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The proposed plan drew ire from customers, solar panel installers

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Solar customers will be keeping some money in their pockets come January. The board of directors for the Pedernales Electric Cooperative revoked increasing rates for solar customers during a meeting Friday.

Ben Keating says his investment in solar power will quickly pay for itself, then generate a steady return longer term in the savings on the electricity he doesn’t have to buy off the grid.

Austin-based Freedom Solar has raised objections to a slate of regressive policies in Texas, including at least a 20-25% rate increase, that Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) plans to initiate for its members who choose to use solar energy for their homes. The PEC Board of Directors approved the action unanimously in December 2020 and plans a final vote

HOUSTON (CW39) – The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Does that play a role in where you put the panels on the home? “Absolutely. What we are looking for is solar radiant factor and you are going to find that on the east, south, and west side of the home”, says Freedom Solar Representative Gene Smith. Now let’s go meet

When blackouts hit Houston last February, Rob and Robin Dickehuth’s home became a port in
the storm for neighbors, thanks to a $35,000 solar and battery system [from Freedom Solar] that kept windows aglow
and devices fully charged.

Our weekly Journal Profiles aim to bring you into close contact with the men and women playing outsized roles in the Austin-area economy. This time, we feature the deeply personal story of Bret Biggart, who has dealt with addiction and other issues and now runs one of the biggest solar companies in the state, with annual revenue nearing $100 million.

As Texans begin to recover from last month’s once-in-a-century winter storm, many wonder how the state — an icon of the oil and gas industry and home to Houston, “the energy capital of the world” — was thrust into darkness for days on end.

Josh Meade saw Freedom Solar grow from a startup to a multi-state enterprise. He’s been in solar energy long enough to know the “old” way of climbing on roofs and translating hand-drawn sketches into official solar plans. Now, Freedom Solar has fully embraced drone technology.

As those working from home seek to reduce their electricity bills, the solar company has enjoyed increased demand and has responded with a hiring spree, as well as plans for multistate expansion.

The Centennial State is among the nation’s leaders, ranked 12th in the U.S. for total solar capacity, with Colorado homeowners installing a record amount of new solar last year. And more Coloradoans than ever are taking advantage of those bluebird skies and taking their energy into their own hands.

Solar power is becoming more and more popular throughout Colorado Springs. Not only can you have energy independence, but you can have power resilience with solar and back up power.

After our most profitable quarter ever Freedom Solar is excited to announce that we’ve expanded in the San Antonio market with a new office space that has quadrupled in size. This comes as no surprise, as we’ve seen tremendous growth and opportunity for solar in the Alamo City.

Recently, Freedom Solar was named number 11 in Greater Austin Top Workplaces 2020, in the category of small companies. Freedom is a transparent company with deep local roots. We encourage our team to challenge themselves, set and achieve goals, stay healthy, give back, and work together as a family.

Austin-based Freedom Solar, announced today their expansion into out-of-state markets. The solar industry giant attributed its phenomenal growth, in part, to the automotive industry’s increasing interest in converting to solar power.

With so many working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic, more expensive electricity bills have become a part of life. That trend has forced residents to look for ways to trim the cost of electricity — a behavior shift that has driven demand for solar energy, as well as growth for Austin-headquartered Freedom Solar.

Texas-based Freedom Solar is honored to have been named the 15th fastest growing company by the Austin Business Journal.

In 2019, Freedom Solar partnered with San Antonio based automotive group, Barrett Motors, to complete a landmark installation at their new Jaguar and Land Rover of Boerne dealership. This project was part of the largest solar power initiative of any automotive group in Central Texas. (pg 14)

Texas-based Freedom Solar, the leading turnkey solar energy installer in Texas and leader of the largest automotive solar initiative in the state announced today it has completed a contract with Bob Tomes Ford for a major installation of solar panels at its McKinney Dealership – the first solar energy installation at an automotive dealership in the area.

A record-setting 2019 has led into an even stronger 2020, with the company hoping to ramp up success in the typically-busy second half of the year.

Austin-based Freedom Solar announced on June 1 the completion of solar installations at Frontier Bank of Texas. The Central Texas-based financial institution partnered with Freedom Solar to install commercial solar power systems on three of their Austin-area locations including Elgin, Burnet Road and Manor.

Texans are becoming increasingly nervous about the reliability of their power supply— and for good reason.

Emotions run high amid all the uncertainty that comes with a global pandemic, but Bret Biggart said renewable energy could help ease some of that.

Largely due to the growing popularity and falling prices of solar energy in Texas, including incentives at the federal, state, and local level, the number of solar panel installations continues to trend upward throughout the state and especially in Houston.