By Doreen Hemlock
Renewable Energy World
For solar energy to spread mainstream on U.S. homes, installation will need to move beyond specialized solar contractors to traditional building trades, such as roofers and electricians.
But traditional trades face varied challenges to add solar to their business, from training employees to finding new suppliers to even buying new insurance, participants said Wednesday at a Solar Idea Swap.
Some conventional companies have expanded into solar successfully, including Petersen-Dean Roofing and Solar Systems, a California firm that diversified from roofing, initially through acquisitions.
“There are learning curves in many areas: technology, licensing. It’s a longer process than certainly I thought,” said Bill Scott, vice president of solar sales development for Petersen-Dean. “But if we’re really going to scale residential solar the way we want, it’s imperative that more companies do this.”
Also:
Sorry, Critics – Solar Is Not a Rip-Off — 15 important facts not included in LA Times’ solar subsidies story/Renewable Energy World
