-tier equipment, so you can count on it to perform for the long haul.

Whether you’re looking to improve profitability, boost property value, or just make smart use of available tax credits, commercial solar is a low-risk, high-return decision that pays off now and for decades to come.

Solar Experts You Can Trust

You don’t have to search far and wide for a reliable solar company. Contact us now and switch to clean, green, and sustainable energy.

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