California’s SolarCity — the largest installer of solar panels in the U.S. — has landed in Connecticut, lured by the state’s renewable energy credits.
The company expects to sign a lease for Hartford office space, authorities say. Meantime, it plans a booth at the upcoming Hartford Flower & Garden Show Feb. 23-26 at the Connecticut Convention Center.
Since passage of the state’s energy-reform law last July, creating several programs to fund renewable energy, SolarCity is the largest of at least half a dozen solar panel installers that have moved operations to Connecticut
The San Francisco company holds a 14 percent share of a solar-installation market fragmented among several small companies.
SolarCity operates 25 centers in 12 states including Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Maryland.
SolarCity Northeast regional director Ed Steins say it chose Connecticut because of programs offered through the Clean Energy Finance & Investment Authority, offering home and commercial customers rebates and/or credits for renewable energy installations, said
As solar-panel prices have fallen sharply the past year, so has the cost of buying solar power from an on-site installation compared to power purchased through an electric utility off the grid, Steins said.
SolarCity provides solar design, installation, financing, insurance, performance guarantees, upgrades and energy efficiency evaluations – a one-stop-shop that would otherwise require multiple contractors, Steins said.
