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Like Moths to the Flame, Solar Installers Race to Sonoma County, CA

The Sonoma County Energy Independence Program has brought a flood of solar companies into the area with an outstanding solar program. It works like this: Sonoma funds the initial installation, and from there, property owners pay off the system with property taxes. This format has been gaining popularity with municipalities throughout California, and for good reason. It saves the homeowner money up-front, helps meet renewable energy and carbon reduction goals, and is an excellent way to give the taxpayers what they really want: greener options.

Real Goods Solar of Hopland and San Rafael; Sequoia Solar of San Diego; and Solar Universe, California’s first solar installer franchise, are three newcomers to the Sonoma market. Sequoia Solar completed 15 projects in six weeks and is already looking to expand its presence in the area. Most Sonoma sales are residential and SCEIP-funded at an average of 5 kW of production per installation.

Solar Universe is based in Livermore and works just like a franchise, something heretofore unheard of in the solar installer business. The Sonoma branch of Solar Universe already has six employees, all local, and with solar installation experience among them.

Sonoma has even attracted start-ups like Westcoast Solar Electric, founded by two former project managers for Akeena Solar. Shortly after it was formed, Santa Rosa’s Akeena team jumped ship as well, and Westcoast Solar now has 14 employees. According to one of the founders, Westcoast Solar was profitable the minute it opened its doors, even though the Sonoma consumer base tends to research its purchases well before committing to an installer.

Perhaps the biggest advantage for Sonoma County, as a whole, are the jobs being created by the SCEIP. This is a big part of the dream for renewable energies – to provide a new and expanding job base for a job-starved economy. Sonoma County and a few other California areas, are proving that it’s more than just a dream. I expect this type of program to continue gaining popularity nationwide and to make it easier than we anticipated for the country to overcome heavy investment in fossil fuels.

* It’s important to note that many current residential solar panel installers have prior roofing or electrical experience. In fact, many of these business are the ones making the switch to solar installation because they have many of the same skills under their belts.

Source: NorthBayBusinessJournal.com

Photo Credit: 1BOG & Daily Apple

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