sustainability
employer: A & R Solar location: Seattle, Wash. & Milwaukie, Ore. number of employees: 50 website: www. a-rsolar. com
A & R Solar
In a state with the greenest energy grid in the nation, A & R Solar adds a little sunshine to the mix for businesses and homeowners that want to take the extra clean-energy step.
the company: A & R Solar founders Andy Yatteau and Reeves Clippard began operations a decade ago as a solar installation company. Today, the company lends its expertise to employers of all sizes and homeowners to find the right solar system fit for their needs. The company then helps design, build and maintain those solar energy systems. To date, A & R Solar has completed 1,200 solar projects, including Washington state’ s largest solar project on the roof of the new Ikea store in Renton, totaling more than 10 megawatts of clean energy. A & R Solar employs 50 people, 15 of which are employee owners, and is on a path to have as many as 75 employees over the next few months. It expanded its operations to include Oregon last year.
innovative environmental stewardship: A large part of A & R Solar’ s work is done up front in examining the exact needs of a business or a home and then creating a solution specific to that customer. Once installed, a solar energy system can provide clean, free energy for up to 40 years. The solar projects complement Washington’ s green, low-carbon hydroelectricity by adding the additional layer of locally produced low-carbon energy for their customers— from small breweries to large commercial operations and singlefamily homes to entire neighborhoods— that want to take more control of where their energy comes from, lowering their carbon footprint, and building resilience.
in their own words:“ We develop a lot of trust with our clients because they understand we’ re willing to help them find the best solution to fit their needs now and for decades to come. We’ re helping build the entire clean energy industry, not just one project.”
— Reeves Clippard, CEO, A & R Solar
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