Westcoast Solar Energy wins the award for Best Green Business in this year’s NorthBay biz Readers Poll. The company specializes in the installation of high-quality solar power systems throughout Sonoma County. Westcoast Solar Energy’s strong eye for detail and quality installations help distinguish it from myriad other solar installation companies.
“We design our systems specifically for each application and, because we’re independent, we’re able to use a variety of different attachment methods, racking, panels and so forth. We’re really able to do fully custom jobs,” says President Nate Gulbransen. “Our customers definitely appreciate our eye for the aesthetic as well as the long-term reliability our products offer.”
Gulbransen and his partner, COO Jeremy Greer, worked together at a large solar company before launching their Rohnert Park-based company in June 2009. It began as a Sonoma Mountain Business Cluster incubator business and was the first company to graduate from that program. “Since then, we’ve been doing more solar installations than almost anybody,” says Gulbransen. “We’re definitely the largest Sonoma County-based solar integrator.”
Westcoast Solar Energy’s ability to source material from a range of suppliers, coupled with its experienced team of employees, enable it to succeed in an increasingly crowded field of competitors. In addition to increased competition, changes in funding programs also present challenges. Business is still strong but has slowed since the last half of 2011, a trend Gulbransen attributes to changes in the county financing program that started requiring a 10 percent energy reduction before funding could be granted (that policy has recently been rescinded).
Meanwhile, the company is taking the opportunity to expand into larger commercial installations and larger residential installations where its expertise can be used. Westcoast Solar Energy will also increase business with the new home energy performance division it launched last November. Staff noticed that customers looking to reduce utility bills could do so with simple home changes that are more cost-effective than putting solar panels on their roof. The company’s home energy assessments start at $650 for a small house (less than 1,200 square feet) and increase from there.
“It’s a pretty exciting new industry that works hand-in-hand with solar,” says Gulbransen.
Additionally, the company will continue expanding the swath of its solar installation expertise and techniques this year. For example, it recently signed a contract with a manufacturer that makes a clear, frameless solar panel. The clear backing lets light flow through it.
“We’re going to be using that on a lot of carports and pergolas over decks,” explains Gulbransen. “It’s really more of a building-integrated solar panel, which is really nice.”
