Pennsylvania solar firms anticipate bright future

It’s always sunny in Pennsylvania. Or at least sunny enough.

Even for the 19.5 hours out of each day, on average, when the sun isn’t shining, the state’s solar incentives and robust renewable energy credit marketplace are bright enough to fuel increased interest from local firms and out-of-state providers.

Earlier this month, Burns & Scalo Roofing Co., one of the largest roofing contractors in the Pittsburgh region, spun off Scalo Solar Solutions LLC to focus on the installation and financing of panels on commercial buildings.

Tom Peters, executive vice president of the new firm, expects it to grow to a $60 million business, with more than 50 employees in the next five years.

“We see that Pennsylvania is indeed ready, and we’re approaching grid parity within two to four years,” he said, referring to the relative price of solar power compared with traditionally generated electricity.

This month, three West Coast firms and a solar installation company out of Maryland announced their entrance into Pennsylvania. San Francisco-based One Block Off the Grid launched its Pittsburgh campaign this week with a 15 percent group discount on solar installations. The company, which already operates in 16 other cities, combines the business model of a real estate listing service — it recruits interested clients, negotiates a bulk rate on their behalf and refers them to a solar installer — with the folksiness of Tupperware parties. The company solicits members of a community to share their stories with neighbors and entice them to get solar panels, too.

One of Block’s chosen installer for this region is Astrum Solar, a Maryland-based firm that recently opened an office in Ohio to service parts of Pennsylvania as well.

San Francisco-Based SunRun Inc. and Sacramento-based Sunlight Solar Energy Inc. also parachuted into the state, serving the Philadelphia area for now.

Read the full story in the Pittsburgh Business Times.