Solar site software: what landowners and developers use
General information, not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.
You do not need expensive software to understand your own land. Here is what each tier is for, and what it costs where prices are published.
Free: enough for most landowners
| Tool | What it is good for |
|---|---|
| Parcel & Grid | One-page, cited screen of any spot: flood, wetlands, power lines, soils, survey location, rules, and the standout test. Texas parcel acreage built in. No account. |
| FEMA Flood Map Service Center | Official flood maps. |
| USFWS Wetlands Mapper | National wetland map (a screen, not a legal determination). |
| USDA Soil Data Access | Official soil survey, including farmland class. |
| LandApp (free tier) | Parcel data and property reports. It is also a marketplace where developers view landowner listings (LandApp), so listing your land markets it to buyers. |
Low cost: agents and active landowners
LandApp Pro advertises ownership data and unlimited property reports for about $6 per month with an annual subscription (LandApp features). Parcel apps such as LandMap run about $10 to $20 per month (App Store listing).
Professional: developers with a pipeline
| Tool | What it does | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transect | Site selection, environmental screening, local permits and setbacks, and Critical Issues Analysis reports | Quote |
| PVcase Prospect | Parcel search, buildable-area analysis, interconnection studies | Quote; one industry estimate is about $2,990 per user per year for bundles (Solar Apps Directory) |
| Glint Solar | Prospecting and early design with preloaded market data | Quote |
| Paces | Automated site search and shortlisting | Quote |
Mapping and design
General GIS tools such as QGIS (free) and ArcGIS (paid) handle custom maps. Once a site is under control, engineering tools such as PVcase Ground Mount or RatedPower produce detailed layouts (SourceForge overview).
Get the land report
Click your land on the map to get its free land report: flood zone, wetlands, nearest power line, soils, survey location, and the half-mile, 500-acre standout test. In Texas and 26 other states, parcel acreage fills in automatically.
Prices change; confirm with each company. Parcel & Grid has no business relationship with any company listed here.
Start with: Is your Texas land usable for solar? A site checklist →
Sources and helpful links
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center msc.fema.gov
- USFWS Wetlands Mapper fws.gov
- USDA Soil Data Access sdmdataaccess.nrcs.usda.gov
- LandApp (free tier) landapp.com
- LandApp landapp.com
- LandApp features landapp.com
- App Store listing apps.apple.com
- Transect transect.com
- PVcase Prospect pvcase.com
- Solar Apps Directory apps.list.solar
- Glint Solar glintsolar.com
- SourceForge overview sourceforge.net
More official contacts and resources: Helpful links.