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In the midst of the United Auto Workers’ strike, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was asked on Face The Nation whether she plans to trade in her Tesla Model 3 for a union-built EV.

However, there really aren’t many EVs she could pick from, and that’s a problem for the Big Three, the UAW, the American auto industry, and US workers in general. And also for AOC.

The UAW started striking two weeks ago, beginning with shutting down one plant at each of the Big Three auto companies. Only one plug-in car was affected initially, the Jeep 4xe.

Since then, the strike has expanded to several more GM and Stellantis parts distribution centers, but the strike against Ford has not expanded as the UAW says talks are progressing better there.

With only one plug-in car currently affected by the strike, it may seem like EVs lucked out, or that the unions perhaps decided not to stop EV production. But in actuality, the reason that union-made EVs haven’t been affected by the partial shutdowns is because, well, there just aren’t very many of them.

What choices does AOC have?

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) has spoken out repeatedly supporting unions. She’s stood on picket lines in her district and generally supports strikes and labor unions.

Last year, she stated that she wanted to trade in her Tesla Model 3 and get a union-made EV instead. And this weekend, with the UAW striking, she was asked the same question again.

In her answer she mentioned that she purchased her car during the pandemic, looking for safe and efficient travel to DC from her district in Queens, New York. At the time, the Model 3 was the best choice for this – and, frankly, it probably still is, based on fast charging capability, price, range, and general vehicle quality.

But it’s also not union-built, and in addition, Tesla CEO Elon Musk often interferes with unionization efforts and talks down on unions (he even did so yesterday) and routinely acts publicly creepy towards AOC, which is likely a contributing factor to her desire to rinse her hands of the brand.

At the time, the only union-built EV made in the US was the Chevy Bolt. There are more union-built EVs today than there were in 2020 when AOC bought her Tesla, but the choices are still limited.

In the last few years, we’ve seen the Ford F-150 Lightning, the Hummer EV, and the Cadillac Lyriq all go into production here in the US with union manufacturing. But none of those would really be great choices for AOC. Nor would the E-Transit, which is mainly for commercial use, though it paints an amusing #Vanlife image for the congresswoman.

The Lightning and Hummer are far too large for a city dweller, and likely too way much vehicle for her purposes. And the Lyriq, despite being really dang nice, is probably not the right statement for an everyman representative like her – although its $57k base price is almost identical to the $58k MSRP that Long Range Model 3s were fetching at their peak price at the end of last year.

At least, those are some union-made EVs that are built in the United States. If we expand elsewhere, we can find plenty of examples of EVs built by union labor. While foreign automakers typically run non-union shops in the US, they are unionized in their own countries (so, no ID.4 then unless she picks a used, early run model before they switched to Tennessee models). European auto-worker unions are strong (especially in Germany), and Asian automakers are typically unionized domestically even if their unions are not as strong as in Germany. Mexican auto assembly plants are also often unionized, including the one that builds the Mustang Mach E.

But, as a US rep, she is probably looking for a US-made vehicle (and to be fair, she does have the most American-made vehicle already in her Tesla). So even the Mach E from our neighbors to the South is out of the running.

That leaves us the same choice she would have had in 2020: the unassuming but awesome Chevy Bolt. We at Electrek think this is a great choice, having given it our Vehicle of the Year award, and it remains a screaming deal given its low MSRP and availability of credits and incentives to drive that price down further (if you can find one anyway – you can check local dealer inventory here).

A Bolt EUV (due to Super Cruise availability, for that long trip down to DC) is going to be our official recommendation.

But it’s still not ideal for her circumstances, since the Bolt has a slow 54kW DC charge rate. Since Queens and DC are about 240 miles apart, the Bolt’s 247 mile range will likely need a little top-up for safety along the way, and slow DC charge rate and lack of access to Tesla’s superior Supercharger network (though that’s changing soon) will make that experience less than optimal.

Bolt Supercharger

Her choices could be getting better soon, with the upcoming Chevy Blazer and Equinox EVs, but those aren’t out yet (though they’re due to hit the road this coming quarter). And her choices will get a little worse at the end of the year as well, since the excellent Chevy Bolt is due to end production in December (though it is slated to come back).

So it’s no wonder she hasn’t been able to trade in her car yet – and that’s kind of a problem.

Electrek’s Take

It’s a problem because it shows that the companies that have formed the industrial backbone of the US for so long are simply not building enough EVs. Everyone understands that EVs are the future of the auto industry – though we at Electrek would argue that they are also the present of the auto industry, not just the future.

Tesla currently has around 5x the combined market cap of Ford, GM, and Stellantis, despite that those three companies combined sell about 10x as many vehicles as Tesla currently. This is obviously a quite… optimistic valuation, but it also shows, among other things, that the market values growth and sees where the industry is going. And it’s clear that investors, as a collective, have more confidence in Tesla’s ability to prepare for the future of the industry than they do in the Big Three combined.

Some, including business media and leadership from the Big Three in the last week or two, blame this on the UAW themselves. The argument goes that unionized labor asks for too much or stands in the way of progress, and that this cripples the Big Three with labor costs and keeps them from being competitive as vehicles evolve, particularly given that EVs will require fewer assembly hours than gas cars.

But as mentioned above, other countries’ automakers have strong auto unions and yet are not similarly “shackled.” And when questioned about whether they might oppose the industry’s green transition due to this drop in assembly hours, UAW leadership has never taken the bait and has merely insisted it be a “just transition.”

Meanwhile, analyses have shown that countries and automakers that don’t fully participate in this green transition aren’t going to do well. We covered a report suggesting Japan’s GDP could drop a full 14% due to its failure to move on EVs. And a year later, we’ve already seen Mitsubishi and Toyota reduce their presence in China due to failure on EVs, and the same goes for other foreign automakers who have underestimated EV demand there. Then there’s the matter that Tesla is outselling Toyota in California and has the world’s best-selling car, the first EV to gain that title.

So everybody knows that we need to go in the right direction, but American automakers have still been slow to offer a wide variety of EV models – despite GM’s promises to the contrary.

The US government has tried to stimulate more production here, via the Inflation Reduction Act, which gives tax credits to domestically-produced EVs. The proposed law originally included an additional union-made credit, but it was struck by the efforts of all 50 republicans and Joe Manchin.

The law has been successful in onshoring production of EVs, as manufacturers have announced investments in domestic EV production totaling in the hundreds of billions of dollars. But it has been less successful in creating union jobs, as many of those announcements are non-union (though we did see the first battery plant unionize late last year and win a pay raise last month).

As I stated in the last article about this, personally, I’m pro-union. And I think that everyone should be – it only makes sense that people should have their interests collectively represented, and that people should be able to join together to support each other and exercise their power collectively, instead of individually.

This is precisely what companies do with industry organizations, lobby organizations, chambers of commerce, and so on. And it’s what people do when sorting themselves into local, state, or national governments. So naturally, workers should do the same. It only makes sense.

Unions are important not just for AOC’s car choices, but for American labor as a whole. The US economy and US workers tend to do better when unionization rates are high, and the auto industry is one of the bulwarks of organized labor in the US and has been central to US manufacturing prowess for decades. This is why AOC supports them, and why President Biden, who joined UAW workers on the picket line yesterday, does as well.

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Check out Hyundai’s new robot that will automatically charge your EV

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May 22, 2025

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Check out Hyundai's new robot that will automatically charge your EV

Hyundai-robot-EV-charger

How much easier can charging get? Hyundai and Kia want to make it effortless with their new robot that automatically charges your EV.

Hyundai sets up robot EV charger service in Korea

If cars can drive themselves, why can’t robots automatically charge your EV? That may soon be a reality after Hyundai Motor showcased its new automatic charging robots (ACRs) in Korea.

Hyundai and Kia set up a demo site at the Incheon International Airport as part of a new business agreement. Through the agreement, Hyundai (and Kia) will work with the airport to establish an automatic robot EV charging service.

Since Incheon International Airport has already electrified its entire fleet and plans to have 1,110 chargers by 2026, it is the perfect spot to test it out.

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The companies will use the demo site as a “stepping stone” with plans to expand into additional airports, seaports, railways, and other transportation hot spots.

Hyundai Motor’s head of R&D said the project is “a significant milestone in verifying the practical benefits” of robotic EV charging.

Hyundai-robot-EV-charger
Hyundai deploys automatic charging robots at Incheon International Airport (Source: Hyundai)

Although several other companies, like Tesla and RAM (remember the Ram Charger?), have teased robot EV chargers in the past, Hyundai is one of the first to put them into action.

Hyundai first introduced its automatic charging robot in 2023. Using a 3D camera system and AI, the robot will automatically find and plug into the vehicle’s charge port.

Hyundai automatic charging robot for EVs (Source: Hyundai)

When you’re done, it will remove the charger and close the cover. Check out the video above to see how it works on the IONIQ 6.

The company expects that automatic charging robots will “significantly increase” the convenience of EV charging. With autonomous parking, the robots can charge several parked vehicles at the same time.

Will we see Hyundai’s robot EV chargers rolling around global airports in the future? It could soon be a reality.

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Rad Power’s Memorial Day Sale takes up to $500 off new and legacy e-bikes from $1,299, DJI, Husqvarna, EcoFlow flash sale, more

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May 22, 2025

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Rad Power's Memorial Day Sale takes up to 0 off new and legacy e-bikes from ,299, DJI, Husqvarna, EcoFlow flash sale, more

Headlining today’s Green Deals is Rad Power’s Memorial Day Sale which is taking up to $500 off seven e-bikes – four of which are the first discounts we’re seeing on the new lineup of models, like the Radster Road Commuter e-bike that is down at $1,999. We also spotted DJI’s Power 1000 Station dropping to $449, as well as Husqvarna’s Power Axe 350i 18-inch Cordless Electric Chainsaw kit at $384, with more of the brand’s tools also seeing discounts. Lastly, we have EcoFlow taking up to 30% off three flash sale offers through the rest of the day, starting from $649. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals are in the links at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s up to 67% discounts during EcoFlow’s Memorial Day Sale, the biggest accessory bundle to date on Lectric’s XP Trike, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Rad Power’s Memorial Day Sale offers first cash savings on new e-bikes along with legacy models – starting from $1,299

Rad Power has launched its Memorial Day Sale through June 4, which is offering up to $500 off seven e-bikes, including the first cash discounts on four of its newest e-bikes that will be ending sooner on May 26. Among the new models, the one that has had my eye since its launch at the top of March is the Radster Road Commuter e-bike that is down at $1,999 shipped. This new model has been keeping to its $2,199 full price since hitting the market, with the only deals we’ve seen so far having been single add-on accessory promos during some past sales. You’ll now be able to save $200 off the going rate through next week’s holiday, setting the bar for future discounts that we might see down the road.

Launched alongside three other models, including a trail-trekking counterpart, Rad Power’s Radster Road e-bike is the latest of the brand’s commuter-focused solutions that boast a sizeable speed and mileage increase over its legacy models. It arrives equipped with a 750W rear hub motor that produces 100Nm of torque and a 720Wh Safe Shield semi-integrated battery, providing you with top speeds up to 28 MPH and up to 65+ miles of travel on a single charge with its 5 PAS levels activated (with those supported by a torque sensor).

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This model, like its newer counterparts, comes stocked with some solid features beyond its initial performance, like the system locking via a passcode or an included security fob, providing added security, which is always my primary concern when taking mine out. There’s also the hydraulic suspension fork, hydraulic disc brakes, Kenda Kwick puncture-protected tires with fenders over each, the front LED headlight and integrated taillight with brake lighting and turn signals, a Shimano 8-speed derailleur, a rear cargo rack, a color display with a USB-C port to charge devices, and more.

Rad Power’s Memorial Day new e-bike deals (through May 26):

Rad Power’s Memorial Day legacy e-bike deals (through June 4):

This is a great month to gear up for cruises through the summer and into fall, as many of the most popular and our favorite brands are currently offering big savings on e-bikes and e-scooters, which you can browse in our one-stop-shop Ride to Work EV hub.

DJI Power 1000 Portable Power Station

Keep your outdoor adventures running with DJI’s Power 1000 1,024Wh LiFePO4 station down at $449

Through its official Amazon storefront, DJI is offering its Power 1000 Portable Power Station for $449 shipped. Despite carrying a $999 price tag elsewhere, we’ve been seeing it spend 2025 so far keeping posted at a $699 rate here at Amazon, with discounts having been completely absent since April began. While we have seen it dip down as low as $379 in the past, those rates were last seen in November and December, with the price here beaten out in the new year by one fall to $419 in March, giving you the second-best pricing of 2025 that saves you $250 off the going rate ($550 off its original MSRP). It’s even beating out the discount we’re seeing directly from DJI’s website, where it’s sitting $50 higher.

An ideal companion for folks who spend plenty of time out in the wilds of the world, particularly for photography, flying the brand’s drones, and the like, DJI’s Power 1000 station covers backup power needs with a 1,024Wh LiFePO4 capacity through eight port options. Those ports are quite versatile in output, as among the options you’ll have, the two AC outlets provide up to 2,200W of power (surging to 2,600W) in order to tackle larger appliance needs, while also promising fast-charging speeds for personal devices at up to 140W from the dual USB-Cs, plus the others.

By equipping this station with either an MPPT module or DJI’s power outlet to SDC power cable, you’ll be able to utilize its solar-charging capabilities, with the unit boasting a 1,600W max input that can put the battery back to full in 80 minutes. Of course, you could also plug it into a wall outlet for an 80% battery in 50 minutes, taking about 20 minutes longer to push it to full. Right now, there are two discounted solar-capable bundles, with the station getting a 100W panel and the appropriate cables for $688, down from $1,247, or, while it has been $300 less for most of the year, you can still save $300 off the MSRP for the station with a 200W panel at $1,356. There are other options on the same page for those just seeking the cables to connect existing solar panels, but they are keeping to their full prices at the moment.

Husqvarna Power Axe 350i electric chainsaw

Fell trees and cut up firewood with Husqvarna’s Power Axe 350i 18-inch electric chainsaw kit at $384

Amazon is offering the Husqvarna Power Axe 350i 18-inch Cordless Electric Chainsaw for $383.99 shipped. Normally going for $480 at full price, discounts are often less frequent on this brand’s tools as opposed to EGO, Greenworks, and others. In 2025, we’ve seen it fall to this same rate twice before, which has been the lowest tracked price so far in the last five months. We have seen it go as low as $359 at the end of 2023, and $379 in 2024, with today’s deal being the best of 2025 and the third-lowest price overall, saving you $96 off the going rate for as long as it lasts.

Unlike many other Husqvarna offers we see, which are usually tool-only deals, the brand’s Power Axe 350i actually comes with a 7.5Ah battery and charger, and is a larger yet still lightweight model perfect for felling trees, cutting up firewood, and the like with its 18-inch bar and chain. It has been given the brand’s X-cut chain that retains sharpness for longer periods over more standard designs, while also boasting a tool-less tensioning system that allows for easier adjustments at faster speeds with little effort. There’s even a boost mode that activates with a button press, ramping its output by 25%.

Other Husqvarna discounts:

EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus power station

Get up to 30% off EcoFlow flash offers like the DELTA 3 Plus power station with a protective bag at $649 (Today only)

As part of EcoFlow’s ongoing Memorial Day Sale through May 28, the brand has launched the next round of 24-hour flash offers on three units through the rest of the day. The only one to include an actual power station gives you the DELTA 3 Plus with a protective bag for $649 shipped. We normally see this bundle with the bag on the standard predecessor model or elsewhere, with the power station often fetching $799 at full price. While we have seen the price go as low as $535 from a Wellbots exclusive deal last month (one of only two that we’ve secured), you’re still looking at a solid $150 markdown off the going rate on top of getting the accompanying bag, which is lacking at Amazon, where the pricing on the station matches.

While not as sizeable as some of its counterparts, EcoFlow’s DELTA 3 Plus is a mid-range option that gives you peace of mind while away from home with its 1,024Wh LiFePO4 capacity, which you can expand up to 5kWh with the appropriate expansion batteries for the DELTA 3, DELTA Pro 3, DELTA 2 Max, or the DELTA 2. The 13 ports provide ample support for devices and appliances, with the unit dishing out a steady 1,800W output that can surge as high as 3,600W thanks to the X-Boost. There are five methods to recharge this model (AC, solar, smart dual fuel generator, 800W alternator charger, and multi-charging), and it comes rated for 4,000 lifecycles, giving you nearly 11 years of usage, were you to charge and discharge its battery every single day.

EcoFlow’s other 24-hour flash offers (through May 22):

EcoFlow’s Memorial Day Sale will continue taking up to 67% off power stations through May 28, with flash sales scheduled to pop up next on May 26.

Best Spring EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

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House republicans vote to send US EV jobs to China, give trillions to US elites

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3 hours ago

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May 22, 2025

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House republicans vote to send US EV jobs to China, give trillions to US elites

capitol building congress senate house public domain

House republicans passed their tax proposal, which kills a slew of tax credits to help working families become more energy efficient, improve US air quality, and boost US manufacturing. The republican bill instead channels that money to wealthy elites, increasing the deficit by trillions of dollars along the way.

Republicans in Congress released their 389-page proposal last Tuesday and, as expected, it included several provisions to eliminate popular clean energy credits which were driving a boost in American manufacturing.

The credits were largely established under President Biden as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, which raised hundreds of billions of dollars through tax enforcement on wealthy individuals and corporations and channeled that into energy efficiency credits for American families.

We’ve covered how families could save thousands of dollars on upgrades to lower their energy costs through these credits.

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But these credits aren’t just money-saving for Americans, they also work to boost American manufacturing, due to various provisions in the bill, particularly around the $7,500 EV tax credit which was limited to cars that undergo final assembly in North America.

While loopholes exist, nevertheless the bill resulted in a massive expansion of American manufacturing, driving hundreds of billions of dollars of investment and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs.

But now, republicans in Congress have voted to roll much of that progress back. The final vote tally was 215-214, with one additional representative voting “present” (which means 215 out of 430, or 50%, of representatives voted Yea, which is not actually a majority). All Democrats voted against the job-killing measure, while only two republicans, Davidson (R-OH) and Massie (R-KY), voted to support American jobs, and Harris (R-MD) voted “present.”

Here’s a list of the bill’s various effects related to clean air and energy (via the BlueGreen Alliance):

  • Attaching restrictions to clean energy and manufacturing tax credits that would make them unusable in practical terms while also “sunsetting” those tax credits early, a move that research suggests will increase costs for American families; 
  • Repealing the Clean Vehicle Tax Credits; 
  • Repealing the Clean Hydrogen Tax Credit; 
  • Clawing back unspent funds for air quality monitoring in schools, clean manufacturing, state and community energy programs, and electric grid upgrades; 
  • Defunding and delaying the Methane Emissions Reduction Program (MERP), which reduces pollution and protects the health of workers and communities; 
  • Clawing back all unspent Inflation Reduction Act funds, including many provisions that would have lowered energy bills, created jobs, and reduced pollution; and 
  • Attacks on many additional Inflation Reduction Act programs and initiatives.

The finalized bill went through some changes, though those changes primarily made the bill worse for American jobs and clean air. For example, it seems that the bill has snuck in a repeal of EPA pollution rules that will save thousands of American lives and $100 billion per year (see sec 42201), in yet another Congressional overreach.

It also seems to have incorporated republicans’ ridiculous proposal to add a punitive fee on EVs, in the amount of $250/year. That fee was originally proposed as a way to eliminate the federal gas tax, and was accompanied by a $20/year fee on gas cars, but republicans dropped the latter fee and boosted the EV fee, with the final effect that it would increase the deficit by billions.

You can perhaps see a pattern in these effects: they’re primarily targeted towards increasing costs for regular American families who were taking advantage of these tax credits, and towards programs that would keep you and your children healthier.

Previous analyses show how repealing these tax credits would lead to increased electricity prices for all Americans.

It should not be any surprise to anyone that has been paying attention that republicans want to poison you and raise your costs, but some people apparently still need more examples, so here we are.

In particular, the bill eliminates the US EV tax credit which had driven so much of that investment due to its domestic manufacturing provision (though there are some small carveouts). Not only does that inflate the cost of the best vehicles available today for Americans, it also takes away one of the incentives that was driving investment in US manufacturing.

And the bill specifically harms Tesla more than it harms Tesla’s competitors, despite its CEO, Elon Musk, being the richest republican donor on the planet.

We’ve warned before that a bill like this would just send more EV jobs to China, a country where nobody is “debating” over which direction the auto industry is going. Chinese automakers all know the industry is going electric, and they’re putting all of their effort into it.

This is quite a contrast with Western automakers which keep hemming and hawing, begging their governments to let them go bankrupt with anti-EV policy decisions that will only slow down their transition towards modernizing to the global EV status quo.

We’ve already seen the effects of other poor policy decisions on manufacturing, with several companies pausing or canceling plans to build manufacturing facilities in North America as a result of tariff chaos at the hands of an ignoramus. Republican districts have been hit hardest, as they were where the majority of this investment had been going.

And we’ve seen it made clear that the republicans in government responsible for protecting clean air would rather poison you and raise your fuel costs, as long as it helps the oil industry which bribed them into their position.

But then, the cherry on top of today’s tax bill is that its cuts of these credits don’t even have a greater budgetary purpose. Not only was the Inflation Reduction Act revenue-positive – which is to say, it raised more money than it spent, thus reducing the deficit – today’s republican tax bill is revenue-negative, which is to say, it will increase the deficit.

The republican proposal raises the debt ceiling by $4 trillion, and it makes use of virtually all of that headroom, as the Joint Committee on Taxation has estimated that it will add $3.7 trillion to US debt. This is largely due to the bill’s significant giveaways to wealthy elites, with the majority of tax cuts targeted at the wealthiest Americans.

So the government isn’t even getting any savings out of this bill, merely channeling more money from working families to the wealthy elites that the republican party has always tried to benefit (including in other ways than the clean energy credits, like by cutting health care for the poor).

The bill will now go on to the Senate, where republicans already showed this morning they will do anything, even if it’s illegal, to harm Americans. If you have a republican Senator, it might be worth letting them know that you support American jobs and clean air, and keeping costs low for Americans, and therefore oppose this bill.

The argument could be made stronger in states that have received significant investment as a result of the credits the bill repeals. EV projects are particularly popular in states like Georgia, North Carolina, and others along the burgeoning US “battery belt”. An interactive tool showing the jobs jeopardized by this republican plan, including the ability to sort by state or Congressional district, is available here.

Otherwise, you can find your Senator on Congress’ website, and then search for the contact form on your Senator’s website to get in contact with them.

Of course, if you have a Democratic Senator, it’s also worth letting them know that you oppose the tax bill, just in case a few of them decide to jump ranks and join the republicans in harming America. We certainly hope they don’t, and are encouraged by the fact that every Democrat in the House made the right decision here, but anything could happen.

Among the bill’s cuts is the rooftop solar credit. That means you could have only until the end of this year to install rooftop solar on your home, before republicans raise the cost of doing so by an average of ~$10,000. So if you want to go solar, get started now, because these things take time and the system needs to be active before you file for the credit.

To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here. – ad*

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