New York City seeks $18M in restitution from a solar panel company accused of defrauding customers. How to go solar without getting scammed

Besides hiding these shady financing practices, Radiant Solar allegedly operated without a license and performed shoddy work.

Here’s why the rising popularity of solar panels is also coming with an increase in related scams, and what you can do to vet contractors before you sign the paperwork.

What the courts are asking for

CBS News New York reported one Radiant Solar customer complained that these panels caused their ceiling to collapse after a rainstorm. Despite repeated attempts for help from Radiant Solar, the company denied responsibility, instead blaming other pre-existing structural issues like “rotting exposed wood (2).”

DCWP said it first learned of complaints related to Radiant Solar in 2021 and launched a formal investigation in 2024.​

To make customers whole, DCWP wants to secure $1.75 million in civil penalties and $18 million in restitution. The city also wants this company to stop operations and for its president, William James Bushell, to face personal charges.

If DCWP succeeds, this would be the largest win in NYC’s history for a home improvement contractor (HIC) case.

In a press release, DCWP Commissioner Sam Levine said, “Our lawsuit aims to shut down this scheme, recover $20 million for consumers and taxpayers, and send a clear message that preying on New Yorkers will come with serious consequences (1).”

The dark side of the solar boom​

Unfortunately, the solar industry’s success has made it incredibly attractive for scammers.

Statistics from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) show that solar power is now a leader in America’s energy infrastructure, accounting for 85% of new annual capacity (3).

On average, the solar industry has experienced a 28% yearly growth rate in deployments, and solar’s total share of U.S. energy went from 0.1% to 8% between 2010 and 2025.

Considering the cost-saving benefits solar panels promise, it’s no wonder so many people are making the switch to green energy. Researchers at Stanford claim that 60% of residents who install a solar energy system could save 15% on their energy bills (4).​

Plus, tax incentives like the Residential Clean Energy Credit make solar energy even more cost-competitive (5).

The bad news is that more scammers are exploiting the solar market’s expansion and swindling innocent customers.

Between 2018 and 2024, NPR found that the number of one-star ratings on the website Solar Reviews grew by 1,000%, showing a lot of customers didn’t have a smooth switch to this energy source (6).