For the Thompson family in Western Virginia, going solar wasn’t about chasing trends or optimizing spreadsheets. It was about simplicity, predictability, and feeling comfortable with the decision.

They shared how VirginiaSolar.org helped them slow the process down, ask questions out loud, and choose a solar lease that felt right for their stage of life.

Tell us a little about your home and where you’re located.

We’re in the Roanoke Valley, in a home we’ve lived in for more than twenty years. It’s an older house, and we’ve taken care of it over time, but we’re not looking to take on big projects just for the sake of it.

Comfort and stability matter more to us now than squeezing out every last detail.

What made you start looking into solar?

It wasn’t something we had planned for years.

Our electric bills had become harder to predict, especially in the summer and winter, and we kept hearing about solar from neighbors. We were curious but also cautious.

We didn’t want to jump into something complicated.

What questions or concerns did you have at the beginning?

We had plenty.

We were concerned about:

• Whether solar would mean maintenance responsibilities

• How long would we realistically be in the house

• What would happen if something broke

• Whether this was something we’d have to actively manage
  
  

We didn’t want another thing to worry about.

How did VirginiaSolar.org help during your decision?

The biggest thing was being able to talk to an actual person.

We used the Help Desk because we wanted to explain our situation out loud and hear someone respond thoughtfully, not read a script. The conversations felt calm, patient, and unbiased.

No one pushed us toward a specific outcome. They helped us understand the options in plain language.

Why did you ultimately choose a solar lease?

The lease just made sense for us.

We liked that:

• There was no upfront investment

• Maintenance wasn’t our responsibility

• The structure felt straightforward

• It wasn’t tied to tax credits or complex paperwork
  
  

We weren’t interested in ownership for ownership’s sake. We wanted predictable energy costs without added responsibility.

How did having someone walk you through it change the experience?

It changed everything.

Being able to ask questions without feeling rushed or talked down to made us comfortable moving forward. We didn’t feel like we were “missing something” or being pressured into a decision.

It felt like having a knowledgeable neighbor explain things—not a salesperson.

How has the experience been so far?

Pretty easy once we actually got over the initial “fear” of saying yes!

The process matched what we were told to expect, which gave us peace of mind. That mattered to us more than anything else.

We feel good about the decision—and comfortable with it.

What would you tell other homeowners in Virginia who are in a similar stage of life?

Don’t assume solar has to be complicated.

Take the time to talk things through with someone neutral. Being able to ask questions and hear honest answers made this decision feel manageable instead of overwhelming.

Why We Share Stories Like This

VirginiaSolar.org exists to be a human resource in a process that can otherwise feel technical or rushed.

Sometimes the most valuable part of going solar isn’t the technology—it’s having the space to ask questions and make a decision that fits your life.

Note on Privacy

Names and identifying details may be adjusted to protect homeowner privacy. These stories reflect common experiences shared by Virginia homeowners across different regions and stages of life.