Austin-Based Freedom Solar Cites Trend toward Solar Power in the Auto Industry as Major Factor in Expansion Nationwide
AUSTIN, TEXAS—November 6, 2020. Austin-based Freedom Solar, the leading turnkey solar energy installer in Texas and the longest-existing residential and commercial solar power provider in the state, announced today their expansion into out-of-state markets, including Colorado, Ohio, Idaho, West Virginia, and Michigan.
The solar industry giant attributed its phenomenal growth, in part, to the automotive industry’s increasing interest in converting to solar power. “Freedom Solar’s third quarter in 2020 was our most profitable quarter since opening in 2007, and a big factor in that success is the increasing trend among automobile dealerships to go solar,” said Freedom Solar CEO Bret Biggart. “Over the past three years, Freedom Solar has completed solar panel installations at eight auto dealerships across Texas, and for every dealership we’ve signed, we are talking to 10 more.”
Freedom Solar is expanding its operations geographically, specifically targeting the automotive industry and reaching out to dealers nationwide to advise them on the tremendous positive impacts solar can have on their businesses. The company currently has several nationwide projects underway and recently opened an office at 5135 Centennial Boulevard in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Freedom has hired former SunPower National Auto Industry Manager, Ryan Ferrero, who was a previous dealer principal for Domestic and Import Dealerships, to create profitable, sustainable solutions for auto dealers throughout the nation.
In addition to its Colorado operations, Freedom currently has projects in states like Idaho, West Virginia, Ohio, and Michigan. Businesses of all kinds are turning to solar power due to its increased affordability, and the automotive industry is leading the way. According to the National Auto Dealers Association (NADA), energy costs can be a dealership’s third-highest overhead expense due to energyintensive showrooms and lots, as well as long operating hours. As a result, many dealerships are turning to solar to mitigate their high energy expenditures.
Switching to solar power not only greatly reduces operating costs and increases profit margins, but also demonstrates the dealership’s commitment to environmental sustainability, appreciated by an increasingly large segment of the public. Freedom Solar Building on Texas Success to Expand into Out-of-State Markets Page 2 of 2 If a dealer is interested, Freedom Solar simply takes a look at their utility bills over time to discern their rate, usage, and seasonal differences. With that in hand, Freedom can provide information on the incentives, subsidies, and tax benefits specific to their usage and give a highly accurate estimate of the net cost to install solar. The installation itself causes little-to-no disruptions to daily business activities. Freedom Solar is an award-winning dealer for SunPower, which has exclusive access to the world’s highest efficiency solar technology backed by the industry’s best warranty.
As the number one commercial solar manufacturer in the U.S. for three straight years, SunPower is a publicly-traded, U.S.-based company that has been in business for 35 years and holds more than 1,000 patents. “We try to help dealers understand that something they thought of as a fixed expense where they had no options—the cost of electricity—can now become a variable expense they can drive down,” said Biggart. “The solar power generated by the panels we install is utilized across the facility, offsetting the amount of utility power consumed. It is less expensive and is not subject to price hikes from utility providers.”
About Freedom Solar
Freedom Solar is the leader in turnkey solar installations, providing high-quality, cost-effective, reliable solar solutions for the residential and commercial markets. Also a Tesla Powerwall Certified Installer, Freedom Solar has installed more than 80 megawatts of solar panels since 2007 and ranks number 338 on Inc. magazine’s 500 fastest-growing private companies in America. The company has been recognized by Austin Energy as the number-one supplier of residential solar systems in Austin, by GreenTechMedia as the largest residential solar installer in Texas for three years running, and by the Austin Business Journal as the fourth-fastest-growing company in Central Texas and an Austin Business Journal Fast 50 company in 2020 ranking 15th in the over $10M in revenue category. Freedom Solar was named by the Austin Business Journal as a Best Place to Work in 2020 and 2019 and was ranked 99th on the 2020 Top Solar Contractors List by Solar Power World magazine, up from 129th last year. Freedom Solar has completed projects for numerous corporate clients including s include Whole Foods, Shake Shack, Office Depot, Holiday Inn Express, Home2 Suites by Hilton, and auto dealerships such as Alpha Romeo, Maserati, Chevy, Ford, and Subaru For more information, visit https://www.freedomsolarpower.com.
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Lesley Ford
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