CD Staff Writer & Energy Analyst
Certified energy auditor, financial analysis background, cited by 3 state energy commissions
Claire is the person your solar installer hopes you don't talk to before signing the contract. She spent five years as an energy auditor crunching utility rate structures and incentive programs, and she's built ROI calculators for homeowners in 38 states that account for the stuff salespeople conveniently skip — net metering policy changes, TOU rate shifts, and the actual degradation curve of the panels they're quoting you. She's helped over 100 homeowners evaluate whether solar makes financial sense, and her honest answer is sometimes 'not yet' — which is why solar companies have stopped returning her calls. Her battery storage economics analyses have been cited by three state energy commissions.
4 years of experience in solar energy.
The federal ITC expired December 31, 2025 — so does leasing now win? Claire Dawson runs the real 2026 math on cash, loan, lease, and PPA to find out which financing path saves more.
Compare the 5 best home solar batteries for 2026 with real installed costs, ROI math, and no-ITC calculations — Powerwall 3, Enphase IQ 5P, FranklinWH, and more.
Four best solar generators for off-grid 2026 ranked by LFP vs NMC chemistry, solar input ceiling, and real cost-per-cycle math. EcoFlow wins decisively.
Compare Goal Zero Yeti 1500X vs Bluetti AC300 on capacity, cycle life, and LCOE. Clear winner for home backup and solar-paired use with real specs and honest cons.
Qcells Q.TRON BLK M-G2+ hits 22.5% efficiency, qualifies for IRA domestic content credits, and avoids 37% import tariffs. Here's the financial math after the ITC expired.
Compare top community solar programs for 2026: real savings rates, state availability, and what the fine print actually says. No roof required.
Calculate your real monthly EV charging cost with state-by-state rates, TOU savings, and tested charger picks for every budget in 2026.
Microcracks, hotspots, PID, and inverter failure cost homeowners thousands. Here's how to diagnose and fix every common solar panel problem in 2026.
Powerwall 3 costs less per kWh; IQ 5P scales better. Real installed prices, post-incentive math, and a state-by-state ROI breakdown to pick the right battery.
$20,200–$30,500 installed. Here's what drives the price gap, which panels earn the fastest ROI without the federal ITC, and how to cut costs today.