Compare Local Pros
Clean Solar vs Highlight Solar
Santa Clara Solar Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Two veteran San Jose solar contractors with similar credentials, differentiated by three additional years of experience and owner involvement level.
| Clean Solar | Highlight Solar | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.5 | ★ 4.8 |
| Years Licensed | 18 years | 15 years |
| License # | 910849 | 960376 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | San Jose, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Website | www.cleansolar.com | www.highlightsolar.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Clean Solar
Customers consistently emphasize Clean Solar's patient, thorough approach to technical education and their willingness to explain complex solar concepts in detail during consultations.
Highlight Solar
Customers frequently mention Highlight Solar's competitive pricing, high owner involvement, and no-pressure sales approach as key factors in their decision to choose the company.
Key Takeaway: Clean Solar is praised for depth of technical education while Highlight Solar stands out for owner accessibility and value pricing, suggesting different operational philosophies serving similar customer needs.
Customer Reviews
Clean Solar
Support group was very resonsive to my questions within hours. Great to have knowegeable help when it's needed.
Project: add whole-house battery backup to a 20 year-old home with existing solar PV system. I had three goals: 1. Load shifting (provide electricity during peak energy charges) 2. Provide backup pow...
My husband and I had a terrific and lengthy phone experience where Art explained in depth about solar panels and batteries. He was patient in answering all our questions and very generous with his t...
Highlight Solar
We met with multiple solar companies and settled on Highlight due to both the great recommendations as well as our experience during the initial process. We asked a LOT of questions, then we asked mor...
Highly recommend
I can't say enough about the outstanding service we get from Highlight Solar. The team is incredible. Organized, responsive, skillful, reliable and nice! Every communication was clear from the start. ...
Consider Clean Solar if...
- ✓ Your project involves complex system design like whole-house battery backup or integrating solar with roof replacement, where Clean Solar's additional three years of experience provides broader exposure to edge cases and complications.
- ✓ You're adding components to an existing solar array and need a contractor who has explicitly handled system expansions and potentially older equipment that may require troubleshooting.
- ✓ You prioritize detailed technical education during the consultation process and want a contractor known specifically for patient explanations of complex solar technology.
- ✓ You need Tesla Powerwall integration or critter guard installation, which Clean Solar lists as explicit specialties.
Consider Highlight Solar if...
- ✓ Owner involvement matters to you and you want direct access to decision-makers throughout your project, which Highlight Solar's high owner involvement provides.
- ✓ You're comparing multiple quotes and price competitiveness is a significant factor in your decision, an area where Highlight Solar customers specifically mention favorable pricing.
- ✓ You prefer a no-pressure sales environment and want straightforward communication without feeling pushed toward upsells or unnecessary system components.
- ✓ Your project is a standard residential solar installation with battery backup or electrical panel upgrade, well within the scope of a 15-year veteran contractor.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask Clean Solar whether the owner is involved in project management or if you'll work primarily with project managers, to understand your point of contact for decisions.
- → Ask Highlight Solar how their three fewer years of experience affects their approach to complex projects like whole-house battery systems or older roof integrations.
- → Request references from both companies for projects similar in scope to yours, particularly if you're doing system additions or roof-solar combinations.
- → Ask both contractors how they handle warranty claims and service calls after installation, and whether the owner is involved in resolving issues.
The Bottom Line
Both Clean Solar and Highlight Solar are credentialed, veteran contractors fully capable of handling residential solar installations in San Jose. Clean Solar's 18 years of experience provides a slight edge for complex projects involving system additions, older equipment integration, or whole-house battery backup where broader exposure to edge cases matters. Highlight Solar's high owner involvement and customer-reported competitive pricing make it particularly appealing if you value direct access to decision-makers and are budget-conscious. For standard residential solar installations, choose based on which quote provides better value and whose communication style fits your preferences. Get quotes from both, ask about owner involvement and project complexity experience, and select the company that addresses your specific needs most directly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
For a straightforward residential solar panel installation on a newer roof, both companies have more than enough experience to handle the project competently. The experience gap becomes more relevant for complex projects involving older homes, roof replacements combined with solar, whole-house battery backup systems, or additions to existing arrays where diagnosing compatibility issues requires broader exposure to different equipment generations. If your project is standard, focus on other factors like pricing and communication style.
High owner involvement typically means the business owner participates directly in consultations, project decisions, and problem resolution rather than delegating entirely to project managers. This can provide faster decision-making and consistent accountability throughout your project. However, it's unclear whether Clean Solar's owner is involved or not, so ask both companies specifically who will be your primary point of contact and who makes decisions if issues arise.
Clean Solar's explicit mention of Tesla Powerwall as a specialty and customer reviews describing whole-house battery backup projects suggest they may have more reps with this specific integration. Highlight Solar handles battery backup systems as well, but if you're planning a complex Powerwall setup or future expansion, ask both contractors how many Powerwall installations they've completed in the past year and whether they're Tesla Certified installers.
The data doesn't specify actual price differences, only that Highlight Solar customers frequently cited competitive pricing as a decision factor when comparing multiple quotes. This suggests their pricing is favorable compared to other options homeowners considered, but you'll need to get quotes from both companies to determine the actual difference for your specific project. Price should be weighed against other factors like experience depth and the value you place on owner involvement.
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See our ranked list of top solar contractors in Santa Clara.
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How We Compare Contractors
License Verification
All license data is sourced from official California CSLB records and verified regularly.
Review Analysis
Customer reviews are aggregated from Google and analyzed to identify patterns in service quality.
Detailed Comparison
We analyze credentials, insurance, experience, and feedback to highlight meaningful differences.
Not all licensed contractors are created equal. While a valid license is the baseline requirement in California, contractors can vary significantly in experience, insurance coverage, and customer satisfaction.
- Experience matters: A contractor with 15+ years of experience has likely encountered and solved problems that newer contractors haven't faced yet.
- Workers' compensation protects you: If a contractor without workers' comp insurance has an employee injured on your property, you could be held liable.
- Reviews reveal patterns: Individual reviews can be misleading, but patterns across many reviews often reveal a contractor's true strengths and weaknesses.
- Bond amounts vary: A contractor's bond provides financial protection if they fail to complete work as agreed. Higher bonds offer more protection.
Taking time to compare contractors on these factors can save you from costly mistakes and help ensure your project is completed by a qualified professional.
Data Sources: License information from California CSLB. Ratings and reviews from Google. Last verified March 13, 2026.
This comparison is based on publicly available information. We recommend getting multiple quotes and verifying all credentials directly before hiring.
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