This rendering shows Tesla?s ?sleek, low profile? solar panels. | Tesla

With solar panel sales lagging, Tesla tries its hand at renting again When Tesla bought solar panel manufacturer SolarCity in 2016 for $2.8 billion, solar panel installations were experiencing explosive annual growth in the U.S., having jumped from 246 megawatts installed in 2010 to 2,369 megawatts in 2016, according to GTM Research.
But with stalled growth in installations, Tesla is rolling out a new model for getting its panels on the roofs of homeowners?rentals.
Launching in six states?Arizona, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New Mexico?Tesla?s rental program will offer three solar panel packages, with no installation costs and no time commitment. Based on estimated annual energy generation, Tesla says the small (3.8 kW for $50 a month), medium (7.6 kW for $100 a month), and large (11.4 kW for $150 a month) solar panels are priced such that homeowners will net anywhere from $80 to $650 in annual savings.

The rental option is only available to homeowners and comes with a few caveats. First, renters must pass any tax benefits that come with installing a solar panel along to the company. According to the Verge, that can be anywhere from $4,000 to $10,000 in Arizona; this is likely why Tesla can offer free installation on rented panels.
Second, while renters can cancel at any time, it comes with a hefty $1,500 fee, which the company says will cover the cost of uninstalli...