I seek efficiency, so personally I would opt for the highest energy density (kW/area) solar panels available and mount them on a two axis solar tracker. At the moment, I believe SunPower produces the most efficient consumer solar panels (~20+% efficient).
I'm not sure on the true cost of solar, as many local/state governments offer a substantial rebate. If you heavily conserve and install yourself, I would estimate $15,000 would be a reasonable budget for a very modest, but adequate installation.
Solar Tracker
- LostCause