6 Best Solar Companies in La Crosse, WI (2024 Reviews)

We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 6 in La Crosse based on:

  • Customer review scores
  • Service area for La Crosse, WI
  • Company policies and services offered
  • Accreditations and certifications

Average La Crosse homeowner saves $1,594/year with solar panels

By EcoWatch Local Advisors

Data Analysis: James Savino

Ranking Methodology: Karsten Neumeister

Updated May 20, 2024

Why you can trust EcoWatch

We work with a panel of solar experts to create unbiased reviews that empower you to make the right choice for your home. No other site has covered renewables as long as us, which means we have more data and insider information than other sites. Our rankings are never affected by revenue or partnerships.

Best Solar Companies in La Crosse

Thinking of going solar but trying to figure out which solar panel installer would be best for you? Although it can be hard to choose a solar company, the effort will pay off because going solar has many good perks. On average, you can save $19,000 over 20 years after installing a solar panel system. And because solar panels have a lifespan of about 25 to 30 years, your total savings will be even more than that overall.


If you want to start taking advantage of the many benefits of solar, we’ll help you narrow down your options to find the La Crosse solar installer that’s right for you.To receive free quotes from the best solar companies in La Crosse, you can click "get quote" below.

Best for Leasing

Sunrun

★★★★★
4.0
  • Expansive service area
  • Many financing options
  • Some reported issues with customer service
  • Some reported issues with door-to-door sales

Best Social Impact

Palmetto Solar

★★★★★
4.0
  • Expansive service area
  • Makes charitable contributions
  • Certified B Corp
  • No leases or PPAs
  • Quality of installation may vary by location

Best Technology

Tesla Energy

★★★★★
3.2
  • Price-match guarantee
  • Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
  • Best solar battery on the market
  • Some reported issues with customer service
  • Customer service varies by local dealer

EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in La Crosse

Best Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

4.9/5

Olson Solar Energy

  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Panel Installation
  • Service icon Grid-Tied Solar System
  • Service icon Consultation

Website: http://www.olsonsolarenergy.com/
Address: 1447 Oak Forest Dr, Onalaska, WI 54650
Phone: 6087802347
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

Solar Connection Inc.

  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Panel Installation
  • Service icon Consultation
  • Service icon Permit Assistance

Website: https://solarconnectioninc.com/
Address: 920 10th Ave N, Onalaska, WI 54650
Phone: 6087814683
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

4.9/5

Ethos Green Power Cooperative

  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Panel Installation
  • Service icon Battery Storage
  • Service icon Consultation
  • Service icon Financing Assistance

Website: http://ethos.green/
Address: 729 N Main St, Viroqua, WI 54665
Phone: 6086373797
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

Champion Solar

  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Consultation
  • Service icon Battery Storage
  • Service icon Financing Assistance
  • Service icon Permit Assistance
  • Service icon Panel Installation
  • Service icon Cleaning and Maintenance
  • Service icon Skilled Repairs

Website: http://www.championsolar.com/
Address: 7010 US-61, Minnesota City, MN 55959
Phone: 5073120190
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

Blake Electric, Inc.

  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Permit Assistance
  • Service icon Consultation
  • Service icon Cleaning and Maintenance
  • Service icon Panel Installation

Website: http://www.blakeelectricinc.com/
Address: 3 W Main St, Waukon, IA 52172
Phone: 5635683686
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

Midwest Solars

  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Battery Storage
  • Service icon Panel Installation

Website: https://midwestsolars.com/
Address: 910 Countryside Pkwy, Mondovi, WI 54755
Phone: 3214469029

Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in La Crosse

EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in La Crosse based on criteria such as its reputation in the industry, customer reviews, services, warranty coverage and financing. Using this solar methodology, we used the data we collected to rate and rank each company and narrow down our picks for the best solar companies in La Crosse


Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Wisconsin solar companies

  • Brand reputation and certifications (20%): We take each company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) score into consideration, as well as how long the installer has been in business (at least 5 years is required, 10 preferred) and what type of solar certifications it holds.
  • Customer reviews (20%): Trust is a top priority at EcoWatch, so we take customer experience under close consideration. We scour different review sites and customer testimonials when ranking our top solar companies, checking sites such as Trustpilot and Google Reviews. We also consider any potential complaints or lawsuits filed against these companies and award or remove points accordingly.
  • Warranty (20%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers 25-year warranties that cover performance, product and workmanship. The industry standard that we measure companies against is 25-year product and performance warranties, along with a 10-year workmanship warranty. We also look closely into the track record of the post-installation support each company provides in terms of honoring its contracts
  • Solar services (10%): All of the companies we review install solar panels, but we award companies higher points if they offer additional services for customers, like battery installation, energy-efficiency audits, and EV chargers.
  • Pricing and financing (10%): It's hard to get exact quotes for solar projects, but we use marketplace research to determine how each company prices its equipment and installation services. Additionally, companies that offer more help for panel financing — like in-house loans, leases, or PPAs — score higher than those that don't.
  • Availability (10%): The bigger the service area, the higher the company will score.
  • Transparency and accessibility (5%): Solar installers that offer free consultations and easy contact methods score higher in this category.
  • Environmental, social and corporate governance factors (5%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers public data disclosure, addresses end-of-life (EOL) products or processes, and demonstrates a commitment to uplifting the communities that it serves.

The Cost and Benefits of Solar in La Crosse

For many readers, the decision of which solar company to go with comes down to how much it’ll cost.Some key things that influence how much it will cost and how much you could save include:

  • Incentives: Something that can save you money on your solar project is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which is a tax credit that lets you deduct from your taxes a percentage of the project cost. You can also save a decent amount of money on your power bills, which can give you an average of $19,000 of savings over 20 years.
  • average energy usage: The more energy your household uses on average and the larger your current power bills are, the more money you could save by going solar.
  • System size and type: Some models are more costly than others, so the one you choose can raise or lower your initial investment. Plus, the more solar panels you need to get, the more it'll cost.
  • Your current electric bills: Solar panels can greatly lower, or completely eliminate, your utility bills. In La Crosse, you can save an average of $1,104 a month.

So is installing solar panels worth it? Whether you want to decrease your electric bills, greenhouse gas emissions or both, solar panels are a worthwhile investment for many La Crosse homeowners.

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Solar Incentives in La Crosse

Since solar power is better for the environment than fossil fuels, there are some government incentives available to encourage people to make the switch.On top of the federal tax credit incentive, there are also some state- and city-level incentives, which in the majority of cases, can be claimed in addition to the federal incentive, so you get to save even more. Our article on solar incentives goes over more information on the incentives you can benefit from in La Crosse.

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in La Crosse

There are lots of reasons to switch to solar power, like saving money on utility bills and helping to reduce your carbon footprint.You may be curious – how much do solar panels help the planet anyway? Switching to solar power is a great choice for the environment, due to the fact that the greatest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the nation is from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation – all of which can be powered by solar instead.In fact, if you install solar panels, you could lower your carbon dioxide emissions by about 90 pounds each year. As you can see, investing in solar has so many other perks apart from saving money. One of the primary ones is that you can help save the planet too.

Best for Leasing

Sunrun

★★★★★
4.0
  • Expansive service area
  • Many financing options
  • Some reported issues with customer service
  • Some reported issues with door-to-door sales

Best Social Impact

Palmetto Solar

★★★★★
4.0
  • Expansive service area
  • Makes charitable contributions
  • Certified B Corp
  • No leases or PPAs
  • Quality of installation may vary by location

Best Technology

Tesla Energy

★★★★★
3.2
  • Price-match guarantee
  • Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
  • Best solar battery on the market
  • Some reported issues with customer service
  • Customer service varies by local dealer

EcoWatch's La Crosse, WI Solar Company Rankings FAQs

Which solar company is the best in La Crosse?

The highest-rated local solar company in La Crosse is Olson Solar Energy, with a rating of 4.90 stars.

Are solar panels actually environmentally friendly?

Solar panels can be detrimental for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals in the manufacturing process. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to recycle safely once they’ve reached the end of their lifespan. Solar panel manufacturing needs a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.

Are solar panels worth it?

Solar panels can be a fruitful investment for a majority of homeowners, but truthfully, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get a lot of direct sunlight or your energy bills are already pretty low, solar panels might not be for you.

How much solar panel capacity do I need for my house?

Solar panel capacity is rated based on the amount of power they produce under standard testing conditions. Since each panel can generally produce about 250 to 400 watts per hour, the average household will need 20 to 35 panels.

Our goal is to reach as many people as we can with sensible solutions like solar energy. Our team of full-time local researchers collects solar price and installation data for every city in America then compiles it to create these digestible city guides. If you want to read our solar expert’s opinion on the top solar companies featured here, follow this link.

Company research was conducted by Melissa Smith and Karsten Neumeister. Local data analysis was conducted by James Savino. See something we missed or could do better? Email the editor.