Photos via Google · Mark Olson Becky Ruark Rand Young Randy C Patrick Escure
Northwest Renewables is listed on Top Solar Services as a solar contractor serving Spokane, Washington. The 68 verified reviews on this page reflects real client experiences. Use the information on this page — the verified review count, sub-ratings on quality, schedule, cost, and willingness-to-refer, the company's services and pricing snapshot, and the contact details — alongside your own due diligence on licensing and insurance before requesting a quote.
Solar contractors in this category should carry a current state contractor license, $1M+ general liability and workers' compensation insurance, and verified reviews from recent projects in your area.
In Washington, solar contractors are typically licensed at the state level for electrical or general construction work, and the most-cited credentials homeowners check on this page are NABCEP certification, manufacturer training (Tesla, Enphase, SolarEdge), and verified workers' compensation coverage. Confirm Northwest Renewables's state contractor license number with your Washington licensing board, verify any NABCEP credentials at nabcep.org, and request proof of general liability and workers' compensation insurance certificates that name your project address before signing a contract. For larger projects, ask for two or three references from recently completed installs of similar size and call them about quality, schedule, and warranty service experience.
Typical project timeline. Most residential installs run 8–14 weeks end to end: about a week for the site survey and design, 2–6 weeks waiting on permits from the local Authority Having Jurisdiction, one to three days of physical installation, then 2–5 weeks for inspection and utility permission to operate. The panels go up fast; the paperwork is what sets the schedule. Ask Northwest Renewables for the specific permitting turnaround in Spokane, because local inspection backlogs are the single most common source of schedule slippage and vary widely between neighboring jurisdictions.
What the quote process looks like. A serious solar installation quote is delivered in writing after a site assessment — not as a verbal number on a first phone call. Expect a written proposal with an itemized bill of materials (panel and inverter make and model), a production estimate modeled in PVWatts, Aurora, or Helioscope showing shading and tilt assumptions, the full price before and after any incentives, and financing terms disclosed separately from the equipment price. Get at least three comparable written proposals so you are comparing equipment and scope rather than sales pressure, and be wary of any bid that expires within 24 hours or requires more than 10% down before work begins.
Credentials to confirm. Before signing, verify the state contractor license number with the Washington licensing board, confirm any NABCEP certification directly at nabcep.org, and request certificates of general liability and workers' compensation insurance that name your project address. A contractor who hesitates to produce these documents has told you what you need to know.
How warranty service works. Three separate warranties apply: the panel manufacturer's product and performance warranty (typically 25 years), the inverter warranty (10–25 years depending on platform), and the contractor's own workmanship warranty covering labor and roof penetrations. Only the last one depends on Northwest Renewables remaining in business, which is why a company's track record in Spokane matters as much as the warranty length on paper. Confirm in writing who to call for a service claim, what the response window is, and whether the workmanship warranty transfers if you sell the home.
Electricity rates and payback. Residential customers in Washington pay roughly 11–14¢ per kWh, and that avoided-cost figure — not any incentive — is what actually drives solar payback. The higher your current bill and the longer you plan to stay in the home, the stronger the case. Installed residential pricing in Washington generally runs $2.60–$3.10 per watt before incentives, with smaller systems landing at the upper end because fixed permitting and mobilization costs spread across fewer watts.
Net metering and utility policy. Washington operates under full-retail net metering guaranteed by statute through 2029. This is the detail most homeowners overlook and the one that changes twenty-year savings the most, so ask Northwest Renewables to model your system under the tariff you will actually be placed on rather than a generic assumption.
Incentives available in 2026. The federal Section 25D residential tax credit expired on December 31, 2025, so homeowners buying a system outright no longer claim the 30% credit. Section 48E remains available for business-owned and third-party-owned systems, which is why lease and power-purchase-agreement offers have become more competitive in Washington than they were a year ago. At the state and utility level, Washington homeowners can look to a 100% sales-tax exemption on systems up to 100 kW. Confirm current program status before signing — incentive budgets are capped and windows close without much notice.
Why this is a workable solar market. Between 11–14¢ retail electricity, established installer competition around Spokane, and the policy structure above, Washington supports well-designed residential solar — provided the system is sized to your actual usage rather than oversized to inflate a commission.
Clients consistently praise Northwest Renewables for professional service, transparent communication, and quality workmanship. Reviewers frequently highlight the company's ability to deliver projects on schedule and within budget.
This summary is based on verified Top Solar Services reviews.
I've had Northwest Renewables install a rooftop solar and battery system and they did a great job!
They were cheaper than the door to door guys, I expect it is because NWR quotes you what it actually costs while the door to door guys are trying to find the maximum you will pay. NWR is honest and kept their end of our bargain. I'm really pleased with my system and would definitely work with them again (which I did when I had my batteries added).
September 19, 2025
The installation of our new Mitsubishi Hyper Heat mini-split system was completed today, and we’re thrilled to share with you how extremely satisfied we are with the service we received.
From our initial phone conversations with Rachel, who efficiently and courteously helped streamline the initial scheduling; to the thorough and informative site visit, logistics, and estimate process with Bryan; and ultimately through the 4-day install done by Isaac and JR, we received nothing less than superior service. Isaac and JR were very professional, punctual, quiet and respectful, and pleasant to have in our home. We greatly appreciate the time and effort they took to conceal most of the exterior lines and minimize the visual impact of the condenser/branch box locations, something we’ve been dissatisfied with in our experience with previous HVAC companies. They maintained a clean and neat work site, and they quickly and thoroughly tidied up at the end of each day. Following final adjustments today, Isaac patiently answered our questions and educated us regarding future maintenance and cleaning of our new system.
We have worked with two other local HVAC companies for the install and repair of mini-split systems, and Northwest Renewables is clearly a superior service. It’s apparent to us that your company hires and trains quality staff, which is reflected in the excellent customer service we’ve experienced. In our opinion, Northwest Renewables sets the gold standard for your industry, and we’ll definitely recommend your services whenever possible.
With sincere thanks,
Rand & Erin Young
2024 was our solar project year. We chose Northwest Renewables because they were responsive and easy to work with from the get-go. Great people, great follow through, and very professional services from start to finish. Highly recommend!
Northwest Renewables is a great company to work with from start to finish. We put a Solar array on our farm to power two circles and our grain bins and driers. Kevin walked us through all the paperwork, permitting, USDA applications, etc. Both the Construction and Electrical side work in harmony. They clean up after themselves and are there to assist the customer at all stages. They also worked with us while waiting to make sure our grant was completed as was granted. I would not hesitate to recommend Northwest Renewable to anyone. Patrick
Really enjoyed working with Carson Brown (Sales Consultant)! Very professional. He and the team did a great job keeping us in the loop with time frames and installation. Only took 3-4 total days to complete for a large installation (32-panels)! Between Carson, Jared (Project Mgr) and Rachel (Office), all is wonderful. Am looking forward to having our new system provide us with NEARLY “$0.00” dollars paid out in electrical (actual might be around $9-10/mo). Plus, being able to use an App to watch the panels in real time and the energy it uses and exports for winter months (will see more of this next year for sure - after a nice sunny summer 2024). Thank you NW Renewables for the great equipment and well done!