Freedom expects to increase its local workforce from three full-time employees to 10 by the end of the year.
San Antonio’s ever-evolving solar ecosystem continues to attract companies that are finding fertile ground for the fledging industry. They’ve even been able to expand without having to raise outside capital or even seek investors.
Freedom Solar Power, which set up shop three years ago with a small office off South St. Mary’s Street, has outgrown its home. The Austin-based solar installer’s clients include Whole Foods Market Inc., Office Depot Inc., the University of Texas and Lake Flato.
CPS Energy, San Antonio’s city-owned utility company, offers a $1.20 per watt rebate on solar power projects making the Alamo City a magnet for residential and commercial installation.
Freedom Solar Power Director of Sales Kyle Frazier said the CPS Energy rebates coupled with federal tax credits have been keeping the company’s crews busy with an average of 10 residential installations per month.
“San Antonio is one of the few places where people can go solar with no money out of pocket,” Frazier said.
On the commercial side of the business, Freedom recently finished installing 152 solar panels on the roof of San Antonio’s ABC Home & Commercial Services, a family-owned and operated business that employs 650 people in four cities.
ABC Home & Commercial Services owner Bobby Jenkins said the panels are expected to offset 75 percent of the company’s electricity costs and pay for themselves in less than four years.
“The installation of this new solar project is another way we can continue to build upon our ongoing commitment to sustainability and serve our customers for many generations to come,” Jenkins said.
As Freedom continues to land new customers, Frazier said the company has found a niche helping commercial buildings achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification.
“Solar is one of the most cost-effective LEED points that you can get because of the rebates,” Frazier said.
Freedom expects to increase its local workforce from three full-time employees to 10 by the end of the year.
To accommodate that growth, the company expects to move out of its St. Mary’s Street home and into a larger space off Perrin-Beitel Road and Loop 410 at the end of this month.
Frazier said Freedom is cash flow positive — in a growth industry —without having to borrow any money.
“We’re doing all this with zero outside capital and no outside investors,” he said.