What is the solar score for Vermont?

Vermont has a solar score of 31/100 (Limited), ranking #22 of 51. The composite blends solar irradiance (4.1 kWh/m²/day, 40%), incentive density (30%), and modeled payback (30%).

How long does it take for solar panels to pay for themselves in Vermont?

The estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Vermont is 11.5 years, ranking #11 of 51 for speed to break-even. At a $18,600 system cost and $1,616/year modeled savings, that implies +$21,800 net over 25 years before rate escalation.

How much does a solar system cost in Vermont?

A 6 kW residential system in Vermont averages $18,600 before incentives, or $3.10 per watt. Vermont has 3 tracked state and utility incentive programs that can lower net cost.

How much electricity do solar panels produce in Vermont?

A 6 kW system in Vermont produces an estimated 7,183 kWh/year, based on average irradiance of 4.1 kWh/m²/day. Actual output varies with roof orientation, shading, and panel efficiency.

What solar incentives are available in Vermont?

Vermont offers 3 solar incentive programs including tax exemption, net metering, performance incentive. Net metering here is classified as full.

Does Vermont have net metering for solar?

Vermont's net-metering policy is classified as "full." Homeowners receive full retail credit for excess solar exported to the grid.

Is solar payback in Vermont fast or slow compared to other states?

Vermont's 11.5-yr modeled payback is faster than 78% of the 51 tracked states, though 10 states model an even shorter break-even. This reflects the same electricity rates, irradiance, and incentive stack already factored into the 11.5-year figure.

State solar profile · #22 of 51

Solar in Vermont: fast payback · high rates

Name: Vermont Solar Data, Cost, Incentives & ROI
Creator: PlainSolarData
Published: 2024-10-01
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Vermont clears a modeled 11.5-yr break-even (#11 of 51) at 22.5¢/kWh and 4.1 kWh/m²/day, with 3 DSIRE programs in the stack.

4.1
kWh/m²/day irradiance: 22.5¢
avg electricity rate: 11.5 yr
payback (#11): 3
incentive programs

31 Limited

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EIA nameplate inventory

Nameplate VT · Vermont score #22/51

Vermont | 31/100 | 11.5 yr payback | 156 MW

CAP 31/100
PROG #22/51
NEM 4.1 kWh
PHOTO 22.5c/kWh
BOOK 11.5 yr
VS-AVG 156 MW
GW 3 programs
IRR near Georgia

Stamps derive from this state's NREL irradiance, EIA Form 860 / Electric Power Monthly nameplate, and DSIRE incentive row (score, rank, sun, rate, payback, capacity, programs, peer), not a quote or site assessment. Modeled figures use a typical 6 kW system; your roof, shading, and utility tariff decide the real return. See our disclaimer. Verify with EIA Form 860 → · Read with methodology → · Net-metering guide → · Personalized estimate → · All state rows → · States ranked → · Payback vs U.S. avg (14.2 yr): 2.7 yr faster

NY

11
VT

12
TX

12
NV

12
FL

12
CO

12

What this shows Vermont sits at 11.5 years among nearest payback peers (2.7 yr faster vs the 14.2-yr U.S. average).

Fast-band 25-year ROI · Vermont

$18,600

system cost

$1,616/yr

modeled savings

11.5 yr

break-even

+$21,800

25-year net

At $18,600 and $1,616/yr, Vermont is already in the faster third of modeled paybacks. Roof, shading, and tariff still move the real number. Run a personalized estimate →

Installed solar capacity in Vermont, 2011–2024

Total solar nameplate capacity in Vermont reported to the EIA, utility-scale and reported distributed systems. The number of reporting facilities grew 54x (1 to 54) between 2011 and 2024, and the average site size grew from 2 MW to 3 MW per site, a shift toward larger utility-scale installations.

Vermont now has about 156 MW of installed solar capacity across 54 reported facilities.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, installed solar nameplate capacity As of 2024

Vermont: modest sun, still fast payback

Irradiance 4.1 kWh/m²/day (below the 4.8 national mean) vs 11.5-yr payback (fast band vs 14.2-yr mean). Crosshairs mark those means.

Vermont (highlighted): 4.1 kWh/m²/day, 11.5-yr modeled payback - faster than the national average.

Source: PlainSolarData model, NREL irradiance + EIA rates As of 2024

Vermont's payback ranks among the nation's fastest

Vermont's 11.5-yr modeled break-even beats 78% of the 51 tracked states.

Vermont vs all states by modeled payback

2-year payback bands across the full 50-state-plus-DC model.

12 Among the fastest faster than 78% of 51 states

all tracked states, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source PlainSolarData model, NREL irradiance + EIA rates · 2024

Solar & grid details

Net-metering policy: full
Renewable portfolio standard: Mandatory (100% by 2032)
Installed cost / watt: $3.10/W
Annual production (6 kW): 7,183 kWh
Installed capacity (EIA 2024): 156 MW
Notable programs: VT Standard Offer Program, SPEED

Top incentive programs

3 programs available for Vermont residents

Tax exemption VT Solar Property Tax Exemption · Full property tax exemption Net metering VT Net Metering · Retail rate credit (net billing) Performance incentive Vermont Standard Offer Program (SPEED) · $0.18/kWh for 25 years (small solar)

All Vermont solar incentives (3)

Tax exemption

VT Solar Property Tax Exemption

Full property tax exemption

Vermont solar energy systems are exempt from municipal and state property taxes.

Net metering

VT Net Metering

Retail rate credit (net billing)

Vermont offers net metering for systems up to 500 kW with monthly bill credits.

Performance incentive

Vermont Standard Offer Program (SPEED)

$0.18/kWh for 25 years (small solar)

Vermont Standard Offer provides long-term power purchase agreements for eligible solar projects.

States alongside Vermont on fast payback

Two non-geographic peer sets for Vermont: composite score neighbors and payback-year neighbors (deduped so each row links a distinct comparison).

Peer states by composite solar score

Nearest nationwide matches on the NREL/EIA/DSIRE blend (31/100 here).

Georgia · score 31/100
District of Columbia · score 32/100
Kansas · score 32/100
Maryland · score 29/100

Closest match: modeled payback

Nearest payback-year peers nationwide (11.5 yr modeled here).

Texas · 11.8 yr payback
Nevada · 11.9 yr payback
New York · 11.1 yr payback
Florida · 12 yr payback

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on published composite scores and modeled 6 kW payback years; rankings above use the same fields but sort the full corpus.

Solar resource from NREL; electricity rates and installed capacity from the U.S. EIA; incentive programs from DSIRE. See our methodology.

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher. · Updated July 2026