Lighthouse Solar, a Boulder, Colo.-based solar installation business, announced today that it is closing its installation business in Colorado. According to the company, market conditions have made operating in Colorado too difficult and unpredictable. Lighthouse Solar will keep open two additional installation offices that are thriving in Austin, Texas and New Paltz, N.Y.
Lighthouse Solar has been installing solar since 2006. In 2013, the company installed the largest rooftop system in Colorado, 1.2MW on the Flatirons Crossing Mall. Last year, the company completed over 7MW of installations, employing over 40 full-time employees and over 100 people including sub-contractors. The company is shifting its focus to its Lumos brand of solar products and has reduced its workforce down to 15 full-time employees based on the fact that only 7MW of commercial solar projects will be completed in the entire state in 2014.
“Lighthouse Solar was established with the mission to facilitate the use of solar energy. It is deeply disappointing that the only thing standing between us and the enormous demand for solar energy in our home state is Xcel Energy … and the PUC,” says Scott Franklin, CEO and President. “Colorado, averaging 300 days of high altitude sunshine a year, should be a global leader in solar energy but instead we are going backwards.”
Lumos has grown to become a nationally known brand of innovative solar products. Lumos has succeeded by thriving with strong out-of-state sales growth.