Ben Zientara

Solar Policy Analyst

Expertise:

Solar policy | Industry trends | Solar generators

About Ben Zientara

Ben Zientara is a writer, researcher, and solar policy analyst who has written about the residential solar industry, the electric grid, and state utility policy since 2013.

His early work included leading the team that produced the annual State Solar Power Rankings Report for the Solar Power Rocks website from 2015 to 2020. The rankings were utilized and referenced by a diverse mix of policymakers, advocacy groups, and media including The Center for American Progress, The Institute for Local Self-Reliance, the Solar Institute at George Washington University, PolitiFact, and The Guardian.

In 2020, Ben joined SolarReviews and now lends his expertise to the annual Solar Industry Survey, Top Solar Manufacturers list, Top 10 Solar States list, and throughout articles and pages across the site.

Ben holds a B.S. in Scientific & Technical Communication from the University of Minnesota, with special coursework in Environmental Science and a minor in Sustainability Studies. He spends his time away from the solar power world cooking and eating delicious food or spending quality time with his wife, kids, and big brown dog in the mountains, woods, parks, and playgrounds of the Portland, Oregon area.

Articles by Ben Zientara

Guide to net metering in New Hampshire for 2024

New Hampshire's net metering program for solar homeowners is a pretty good deal, and you stand to save quite a bit of money. Find out everything you need to know about the state's NEM 2.0 program in our latest blog post.

Written by Ben Zientara

SunPower vs. Sunrun: Is one of these top companies right for you?

SunPower and Sunrun are two big names in the solar industry, offering home solar panels, batteries, and EV chargers across the country. Which one is the best?

Written by Ben Zientara

EnFin solar loans: What consumers need to know

EnFin is a newer solar lending company in the U.S. market. Here's what consumers need to know to make an educated decision about choosing EnFin as their lender.

Written by Ben Zientara

Best solar monitoring systems for 2024

Solar monitoring systems help homeowners see whether their solar panels are working and how much electricity they make, tracked over time to compare.

Written by Ben Zientara

The Sense energy monitor review: Is it worth it?

Adding a Sense Energy Monitor to your solar installation can provide insight into how much energy you use, how much your solar panels produce, and more.

Written by Ben Zientara

Tax exemptions for home solar power - how to save on sales and property taxes

Solar panels may increase property tax or cost you hundreds of dollars in sales tax - unless your state offers solar tax exemptions. Here's what's out there.

Written by Ben Zientara