Mark will be the first to tell you: he did not like solar when it was first pitched to him.

In fact, he actively shut it down.

We spoke with Mark, a homeowner in Northern Virginia, about why his first answer was no, what annoyed him about the process, and what ultimately changed his mind.

Let’s start at the beginning. What was your initial reaction to solar?

I hated it.

Not solar itself — the way it was presented. It felt like every conversation started with someone assuming I was already sold. Big promises, fast talking, lots of “you’d be crazy not to” energy.

I’m not wired that way. The harder someone pushes, the more skeptical I get.

So you said no the first time?

Very clearly, yes.

I didn’t feel like I was getting straight answers. I felt like I was being managed through a script. The numbers sounded good, but I didn’t trust how they were being framed.

So I passed. No drama. Just didn’t feel right.

What kept solar on your radar after that?

Honestly? Curiosity mixed with annoyance.

I kept wondering whether I’d actually said no to solar, or just no to the way it was explained to me. Northern Virginia utilities aren’t exactly getting cheaper, and I’m not someone who ignores long-term costs.

I just didn’t want to be sold something I didn’t fully understand.

How did VirginiaSolar.org enter the picture?

I was searching for explanations, not quotes.

I found VirginiaSolar.org while trying to figure out whether production estimates were real or just optimistic marketing. What caught my attention was the tone. It wasn’t telling me what to do. It was explaining how things work.

Eventually, I used the Help Desk because I wanted to ask questions without someone trying to close me.

What was that conversation like?

Unexpected.

I made it pretty clear I was skeptical. I wasn’t trying to be polite. And what surprised me was that the person on the other end didn’t try to win me over.

They answered questions. They explained tradeoffs. They pointed out where solar makes sense and where it doesn’t. At one point, they even said, “This might not be the right fit for you — and that’s okay.”

That disarmed me immediately.

Why did that approach matter to you?

Because it felt honest.

When someone doesn’t care whether you say yes or no, you start listening differently. I stopped looking for the catch and started actually understanding how solar works.

We talked about usage, timing, expectations, and what “good” solar actually looks like versus hype.

What ultimately changed your mind?

Understanding that solar isn’t a magic trick.

Once I realized it’s about long-term averages, not perfect months, and that it doesn’t need to eliminate a bill to be useful, it clicked. I wasn’t being asked to believe in anything — I was being shown how the math works.

That made it a rational decision instead of an emotional one.

How do you feel about it now?

Confident — and that’s saying something.

I don’t feel like I was talked into anything. I feel like I made a decision with my eyes open. That matters to me more than being enthusiastic about solar as a concept.

Ironically, I now end up explaining it to friends who complain about their bills. I probably sound like the guy I didn’t want to talk to at first.

What would you say to someone who’s instinctively skeptical like you were?

Good. Be skeptical.

But be skeptical of hype, not of information. Find someone who’s willing to explain things without needing you to say yes. If solar still makes sense after that, then you’re probably making a solid decision.

If it doesn’t, that’s fine too.

Why We Share Stories Like This

Not everyone starts their solar journey excited.

VirginiaSolar.org exists for homeowners who want explanations without pressure, clarity without scripts, and the freedom to say yes or no based on understanding — not urgency.

Sometimes the most important part of the process is knowing you’re allowed to walk away.

Note on Privacy

Names and identifying details may be adjusted to protect homeowner privacy. These stories reflect common experiences shared by Virginia homeowners with different perspectives and starting points.