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Articles by Casey McDevitt
This prepper has a very realistic plan for the next grid-down emergency
If your power went out for a full week starting tonight, would you be ready? Research shows most Americans wouldn’t be. But somewhere between the pandemic, the supply chain chaos, and wildfire seasons that keep getting worse, millions of people started doing something they never thought they'd do: And no, we’re not talking about the bunker-and-tinfoil-hat version you've seen on reality TV.
Can a Heat Pump Freeze Up?
EnergySage Seeing ice coating your outdoor heat pump can lead you to wonder if something's wrong. It turns out that a thin layer of frost is part of normal winter operation. Heat pumps create condensation in heating mode, which naturally ices up when the temperature drops below freezing. That’s why heat pumps are designed with built-in defrost cycles specifically to handle frost and ice—the trick is knowing when frost is routine maintenance and when excessive ice signals something needs attention.
Why Is Solar So Expensive In The U.S.?
Solar prices have fallen dramatically over the past few decades, averaging $2.53 per watt in 2025—a huge drop from the $7+ per watt costs of the early 2000s. Even more notable, the U.S. solar industry has maintained prices at these record-low levels despite recent economic headwinds, a testament to the sector’s resilience and innovation.
Why are solar panels so expensive in the U.S.? Soft costs add up, but prices have fallen $15K
EnergySage Solar prices have fallen dramatically over the past few decades, averaging $2.53 per watt in 2025—a huge drop from the $7+ per watt costs of the early 2000s. Even more notable, the U.S. solar industry has maintained prices at these record-low levels despite recent economic headwinds, a testament to the sector’s resilience and innovation.
Your Electric Bill Could Double by 2055-Here's How Solar Can Save You $52,000
The average American family spends nearly $1,800 a year on electricity today, but that bill could rival a second car payment by mid-century. Annual electricity costs are projected to hit nearly $4,000 by 2054—adding up to more than $81,000 in cumulative costs over the next three decades.
Your electric bill could double by 2055-here's how solar can save you $52,000
EnergySage The average American family spends nearly $1,800 a year on electricity today, but that bill could rival a second car payment by mid-century. Annual electricity costs are projected to hit nearly $4,000 by 2054—adding up to more than $81,000 in cumulative costs over the next three decades.
No Solar Tax Credit? No Problem. Most Homeowners Can Still Save Big
The 30% residential solar tax credit—long considered one of the best solar incentives—is set to disappear after December 31, 2025. Under President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), the credit will end abruptly in three months, with no phase-out period as originally planned. On the surface, that might sound like a devastating blow for solar savings, but the reality is more complex.
The Biggest Mistake People Make With EV Charger Installations
With the September 30th deadline approaching to claim the federal tax credit for your electric vehicle (EV) charger installation, many EV owners are weighing their options for home charging. Driving an EV means cleaner, more efficient transportation and freedom from routine gas station stops. But to get the most out of your EV, you’ll want the convenience of charging at home. Most drivers upgrade to a Level 2 charging station when they buy an EV.
California Electricity Prices Surged 96% In a Decade. Is Your State Next?
California electricity prices have nearly doubled in the last decade—and the supply cost of power isn’t to blame. The average price of electricity in the Golden State soared a whopping 96% between 2014 and 2024, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Electricity rates surged especially high between 2021 and 2023, climbing by double-digit percentages year-over-year and spiking more than 14% between 2022 and 2023 alone.
Solar Leasing Could Be a Better Deal Thanks to Trump’s Tax Changes. Here’s Why
While virtually no clean energy program survived this summer’s legislative process unscathed, the 30% residential solar tax credit (Section 25D of the U.S. tax code) got the shorter end of the stick compared to its commercial counterpart, the 48E tax credit—meaning leasing solar panels may now be more affordable than buying them yourself.
When Solar Panel Repair is Needed-And When it’s Not
Solar is a significant investment, so it’s natural to worry if you notice a drop in electricity production. The good news? Solar electricity generation fluctuates with the seasons, so most production dips are normal. But if you notice a persistent issue, you’ll want to ensure your equipment works properly. For most homeowners, their solar panels themselves require almost no attention over their decades-long lifespan.
Range Anxiety? RV Parks Might Be the Secret EV Charging Solution
If you’re planning a cross-country electric vehicle (EV) road trip and worried about “charging deserts” between cities, you’re probably overlooking a hidden network that’s been there all along. Across the U.S., more than 13,000 RV parks and campgrounds dot the country—and many are the perfect spot to stop and charge your EV on a long road trip. Most RV parks are actually equipped with the same 240-volt outlets that EV users need to charge their cars.
Electric Bills Have Skyrocketed 32% Since 2014-Here’s How it’s Hitting Your Wallet
If your electric bill seems higher lately, you’re not imagining things. The U.S. grid is under pressure, and your utility rate is caught in the crossfire. Residential electricity rates in the U.S. have climbed 32% in the last decade, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). In 2014, the average price of electricity was just 12.52 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh)—by 2024, it had reached 16.48 cents.
Trump’s Energy Department Just Released a Controversial Report: What’s Fact vs. Fabrication?
At President Trump’s direction, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is reversing course on clean energy solutions for the grid. In July, the DOE released its Resource Adequacy Report per President Trump’s Executive Order 14262, Strengthening the U.S. Grid Reliability and Security.
AI's Power Grab: The Hidden Toll on a Handful of States
While anyone in the country can use ChatGPT, just a handful of states are shouldering the brunt of the energy burden required to power it. Generative AI models answer millions of user queries from across the nation every day, yet only 15 states generate 80% of the energy required to power them: Virginia delivers the most electricity to data centers, followed by Texas, California, Illinois, and Oregon, according to a 2024 Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) report.
Massachusetts Offers a Lifeline as Solar Incentives Vanish in D.C.
With federal support for clean energy on shaky ground, Massachusetts is doubling down on state-level solar incentives that help energy-conscious homeowners save money. Last month, the state finalized new rules for its Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program to help stabilize energy markets and keep solar projects viable even if federal clean energy tax credits are rolled back.
AI is Driving Up Electricity Demand-Will You Pay the Price?
The explosive growth of AI is driving a huge surge of demand for power and shows no signs of slowing down. Electricity consumption from U.S. data centers, which is crucial for powering generative artificial intelligence (AI) models such as ChatGPT and Gemini, is expected to increase by 130% by the decade’s end, according to a new study by the International Energy Agency (IEA). Data center power demand has already grown 12% annually between 2015 and 2024, the IEA says.
Solar payback periods will extend 43% longer without the ITC
As subject matter experts, we provide only objective information. We design every article to provide you with deeply-researched, factual, useful information so that you can make informed home electrification and financial decisions. We have: Sourced the majority of our data from hundreds of thousands of quotes through our own marketplace.
Trump Targets FEMA: How Solar Batteries Can Fill the Gaps in Disaster Recovery
President Trump said last week that he plans to dismantle the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)—responsible for coordinating federal responses to natural disasters—starting in December. Already, FEMA has lost about a quarter of its full-time staff, including several senior officials, since the start of Trump’s second term. “We want to wean off of FEMA and we want to bring it down to the state level,” the president said last week during a news briefing.
Save the solar tax credit: The 5-minute action guide
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on May 22 that would kill the 30% residential solar tax credit nearly a decade ahead of schedule. For the average homeowner, this would automatically increase the cost of solar by about $9,000—and that’s before accounting for tariff-related price increases. The stakes are even higher for solar installation companies, which are typically small, local businesses that already operate on razor-thin margins. The good news? It’s not law yet.
Save the solar tax credit: The 5-minute action guide
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on May 22 that would kill the 30% residential solar tax credit nearly a decade ahead of schedule. For the average homeowner, this would automatically increase the cost of solar by about $9,000—and that’s before accounting for tariff-related price increases. The stakes are even higher for solar installation companies, which are typically small, local businesses that already operate on razor-thin margins. The good news? It’s not law yet.
Congress Might Kill Clean Energy Tax Credits-These States Should Go Solar Now
The House of Representatives passed a sweeping tax, budget, and immigration bill last month that includes provisions to eliminate Biden-era clean energy tax credits by the end of this year—nearly a decade ahead of schedule. While the bill still needs approval from the Senate and the President, solar and clean energy programs are at serious risk of elimination.
Congress might kill clean energy tax credits-these states should go solar now
The House of Representatives passed a sweeping tax, budget, and immigration bill last month that includes provisions to eliminate Biden-era clean energy tax credits by the end of this year—nearly a decade ahead of schedule. While the bill still needs approval from the Senate and the President, solar and clean energy programs are at serious risk of elimination.
Sunnova Went Bankrupt-What Does It Mean For Other Major Solar Players?
As subject matter experts, we provide only objective information. We design every article to provide you with deeply-researched, factual, useful information so that you can make informed home electrification and financial decisions. We have: Sourced the majority of our data from hundreds of thousands of quotes through our own marketplace.
Home Battery Demand Surges—But a New GOP Bill Could stall Momentum | EnergySage
Nearly half of solar shoppers on the EnergySage Marketplace added batteries to their solar panel system purchases in the second half of 2024, according to EnergySage Intel’s Solar & Storage Marketplace Report. The battery attachment rate hit 45%—more than doubling year-over-year—and expressed interest in storage reached an all-time high of 73%.
The Cost of Cutting Clean Energy Tax Credits? 400,000 American Jobs
The GOP’s “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” is threatening the livelihood of 400,000 working Americans, according to a new report from Climate Power. While the current version parades itself as a pro-family, pro-small-business bill, its marketing thinly veils its true nature: Legislation designed to support big corporations and the wealthiest Americans. Who will the bill will hurt the most? Workers who live in Republican-held districts, according to Climate Power.
Act Now: 30% Solar Tax Credit May End Soon-Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Wait
As President and COO of EnergySage, I'm not typically one to sound alarm bells. But today, I need to be direct with you about the state of clean energy policy: Clean energy programs that directly benefit people like you are under attack on Capitol Hill. Specifically, the residential solar tax credit—which puts thousands of dollars back in average homeowners' pockets—is at serious risk of ending early.
Senate Narrowly Passes GOP Domestic Policy Bill-Residential Solar Tax Credit Still in Peril
Updated July 1 at 5:00 p.m. EST The U.S. Senate passed the GOP megabill on Tuesday morning after Vice President Vance’s tie-breaking vote ended an all-night marathon voting session. The final Senate version included some improvements for clean energy tax credits, but notably absent was an extension for the 30% residential solar tax credit (Section 25D of the U.S. Tax Code). It’s still set to expire at the end of this year.
The Surprising Perks of High-Interest Solar Loans
As subject matter experts, we provide only objective information. We design every article to provide you with deeply-researched, factual, useful information so that you can make informed home electrification and financial decisions. We have: Sourced the majority of our data from hundreds of thousands of quotes through our own marketplace.
The bright side of high-interest solar loans
EnergySage Solar loans with high interest rates are increasingly offered with much lower fees, which is making loans with higher interest rates more affordable than they may initially seem, according to EnergySage Intel's latest Solar & Storage Marketplace Report. While a low interest rate is a welcome sight for most borrowers, it doesn’t always translate to the lowest overall cost.
Solar Panels are Generating Record Amounts of Power—Will Tariffs Change That? | EnergySage
Solar panels are producing record amounts of power. In just a few years, the standard for solar panel power output has dramatically shifted upward, driven by advances in efficiency and larger panel sizes. According to EnergySage Intel’s Solar & Storage Marketplace Report, 33% of quotes in the second half of 2024 included panels rated above 450 watts—up from just 1% a year earlier. But in 2025, looming trade policy changes could hinder the supply of high-output solar panels.
Tesla dominated the home battery market-will its reign last?
Unlock stock picks and a broker-level newsfeed that powers Wall Street. Casey McDevitt Wed, Apr 30, 2025, 7:00 PM 8 min read EnergySage Love it or hate it, Tesla is quite the disruptor. Within its first year on the market, the Powerwall 3 battery energy storage system outsold longtime leader Enphase—the first company to do so in four years. According to EnergySage Intel’s Solar & Storage Marketplace Report, Tesla became the most quoted battery brand in the second half of 2024.
Your Electric Bill is Soaring-Don’t Blame Clean Energy
As subject matter experts, we provide only objective information. We design every article to provide you with deeply-researched, factual, useful information so that you can make informed home electrification and financial decisions. We have: Sourced the majority of our data from hundreds of thousands of quotes through our own marketplace.
Ionna Takes on Tesla With New Nationwide EV Charging Network | EnergySage
Ionna, a joint venture founded by major automakers, is tackling one of the biggest barriers facing the electric vehicle (EV) industry today: reliable and accessible charging stations.
The TCPA’s One-to-One Consent Rule is No More-What That Means For You
Consumers in the U.S. came close to having fewer unwanted robocalls this week, but a new rule aimed at limiting those pesky spam calls was struck down at the last minute. The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) initially postponed its new Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) regulations designed to enhance consumer protections regarding phone sales, but was ultimately struck down by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals on January 24, 2025.
Selecting a solar installer amid a sea of proposals
As subject matter experts, we provide only objective information. We design every article to provide you with deeply-researched, factual, useful information so that you can make informed home electrification and financial decisions. We have: Sourced the majority of our data from hundreds of thousands of quotes through our own marketplace.
How EnergySage equipped Allen with knowledge and power
As subject matter experts, we provide only objective information. We design every article to provide you with deeply-researched, factual, useful information so that you can make informed home electrification and financial decisions. We have: Sourced the majority of our data from hundreds of thousands of quotes through our own marketplace.
Navigating the Solar Wild West
Stewart Lanier walks through his garden, phone in hand, looking at his solar energy monitoring app, Enphase. It’s another 85° day in Worcester, which means his central air conditioning will be running all day. Still, Stewart can rest easy knowing his newly installed solar panels will cover 75% of the electricity cost. Stewart’s solar journey started in 2021 when he signed up for a community solar project.
Community Solar
You can find subscription options in your area by entering your zip code. Once you’ve chosen a project, you’ll need to provide a few pieces of information, including your email, address, utility account number, and average monthly electric bill. Depending on the subscription, you may also need to e-sign a contract. We’ll pass that information onto the community solar provider and they’ll follow up directly to finalize your subscription.
Solar Loans: Everything You Need to Know (2025)
As subject matter experts, we provide only objective information. We design every article to provide you with deeply-researched, factual, useful information so that you can make informed home electrification and financial decisions. We have: Sourced the majority of our data from hundreds of thousands of quotes through our own marketplace.
What You Need to Know About Solar Leases in 2024
If you want to go solar but aren’t sure how to pay for it, signing a solar lease may sound enticing. Solar leases cover the costs of installing a solar energy system and help lower your electric bills, but they can cause more trouble than they’re worth—which is why it’s important to do your research before signing any contract.
EV Chargers: Everything You Need To Know
EV charging technology is faster and more convenient than ever. Today, the focus of EV charging has shifted from the feasibility of charging at home to understanding your individual preferences and unique charging needs. Charging at home can range from effortless convenience to intricate planning, depending on factors like your EV model, electrical panel, charger, and your parking situation.
How to Conserve Energy: 16 Tips to Save Electricity
Saving energy doesn't mean you have to do less or sacrifice any creature comforts. Thanks to new, more efficient (and often affordable) tech, it's easier than ever to get more out of your home while conserving electricity and other fuels, shrinking your utility bills, and reducing your environmental impact. Here are some of the lowest-hanging fruit you can start picking off in your home. Find out what solar panels cost in your area in 2024 ZIP code * Please enter a five-digit zip code.
Best solar batteries for your home in 2025
Home batteries can be a great investment for your home, though we’ll admit they’re not for everyone. Adding storage to your solar panel system makes perfect sense if your area doesn’t have a consumer-friendly net metering program, you face frequent power outages, or you simply want more independence from your utility company. If that’s you, the next step is weeding through all of the home storage options on the market.
Everything You Need To Know About Energy Efficiency
As subject matter experts, we provide only objective information. We design every article to provide you with deeply-researched, factual, useful information so that you can make informed home electrification and financial decisions. We have: Sourced the majority of our data from hundreds of thousands of quotes through our own marketplace.
Best Solar Panels: Which One Should You Choose?
Choosing the best solar panel can feel overwhelming, but it's easier than you think. A quality solar installer will typically install quality solar panels, so your main focus should be choosing the best solar installer for the job—your installer's experience and your solar system's size have a bigger impact on effectiveness. Still, every home is different, and most will benefit from having the most efficient panels on the market.
Does EV Charging Really Cost Less Than Gas?
Imagine pulling into your driveway each night and “filling up” for half the price—no gas station stops, no fluctuating fuel prices. Electric vehicles (EVs) don’t just cut tailpipe emissions; they cut costs. If you charge at home, powering an EV costs less than half as much as fueling the average gas-powered vehicle. Pair your charger with solar panels, and you can stretch those savings even further. Public EV chargers, on the other hand, aren’t quite as cost-effective.
What Are the Best Cheap Solar Panels?
As subject matter experts, we provide only objective information. We design every article to provide you with deeply-researched, factual, useful information so that you can make informed home electrification and financial decisions. We have: Sourced the majority of our data from hundreds of thousands of quotes through our own marketplace.
Don’t Skip Solar Panel Cleaning—Your Wallet Will Thank You
When July turns to August, it can feel like the summer months really start to fly by. Before we know it, the autumn leaves will fall in New England, and temperatures will cool enough in Southern California for a dusty desert hike. With the changing seasons come new routines and practices: Raking leaves, clearing the gutters—and cleaning your solar panels to maximize their energy production.
Retirees Are Using This Strategy to Slash Their Biggest Monthly Bills
EnergySage We all look forward to the day we can finally retire. It’s easy to romanticize a life free from the daily grind, where you can fully enjoy hobbies, time with loved ones, and the freedom to do as you please. But a stress-free retirement requires a lot of planning and saving. Unlike your salary, your bills won’t disappear once you stop working. Without a steady paycheck, your investments become essential to running your household.
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