Solar Cells Info

By Shay Totten | Vermont Guardian
Posted December 12, 2006

Source: VermontGuardian
http://www.vermontguardian.com/local/122006/groSolar.shtml

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — A national solar energy firm based in Vermont — groSolar — announced today it is buying an Oregon-based solar energy distribution company, making it the fifth largest solar distribution and installation firm in the country, and the first with true reach across all of North America. The purchase of Energy Outfitters gives groSolar access to key markets in the western United States, namely California, as well as western Canada. The company already has offices on the East Coast, according to company officials. The purchase price was not released.

“This is a great day for groSolar and even a better day for those dedicated to mitigating global warming,’’ said Jeff Wolfe, the company’s founder and chief executive officer. “The combined assets and expertise of the two companies will enable us to put more solar on more roofs across the U.S. and Canada.’’

In recent months, groSolar closed on $2.25 million in venture funding, and has been looking for ways to grow the size and reach of the company. This purchase is one way, said Wolfe.  The company had also recently opened up an office and a warehouse in Colorado.

Wolfe said the companies share the same mission, values, and goals. One of those goals is to put more solar installations on rooftops around the country. “The strategic fit is great because groSolar has strength in the Northeast while Energy Outfitters has strong West Coast and Canadian operations. We are very glad that Energy Outfitters is joining the outstanding groSolar team,” said Bob Maynard, president of Energy Outfitters.

groSolar, based in White River Junction, was founded in 1998 by Jeff and Dorothy Wolfe as Global Resource Options, and has dedicated itself to fostering personal and corporate energy independence and helping to reverse global warming.

Energy Outfitters, of Grants Pass, OR, and with offices in Calgary, Alberta, and Barrie, Ontario, was owned by Maynard and Ray Ogden. The pair will remain actively involved with the business. For more than 15 years, Energy Outfitters has been dedicated to growing the renewable energy industry.

Jeff Wolfe said the cultural fit between the two companies is seamless and should enable the companies to combine operations with few problems. With five main points of distribution throughout North America, groSolar is now positioned to serve all customers in any market quickly and effectively. groSolar distributes solar hot water and solar air heating systems in addition to solar electric systems, providing a wider product base than other distributors.

According to Wolfe, groSolar will continue to use the Energy Outfitters brand in their existing market areas, slowly transitioning to the groSolar brand nationally. “Energy Outfitters customers will see a continuation of the strong service culture, which will grow even stronger as we incorporate groSolar’s proven value added distribution expertise,’’ Wolfe said.

groSolar focuses primarily on designing, distributing, and installing high quality energy systems throughout North America with offices in Vermont, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, and Colorado. Wolfe said the company has been able to grow each year by “reading the industry a little further in the future. That allows us to capture some opportunities, and despite our size, allows us to lead the industry.”

For Wolfe, the next wave in the solar industry is being an integrated company. In other words, being both distributor and installer of solar energy products. That is something that both groSolar and Energy Outfitters have developed over the years.

Wolfe said Energy Outfitters has a solid reputation and market share in Washington and throughout California, the latter of which is by far the largest solar market in the United States.

While some may not see Vermont as the likeliest home base for a national solar company, Wolfe disagrees. “We have this myopic vision in Vermont that it’s cloudy and solar doesn’t work in Vermont,” said Wolfe.

The two countries that are investing the most in solar power are Germany and Japan, he noted. And, Vermont receives 30 percent more sun than Germany. In fact, it receives 80 percent of the sun that Florida does. “Too often people compare any given region’s solar resource to that of Southern California, and that’s problematic,” Wolfe said. “There are only six places in the world that have the solar resource of Southern California.”

As with oil and coal resources, Wolfe said the United States has more solar resources than many countries. But, it is not yet fully utilizing its potential.

And, that is part of groSolar’s mission, to grow the use of solar technology and power throughout the United States, and be an advocate for electricity pricing that ensures renewable sources are provided the same access to the markets as their fossil-fuel based counterparts.

“The main complaint is of solar power is that it’s too expensive , well it is if you are comparing it to nuclear power or peaking gas plants,” said Wolfe. “They want my clean electron to be as inexpensive as the dirty electron that we sent guys to Iraq for, and that’s not possible. It’s a comparison of apples to oranges.”

Wolfe said consumers know that in order to get cleaner energy they may have to pay more.

“People are already willing to pay a little more for organic food or for a car that gets better gas mileage,” said Wolfe. groSolar was recently named one of the top places in Vermont to work, and in 2005 was given the Terry Ehrich award from Vermont Business for Social Responsibility.

For more information, go to www.grosolar.com.