About Ben Zientara

Ben Zientara - Author of Solar Reviews

Ben Zientara

Solar Policy Analyst and Researcher

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.

Recent articles by Ben Zientara

Solar panel payback period and ROI: How long does it take for solar panels to pay for themselves?

Ben Zientara

October 26, 2023

Solar panel payback period and ROI: How long does it take for solar panels to pay for themselves?

Curious as to how long it will take to break even on solar panels for your home? Here's how to see the cost, savings & payback time you would get if you install solar panels on your specific home.

Enphase vs. SolarEdge: which is the best choice for your home solar system?

Ben Zientara

May 22, 2023

Enphase vs. SolarEdge: which is the best choice for your home solar system?

Find out whether Enphase or SolarEdge is best for your home solar system.

Canadian Solar panels 2024 expert review

Ben Zientara

October 5, 2021

Canadian Solar panels 2024 expert review

Canadian Solar is one of the 5 biggest manufacturers of solar panels in the world. How do they stack up against the competition? Let’s find out.

Expert review of Maxeon solar panels: are they the best on the market?

Ben Zientara

February 21, 2023

Expert review of Maxeon solar panels: are they the best on the market?

Maxeon solar panels are at the top of the market in efficiency and performance but also come at a very high price. Read this to find out if they’re worth it.

Guide to TECO solar programs in 2024

Ben Zientara

March 23, 2022

Guide to TECO solar programs in 2024

TECO offers two solar savings programs for Florida residents, and one will save you substantially more than the other. We explain each (and which one you should sign up for) in our latest blog.

Guide to Pennsylvania net metering in 2024

Ben Zientara

May 19, 2022

Guide to Pennsylvania net metering in 2024

Pennsylvania's net metering program is one of the best perks of installing solar panels.

Guide to net metering in Florida - 2024 update

Ben Zientara

February 23, 2022

Guide to net metering in Florida - 2024 update

Does Florida do net metering? Is net metering going away? Here are the answers to your questions about net metering in the Sunshine State.

The 10 best states for home solar

Ben Zientara

September 14, 2023

The 10 best states for home solar

Have you ever wondered what states are best for home solar? We crunched the numbers and found out.

Best solar monitoring systems for 2024

Ben Zientara

May 21, 2021

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.