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
President Biden issued two executive orders to increase the amount of solar installation and manufacturing in the U.S. Will they work?
Written by Ben Zientara
LADWP offers several solar programs for its customers, including net metering, Solar Rooftops, and Shared Solar. Save money with solar in Los Angeles!
Written by Ben Zientara
These solar energy statistics explain the American solar industry, as hundreds of companies share their top brands, biggest challenges, and outlook for 2024.
Written by Ben Zientara
The average electricity cost increase per year in the U.S. is about 2-3%, but several factors can affect that rate for individual states and utility companies.
Written by Ben Zientara
Going solar can be a great way to save money and improve your home, but choosing the wrong company can lead to disaster. Here's how to avoid solar panel scams
Written by Ben Zientara
To make the average amount of energy used by a home in America, a 2,000 sq. ft. home would need between 16 and 21 solar panels.
Written by Ben Zientara