08/17/2024
Been a rough time for Solar in California! An American institution, SunPower just went bankrupt. My company had 163 jobs signed with more than 90 installed when SunPower abruptly turned our world upside down.
The last 3 weeks has been the most challenging of my professional career for sure. And while it will cost Heliogold Solar 30 jobs, hundreds of thousands of dollars, and set us back quite a bit.....but....we are persisting to make it through.
The silver lining is yet to identify itself, but I know its there somewhere. I met my beautiful wife when I tore my ACL, and I am a believer that when opportunities close, new doors open. Not being paid on a year of hard work is tough on everyone involved in the solar industry. Many commissions have not paid, many installers lives have been disrupted, and many people were furloughed or laid off across the great state of California.
The good news is that people still buy electricity....and solar still easily beats the utilities inflated pricing. And while I think while my company will ultimately become more diverse, and do things outside of solar installations in the future, the companies that survive these two massive hits to solar will be stronger for it. I know this humbling experience will change me for the best, and I wish all of you in solar luck with your challenges, and all of you dealing with big issues the best as you move forward in your endeavors!
