Amid the recent Solyndra debacle and the worst economy in recent memory, one Bay Area solar company is managing to navigate those shoals, whilst picking up awards along the way.
SolarCity, a San Mateo-based financing, design, installation, monitoring and energy efficiency firm, was awarded the 2011 Green Jobs Award earlier this month by Durham, North Carolina-based SJF Institute. Solar City was recognized for its green job creating approach. The company boasts the creation of more than 1,360 green jobs since its 2006 founding and projects creating an additional 150 positions by the end of 2011. The California Initiative ranks Solar City as the number one provider of residential solar power in California.
SolarCity has managed to ride out the current recession quite well. The National Bureau of Economic Research credits SolarCity with adding more than 1,200 jobs since the official start of the recession in December 2007. That averages out to more than one new job each workday. Solar City says it has more than 20,000 clean power projects completed or underway in 11 states.
“Our more than 1,300 employees make it possible for many homeowners and businesses to switch to clean, solar power for less than they pay for utility power,” said Linda Keala, SolarCity’s vice president of human resources. “Every SolarCity employee supports and plays a key role in increasing the use of clean power or using power more efficiently to make our country less dependent on energy sources that pollute our environment.”
The SJF Institute launched the Green Jobs Award in 2010 to honor innovative, privately-held US companies that are preserving or enhancing environmental quality while leading green job creation. According to its website, the SJF Institute is an independent non-profit institute working to link green energy entrepreneurs with investors and to promote green energy employee engagement in building sustainable energy alternatives
Bonny Moellenbrock, SJF Institute Executive Director says: "By acknowledging the tremendous work these companies are doing, we hope to both support their efforts and inspire other businesses to follow their lead."
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