Originally posted in the Climate Change Business Journal
Founded in 2007, Freedom Solar Power is an industry leader in turnkey solar instal-lations, providing solar solutions for residential and commercial markets. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Freedom Solar also has full-service offices in Texas and Florida. They also install commercial projects in all 48 contiguous U.S. states. A Tesla Powerwall Certified Installer and the only SunPower® Master Dealer in Texas, Colorado, central Florida, and North Carolina, the firm has installed more than 228 megawatts of solar panels since 2007, ranking as a top ten solar installer in the US and number 1 in Texas as well as a three time listing on the Inc. 5000. Freedom Solar has completed projects for national and multinational corporate clients, including Whole Foods Market, Shake Shack, Office Depot, Holiday Inn Express, Home2 Suites by Hilton, The University of Texas at Austin and numerous automotive dealerships, such as Alfa Romeo, BMW, Chevrolet, Ford, Maserati, Subaru and Toyota.
Bret Biggart serves as Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Solar Power and is responsible for daily operations as well as the company’s growth and financing strategies. Since 2011, Bret has played an integral role in Freedom Solar’s expansion across both commercial and residential solar markets. Previously, Biggart served as Director of Business Development for the Austin-based asset management firm WaterStreet and over four years with two private equity firms.
CCBJ: Congratulations on the recent awards. Of all the moving parts in the solar business in the Southwest, what has been the most challenging for the last 2 or 3 years? What do you expect to be increasingly more challenging with the new administration in Washington and any response from the statehouse in Texas?
Bret Biggart: The past few years have been a tough stretch for solar. With inflation and interest rates generally rising, solar financing costs made it more difficult for homeowners to invest in solar. Most home services experienced a decline in sales last year due to consumer spending in this category being down. This forced many solar companies into a corner, where they had two choices: adapt or die. At Freedom Solar Power, the path forward has been clear. Although our residential business took a hit last year, we kept our momentum through growth in our commercial clients—and I’m optimistic that 2025 will bring continued growth in that area of the business.
It is essential that we weed out bad actors in the industry to protect customers. In recent years, we’ve seen essential media coverage exposing corrupt operations, and many in the industry—myself included—are working with legislators to advocate for customers and consumer protections.
With the new presidential administration, we’re keeping a close eye on federal solar programs, permitting policies and trade regulations. At the state level, Texas has become the nation’s clean energy leader, and we’re supporting efforts to extend that leadership while pushing back against any moves that undercut Texas renewables. That’s a lot, obviously, but we’re laser-focused on demonstrating solar’s economic viability for both businesses and homeowners—because everyone deserves access to reliable, cost-effective solar solutions.
CCBJ: You mention your focus on commercial and residential in the Austin area and around Texas and the region. What about institutional markets like universities or government buildings or prisons or hospitals? Are these viable markets? And what or who controls or is in a strong position in the utility scale market in Texas?
Bret Biggart: Our mission is to empower everyone with access to clean, affordable and reliable solar, and that doesn’t stop at commercial and residential developments. Institutional markets like universities, government buildings and hospitals are absolutely important, and we’re already seeing growing interest from these sectors. In recent years, Freedom Solar Power has installed systems at the University of Texas, several medical centers (such as Strictly Pediatrics Surgery Center in Austin), and museums and non-profits across our markets. We aim to keep scaling our business to meet the increasing demand for solar in these areas. Our commercial team has grant writers in-house to help clients make the most of available federal or state solar programs and achieve higher rates of return on their investments.
In the Texas utility-scale market, ERCOT faces a number of challenges that threaten the reliability and efficacy of the state’s power grid, especially in the face of extreme weather. Many Texans fear another widespread grid failure, and recent ERCOT projections show that energy demand is going to skyrocket this decade. That’s a lot of uncertainty, and Freedom Solar Power is helping our customers stay free and safe—from high bills and blackouts—with independent, accessible solar and storage systems that keep the lights on when grids go down.
CCBJ: What are the most common customer objections you have to overcome to get a commitment for a significant installation.
Bret Biggart: As homeowners consider investing in solar, the most common concerns typically involve upfront cost, return on investment (ROI), and reliability—especially in Texas, where grid stability is at the top of their minds. The Freedom Solar Power team tackles these concerns head-on with competitive financial incentives and a full-scale warranty system, guaranteeing peak system performance for 25 years. With 24/7 system monitoring, workmanship warranty, flexible financing, and energy consultants dedicated to maximizing savings and ROI, we help our homeowners and businesses invest with confidence, knowing their solar systems are built for long-term success.
CCBJ: Describe your concept of smart risk and some examples of how you applied that to getting a successful installation agreement for larger scale commercial clients?
Bret Biggart: For me, smart risk is all about taking calculated steps outside my comfort zone and resolving to face every challenge with grit, tenacity and a spirit of innovation. That forward-thinking mindset powered my foray into solar in 2011 when it was still a nascent, fragmented industry. I was in corporate finance when I made the pivot to solar, seeing many of the gaps and issues that were slowing the industry. Approaching those problems as growth opportunities made all the difference in my entrepreneurial journey, and it helped propel Freedom Solar to the forefront of the renewable energy industry in Texas and beyond.
CCBJ: As a solar installer, have you thought about further integrating your service across other services such as design or planning and permitting or operation and maintenance or cleaning, or what other business opportunities are out there for you as immediate adjacent services or do you prefer to focus on your core competence?
Bret Biggart: At Freedom Solar, we take pride in supporting our customers through every step of solar adoption, including design, permitting, installation and ongoing maintenance. Our full-service, expert team handles residential and commercial installations, offering comprehensive diagnostics checks, expert repairs, ongoing maintenance, and system updates. We’re committed to maintaining and repairing solar equipment of all makes and models—no matter who installed it—and delivering reliable solar solutions to customers across Texas and Florida.
We are always looking for opportunities to diversify our business, so watch out for developments or strategic additions to our products and service offerings.
CCBJ: We have anticipated change in the storage market. How much change have you seen in the availability and price and performance of the batteries that you would install coordinated with a solar system for both small scale residential and larger commercial?
Bret Biggart: When I first began my journey in solar, the storage market was still in its early developmental stages, burdened by high costs and fluctuating supply. As the demand for solar has skyrocketed, I’ve seen a rapid maturing and broadening of the storage market, especially over the past couple of years. We’re at a point where supply is ample, and providers continue to release updated, customizable battery models to meet different energy needs. Performance has also improved considerably, with higher energy density and longer lifespans, making storage more viable for residential and commercial customers. In the past, many systems were limited by battery degradation or less-efficient power management, but modern batteries have better software that maximizes their lifespan and optimizes their energy use.
With increased competition and battery production, we’ve also seen a steady decrease in battery storage costs, so that’s less of a barrier than it used to be, especially for commercial-scale installations.
CCBJ: You label FSP as the tenth largest in the business. What is your observation about the companies at the top and the consolidation and bankruptcies that have affected some of them, and how do you like your position and what benefits does it provide you and your customers?
Bret Biggart: The solar industry is constantly evolving. Consolidations and bankruptcies have obviously gotten a lot of headlines over the past few years, and it’s clear that some players have struggled to adapt. Now more than ever, solar companies must be agile, innovative and willing to explore new markets and business models.
As for Freedom Solar, I’m proud to say that we’ve stayed nimble and focused on what matters: scaling intelligently while maintaining high standards of service and quality for our customers. We’re an award-winning, top-10 player with the infrastructure and resources to guide every project to completion—but we’re also fiercely independent. We hold ourselves accountable for delivering personalized solutions and expert guidance every step of the way, from initial consultation to final installation and beyond. Our dedicated, entrepreneurial approach guarantees maximum energy and financial gains for every employee and customer—because, above all, Freedom Solar Power puts people first.
CCBJ: On a more personal note, what was your original inspiration to get in this business in the first place?
Bret Biggart: I began researching solar energy for my own home, and after experiencing a shocking lack of customer service, I realized the solar industry needed a new player to reach its full potential as an accessible, reliable energy solution for the everyday American.
I credit my entrepreneurial drive and mission to help others as what inspired me to take the leap into solar. In 2011, I met Adrian Buck, who ran a small subcontracting business called Freedom Solar, and we joined the solar revolution.
CCBJ: What is the most compelling evidence that you have witnessed of climate change in your lifetime
Bret Biggart: I’ve lived in Texas since 2005, and over the last two decades, I’ve witnessed increasingly erratic and severe weather events that show climate change is happening. From record highs to record lows, extreme temperatures have strained—and even upended—the state’s power grid. Not to mention deadly storms like Hurricane Beryl, which slammed Houston in 2024, or Winter Storm Uri, which caused millions of outages and hundreds of deaths during the infamous grid failure of 2021.
The hard truth is that Beryl and Uri can’t be considered once-in-a-lifetime storms anymore, and many Texans, Floridians and others live in fear of another energy catastrophe. That’s why solar power is essential. It represents power for the people in a very real way. When homeowners and businesses take control of their own energy production and storage, they protect themselves—and their families—from high bills and dangerous blackouts. They adapt, and they live more powerfully.