Home›US›Wyoming Solar Calculator

Wyoming Solar Calculator

Wyoming has the best sun resource of any northern US state at 5.2 PSH — plus a high-altitude production bonus, no state income tax, and no sales tax on solar. Enter your Rocky Mountain Power bill to see your 30% ITC + net metering savings.

Your Wyoming solar inputs
$
kW
Wyoming solar estimate
20 × 400W panels (8 kW system)
Monthly usage1,000 kWh/mo
Annual production (WY 5.2 PSH + altitude)12,512 kWh/yr
Annual savings (full retail net metering)$1,376/yr
Gross system cost$22,400
Federal ITC (30%)-$6,720
No sales tax on solar (4%)-$896
Net cost after incentives$14,784
Payback period10.7 yrs
25-year savings$34,407
WY's solar advantage: 5.2 PSH (best in northern US) + high-altitude production bonus + no state income tax + no sales tax on solar + full retail net metering. No state solar tax credit (no income tax to apply it against). Low $0.11/kWh rates mean payback is longer than high-rate states — but 25-year ROI remains strong.
Link copied to clipboard

How to Use This Calculator

Wyoming: the best sun resource in the northern US

Wyoming averages 5.2 peak sun hours — the highest of any northern US state and comparable to parts of Texas and New Mexico. This exceptional sun resource comes from Wyoming's combination of high elevation (most of the state is above 4,000 feet), dry continental climate with minimal cloud cover, and latitude that provides long summer days. High altitude means thinner atmosphere, less filtering of solar radiation, and approximately 3% more energy production than sea-level calculations would predict. Wyoming is a genuinely excellent solar resource state.

Wyoming's tax advantages for solar

Wyoming's solar incentive structure is simple: the 30% federal ITC plus no sales tax on solar equipment (WY applies no sales tax to solar), plus no state income tax (no state credit exists, but also no state tax on solar savings). Full retail-rate net metering from Rocky Mountain Power and Black Hills Energy means every exported kilowatt-hour is valued at $0.11. Wyoming's minimal regulatory burden and favorable tax environment make solar a straightforward financial calculation — just the 30% ITC, no sales tax, and excellent production.

Why WY's low rates still work for solar

Wyoming's $0.11/kWh rate is among the lowest in the US, which extends payback. However, WY's exceptional 5.2 PSH + 3% altitude bonus means a WY system produces significantly more kWh per installed kW than the national average. A 6 kW system in Wyoming produces more annually than an 8 kW system in Vermont. This production advantage partially offsets the low rate, and the 25-year ROI remains strongly positive for most WY installations.

The Formula

Monthly kWh = Monthly Bill ÷ Electricity Rate Annual Production = System kW × 1000 × 5.2 PSH × 365 × 0.80 efficiency × 1.03 altitude bonus ÷ 1000 Self-consumed kWh = Annual Production × 0.65 Exported kWh = Annual Production − Self-consumed kWh Annual Savings = (Self-consumed + Exported) × $0.11/kWh (WY full retail net metering) Gross Cost = System kW × 1000 × $2.80/W + Battery ($12,000 if added) ITC Credit = Gross Cost × 30% Sales Tax Saving = Solar Cost × 4% (WY base rate, solar exempt) Net Cost = Gross Cost − ITC − Sales Tax Payback = Net Cost ÷ Annual Savings Note: No WY state income tax, no state solar credit, no property tax exemption

Wyoming averages 5.2 peak sun hours — Cheyenne (5.3 PSH) and Casper (5.2 PSH) are excellent; Jackson (5.0 PSH) is slightly lower due to mountain valley shading; Laramie (5.3 PSH) benefits from high-altitude open plains. The 3% altitude bonus is a real phenomenon — at 6,000+ feet, panels consistently outperform sea-level predictions. WY's $2.80/W installation cost is low, reflecting a growing market with competitive pricing in Cheyenne and Casper.

Example

Mike — Cheyenne Rocky Mountain Power customer

Mike is in Cheyenne on Rocky Mountain Power paying $110/month at $0.11/kWh. He wants an 8 kW system.

Monthly bill$110 (Rocky Mountain Power, $0.11/kWh)
System8 kW, no battery
LocationCheyenne, WY (5.3 PSH, 6,062 ft)

Result

Annual production (with altitude bonus)~12,529 kWh/yr
Annual savings (full retail net metering)~$1,378/yr
Gross system cost~$22,400
Federal ITC (30%)-$6,720
No sales tax (4%)-$448
Net cost after incentives~$15,232
Payback period~11.1 years
25-year savings~$34,450

Mike's Cheyenne system produces 12,529 kWh/year — exceptional production for a northern-latitude home. Despite the low $0.11/kWh rate, his annual savings of $1,378 lead to an 11-year payback, better than many states with higher rates but less sun. Over 25 years he saves $34,450. WY's combination of top-tier sun + low installation cost + no sales tax makes for a compelling 25-year investment. With electricity rates projected to rise even modestly, Mike's actual 25-year savings will likely exceed this estimate.

FAQ

No. Wyoming has no state income tax, so there is no state solar income tax credit to claim. The 30% federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is the primary tax incentive. Wyoming homeowners can claim the full federal ITC on their federal tax return in the year the system is commissioned. The absence of state income tax also means solar savings are not taxed at the state level — a minor additional benefit. WY's clean tax environment combined with top-tier sun resource and no sales tax on solar makes the financial case without requiring a state credit.
Wyoming law requires net metering for residential solar customers at full retail rates. Rocky Mountain Power (PacifiCorp) and Black Hills Energy both offer retail net metering for systems up to 25 kW (residential). Exported solar is credited at your full retail rate ($0.11/kWh). Credits accumulate monthly and are applied to future bills. Excess annual credits are typically paid out at avoided-cost rates at year-end. Wyoming's net metering has been stable — Rocky Mountain Power, as a large multistate utility (PacifiCorp), has standardized net metering processes. Rural cooperative policies vary — confirm your co-op's specific terms before installing.
Wyoming's excellent 5.2+ PSH results from several geographic factors: (1) High elevation — most of WY is above 4,000 feet, with Cheyenne at 6,062 ft and Laramie at 7,165 ft; thinner atmosphere filters less sunlight; (2) Semi-arid climate — low humidity and minimal cloud cover compared to Great Lakes or Northeast states; (3) Continental position — WY's inland location away from marine influence means more sunny days than coastal states at similar latitudes; (4) Long summer days — WY's northerly latitude provides long summer days with many production hours. This combination gives WY the best solar resource of any northern state.
No. Wyoming does not charge sales tax on solar energy equipment. Wyoming's base state sales tax rate is 4% (municipalities may add up to 2% local tax). Solar panels, inverters, mounting hardware, wiring, and batteries are exempt from Wyoming sales tax. Your solar installer should not charge state sales tax on the equipment portion of your installation. On a $22,400 system (8 kW at $2.80/W), the state sales tax exemption saves approximately $448. Combined with the 30% federal ITC, WY's upfront cost reduction incentives total approximately $7,168 on a typical system.
Wyoming does not have a statewide residential property tax exemption for solar energy systems. The solar system's added value may be included in your home's assessed value for property tax purposes. However, WY's effective property tax rate is relatively low (~0.6% statewide average) compared to most states, so the impact of including solar value in assessment is limited. On a $22,400 solar system with no property tax exemption and WY's ~0.6% rate, the annual property tax impact is approximately $134/year. This is a relatively small amount compared to annual solar savings, especially given WY's excellent production.

Related Calculators

☀ South Dakota Solar Calculator
5.0 PSH, no sales tax on solar, excellent northern plains sun resource.
🏘 Colorado Solar Calculator
Similar altitude advantage with Xcel Energy rebates and state incentives.
🔋 Battery Bank Calculator
Size your battery for WY's wind storms and winter outage protection.
📈 Federal ITC Calculator
Calculate your exact 30% federal solar tax credit and net cost.

Embed This Calculator

Free to embed on your website. Just copy this code:

<iframe src="https://solarsizecalculator.com/us/solar-calculator-wyoming"
  width="100%" height="700" frameborder="0"
  title="Wyoming Solar Calculator"></iframe>