Solar panels in Pendleton, OR
Roofs in Pendleton get about 1,506 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 58% of the cities we've measured. Here's what that means in cost, savings and payback, using real rooftop data rather than a national average.
Check your specific roof in Pendleton → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Pendleton solar system costs
A 22-panel system (8.8 kW) is about right for an average Pendleton home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,265 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,096 | $6,384 | $508 | 12.6 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 6,144 | $9,576 | $762 | 12.6 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 8,193 | $12,768 | $1,016 | 12.6 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 10,241 | $15,960 | $1,270 | 12.6 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 13,313 | $20,748 | $1,417 | 14.6 yrs |
Notice that payback barely improves as systems get bigger, and eventually gets worse. That's because you can only save money on electricity you were going to buy anyway. Once a system covers your usage, extra panels mostly generate exports at a much lower rate.
Why Pendleton gets 1,506 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Pendleton — it already accounts for shading from trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings, which is why it's lower than the raw "hours of daylight" figures you'll see elsewhere. An unusually open, unshaded roof in Pendleton reaches about 1,602 hours, roughly 6% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,506 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,602 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Oregon avg) | 12.4¢/kWh |
| Installed cost assumed | $2.85/W |
| Panel size assumed | 400 W |
| Federal tax credit | 30% |
| Typical household usage | 10,800 kWh/yr |
| Power used as generated | 34% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 6 |
| Google imagery from | 2013 |
When Pendleton actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 39% of Pendleton's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 11% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56 | |
| Feb | 83 | |
| Mar | 119 | |
| Apr | 158 | |
| May | 188 | |
| Jun | 201 | |
| Jul | 194 | |
| Aug | 170 | |
| Sep | 133 | |
| Oct | 93 | |
| Nov | 62 | |
| Dec | 49 |
That is a severe seasonal swing — Pendleton produces roughly 4.1× as much in Jun as in Dec. A system sized to cover your annual usage will overproduce badly in summer and fall well short in winter, so how your utility credits exported power matters more here than in most places.
The annual total is measured from Google's rooftop imagery. Its split across months is calculated from solar geometry at Pendleton's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Pendleton compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Pendleton | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,506 hrs | 388th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 6% | 271st most |
| Median roof size | 212 m² | 318th largest |
| Electricity rate | 12.4¢ | 545th highest |
| Payback | 13 yrs | 555th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 696 kg/MWh | 273rd dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Pendleton:
- Plenty of roof to work with. Typical roofs here fit around 94 panels — roughly 4× what an average home needs. Roof size will not be what limits your system in Pendleton.
- Sunnier than the rest of Oregon. Pendleton roofs get 7% more usable sunlight than the typical Oregon city we've measured — statewide averages will understate what you can expect here.
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Pendleton dates from 2013. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Pendleton's 1,506 usable sun hours from other states and provinces. Same sunlight, different electricity prices — which is usually what decides whether solar is worth it.
| City | Sun hrs | Rate | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williston, ND | 1,506 | 11.1¢ | 14.5 yrs |
| Columbia, MD | 1,505 | 18.3¢ | 8.8 yrs |
| Durham, NC | 1,505 | 13.2¢ | 12.2 yrs |
| Sioux Falls, SD | 1,507 | 12.3¢ | 13.1 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Oregon → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Pendleton solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Pendleton?
About 22 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Pendleton roofs get 1,506 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 512 kWh annually. A typical Pendleton roof fits about 94 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Pendleton?
At 12.4¢/kWh and 1,506 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 13 years and returns roughly $16,284 over a 25-year panel life. That is slower than average, so compare several quotes before committing. Exported power earns full retail credit here.
How much do solar panels cost in Pendleton?
A 8.8 kW system costs about $25,080 before incentives and $17,556 after the 30% federal tax credit. That works out near $2.85 per watt installed. Roof pitch, shading, electrical panel upgrades and equipment choice move the price most, which is why quotes for the same house can differ by thousands.
Worth reading before you buy
Estimates only, generated 2026-08-22 from Google Solar API rooftop samples and average Oregon electricity rates. Not a quote and not financial advice. Your roof, usage, utility plan and local incentives will change these numbers — get real quotes before buying.