Green Mountain Solar has spent nearly a decade building one of the most operationally focused residential solar practices in Vermont, and the recognition has followed. Founded in 2017 and operating from two Vermont offices at 76 Ethan Allen Drive in South Burlington and 22 Blue Spruce Lane in East Dorset, the company has been named Vermont's Best Renewable Energy Company in both 2024 and 2025 by the Vermont Best of the Best awards program. The team's NABCEP certification on the installation side and its in-house service department on the back end are exactly the credentials our research team looks for when distinguishing a dedicated installer from a generalist contractor. What stood out is the depth of what Green Mountain offers under one roof. Beyond standard rooftop residential solar, the company installs battery backup systems for grid-outage protection, EV chargers, and cold-climate heat pumps, the last of which is particularly relevant for Vermont homeowners trying to electrify away from oil and propane heating. Systems come with 25-year panel warranties and a 12-year workmanship guarantee, and the company partners with EastRise Credit Union, a Vermont-rooted financial institution, for solar loan financing rather than routing every customer to a national finance broker. That kind of local financial partnership often results in lower total interest costs than dealer-fee loans from the major out-of-state lenders. On the customer-facing side, Green Mountain Solar carries a 5.0-star Google rating across 289 reviews at the time of our research, an unusually clean review history for an installer of its scale. The combination of a Vermont headquarters, in-house Vermont service technicians, knowledge of Green Mountain Power and Vermont Electric Cooperative net-metering rules, and award-recognized customer service is genuinely difficult to beat in this market. Prospective customers should still ask for system production guarantees in writing, request specific panel and inverter model numbers before signing, and confirm which crew members will perform the actual roof work versus the electrical interconnection. With a composite score of 78.5 out of 100, Green Mountain Solar stands as our top-ranked solar company in Vermont for 2026.
“Exceptional customer service! From our first call to GMS through project completion, the customer service we experienced with GMS was exceptional. It is very rare to find a company with this level of...”
Alex K.
“I've had a terrific experience with Green Mountain Solar! From the first phone call to the office to get information (and talking with Maggie), to working with the solar advisor Casey on the roof-top...”
Dan M.
“I highly recommend Green Mountain Solar! They worked with me on several design revisions to achieve a system that balanced energy production with an aesthetically pleasing layout on our roof. The...”
Ross S.
“Fantastic job. The GMS team installed 15 panels on our roof and 2 backup batteries over a couple day period. They walked us thru what to expect and then totally delivered as promised. Highly...”
Douglas R.
“Shannon gave me a great beginning estimate with great information for my front roof, then I asked about expanding on this, and created a great proposal expanding to the back roof with a system that...”
Gregory R.
“GMS did a great job on a challenging timeline. We wanted to get our project done by the end of the year so we could take advantage of the expiring tax credits and they got it done! Ian the...”
Amy W.
“I have now worked with Green Mountain Solar on two projects and can highly recommend them. I used GMS first for a solar panel installation on the roof. The project went so seamlessly that I went back...”
Wendy W.
“Green Mountain Solar installed a rooftop solar array in March 2024. Every aspect of our experience with both Shannon, our consultant, and the crew was exceptional—professional and knowledgeable....”
SunCommon has been one of Vermont's most recognizable residential solar PV brands since launching in 2012, operating from 442 US Route 2 in Waterbury and serving customers across Vermont and New York. Over the years the company has completed more than 10,000 solar installations across its two-state footprint, a scale that makes it one of the higher-volume dedicated solar installers in the Northeast outside of the major national players. What stood out to our research team is SunCommon's certification as a B Corporation in both Vermont and New York, a designation that requires passing a rigorous third-party assessment of governance, worker treatment, community impact, and environmental practices. That credential is uncommon in residential solar and signals a more mission-driven operating culture than a typical sales-led dealer. On the technical side, SunCommon has held NYSERDA Quality Solar Installer Platinum status for six consecutive years, which is the highest tier the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority awards, and the company installs both roof-mounted and ground-mounted residential systems along with battery storage and solar canopy structures. Prospective customers should weigh several considerations. SunCommon is the established Vermont solar brand and that recognition carries real value, but the company has been through ownership transitions in recent years, having been acquired by iSun in 2021 and then operating through subsequent corporate restructuring. Vermont customers report consistently positive installation experiences in third-party reviews, with Google profiles showing strong ratings, but our team noted that the company's pricing tends to land at the middle to higher end of the market rather than the value end. Buyers should expect a polished, full-service experience with above-average post-install support, and should ask pointed questions about current corporate structure, warranty backing, and which crew will actually perform their installation. With a composite score of 73.0 out of 100, SunCommon holds the second-ranked position in Vermont for 2026.
“Seven years ago we had SunCommon install 23 solar panels on the roof of our house and 2 PowerWalls in the basement. We have been so pleased with the installation that has seen us through many power...”
Laura P.
“Very easy, successful and professional solar panel installation by the SunCommon team. Nick on the sales team made sure I understood all steps in the process, and clearly laid out options along the...”
Sam S.
“As a professional construction manager, I am as thorough as it gets when it comes to analyzing options and pricing among the marketplace. When it came time to put solar on my own home, I reviewed...”
Philip S.
“We received highly professional service from SunCommon from the initial sales contact with Nick to the implementation overseen by Jake. They were flexible in dealing with our complicated schedule,...”
Dan K.
“Earlier this year we began our search for a solar company which included numerous interviews with solar companies and recommendations from neighbors who already had solar installed. During this phase...”
Ralph Z.
“We are super excited that we are now "powered by solar"! Overall, our journey with SunCommon was really very good. We had some issues in the early stages with sporadic communication about project...”
Robert K.
“We purchased and had two Franklin storage batteries installed at our house. We did so to provide us with power for the house during power outages. The team at Sun Common did a great job with all...”
L F.
“Chaotic, missed appointments, long delays, suprises in pricing, instructions to demo areas of our house (that changed multiple times in emails), and long delays in connecting us to service. Once...”
Catamount Solar is one of the more structurally distinctive residential solar installers our research team reviewed in Vermont. Founded in 2011 and operating from 44 Hull Street, Suite 3 in Randolph, Vermont, the company is organized as an employee-owned worker's cooperative, meaning the technicians, designers, and project managers who actually build the systems also collectively own the business. That structure is rare in residential solar and aligns the long-term interests of the people doing the work with the long-term performance of the systems they install. What stood out is the credentialing depth for a company of this size. Catamount Solar holds NABCEP certification, the recognized industry standard for residential solar installation professionals, and the team specializes in both standard grid-tied photovoltaic installations and off-grid solar projects, which require materially more design and electrical expertise than a typical rooftop system. The company also installs battery backup systems for grid-outage protection. As a member-owned cooperative, Catamount commits to donating five percent of profits to local community organizations in central Vermont and runs a profit-sharing program for its member owners. Prospective customers should set realistic expectations about scale. Catamount's verified review base is comparatively small, with roughly 44 Google reviews at a 4.9 average at the time of our research, which reflects the company's deliberate focus on quality over volume rather than any negative signal. Project lead times can run longer than higher-volume installers, particularly during the Vermont peak season, and the cooperative structure means the company is less aggressive on dealer-fee financing arrangements that larger installers use to push down headline pricing. Buyers prioritizing a long-tenured, locally rooted, mission-driven installer should give Catamount serious consideration, and should ask for off-grid or battery backup references if their project involves either. With a composite score of 68.5 out of 100, Catamount Solar holds the third-ranked position in Vermont for 2026.
“Catamount Solar is an excellent company to work with. When I initially reached out, I wasn’t sure if they provided service at my location. I had an immediate response that they would and from there I...”
Eliza H.
“The crew from Catamount Solar is incredibly knowledgeable, professional, reliable, and easy to communicate with. We upgraded our off grid solar system and we are so happy with every step of the...”
Paul C.
“I highly recommend Catamount solar for any type of solar installation or upgrade. Chris and his team at Catamount upgraded our 15 year old off-grid solar electrical system with a new inverter and...”
Matt S.
“Catamount were totally great. Came in with the lowest quote; smartly adjusted the design along the way; did the installation in a two-day blitz with minimum disruption. And it all works perfectly....”
Vincent C.
“This was a truly seamless experience starting with Jason, moving to Doug and then finally the installation team. Everyone was super friendly, professional, informative and timely.
This is the...”
Gary Q.
“We had a great experience with Catamount Solar installing our solar panel system. Clay was our contact person who communicated well with us and responded to questions quickly. The installation team...”
Joseph G.
“They installed our system two years ago and went with them again to increase our capacity. Design to installation / implementation was great and they handled everything end to end. The folks I’ve...”
James B.
“I can’t recommend Catamount Solar enough! From start to finish, the entire process was seamless and stress-free. The team’s attention to detail in designing a solar system tailored perfectly to my...”
Sales tax exemption on solar equipment|Net metering at retail rate|Property tax exemption for solar|Renewable Energy Standard credits|Green Mountain Power programs
The Commission also reviews and approves utility net-metering tariffs, which govern the terms and conditions of net-metering service. Useful Links. Vermont's ...
Under Vermont law, utilities cannot resell net metering RECs, so your RECs will stay in Vermont. VEC will use them to help comply with Vermont's Renewable ...
Any electric customer in Vermont may net meter after registering and obtaining a Certificate of Public Good from the Vermont Public Utility Commission (PUC).
The PUC's Rule 5.100 governs the net metering program. The PUC's net metering page provides additional useful information on net metering application procedures ...
Vermont's Solar For All will establish the Residential Assistance in Solar Energy (RAISE) program and the Multi-Family Affordable Solar Housing (MASH) program.
Consumer needs, opportunities, and system design considerations; Ways to finance a solar system; Solar savings and incentives, including the federal tax credit, ...
The Building Energy solar energy blog is your source for news, facts & information on Vermont solar energy.
*Companies displaying 15 or more years in business are typically established electrical, roofing, or general contracting firms that expanded into solar installation in more recent years. The years shown may reflect the age of the parent organization or a strategic partner, not necessarily the solar division itself. This distinction is worth considering when comparing to dedicated solar installers, as purpose-built solar companies may offer more specialized expertise despite a shorter operating history.
