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Despite a bleak economy, two established solar energy companies are opening facilities in the Grass Valley area, leasing thousands of square feet of building space and creating new jobs, their executives told The Union.
In one case, KACO Solar USA, is opening a engineering and logistics facility once used by a solar company that left the area last year for Rocklin— SMA America.
“Solar left, and now it’s back,” said Vince Lucia, KACO’s vice president of operations, referring to KACO reoccupying SMA’s facility in the Loma Rica industrial area. “We will be doing development and logistics in Grass Valley and growing at a rapid rate — typically 35 percent a year.”
San Francisco-based KACO Solar USA is leasing 7,500 square feet of space at 12438 Loma Rica Drive and expects to double the space in a year. The staff will grow from 7 to 12 workers within five months and should grow to 20 during the next three years, according to Lucia.
In the other expansion, groSolar is leasing a 10,000 square foot space at 900 Golden Gate Terrace.
“We’re starting up a California operation,” said John Berdner, vice president of technology for the Vermont-based company.
GroSolar hopes to open its warehouse and light manufacturing facility, formerly occupied by an organic foods distributor, as early as December. Berdner expects to ramp up to nine workers next year and more than double to 20 people in two years.
Berdner also is the founder of SMA America. He didn’t want to commute to SMA’s new location, so he joined groSolar. He didn’t completely agree with SMA’s decision to relocate, either, citing the benefits of the Grass Valley area.
Both executives cited the lifestyle attributes, as well as the quality schools and pool of qualified workers.
“I like the area, and we have good, talented people,” said Lucia.
“I didn’t need the stress and hassle of a commute,” added Berdner.
Both executives were bullish about the prospects for solar energy companies — already a cottage industry in western Nevada County.
They cited a provision to renew many alternative-energy tax credits under the $700 billion bank bailout bill, approved by Congress and signed into law by President Bush on Oct. 3.
In addition, they expect President Obama’s administration to spend increased amounts of money to spur alternative energy programs.
Some people criticize alternative energy spending, worrying about taxpayer subsidies and questioning the return on investment. They also point to sharply lower
crude oil prices from earlier this year.
Solar companies help generate needed local sales tax revenue, however. Plan It Solar of Penn Valley, for example, is listed as one of the unincorporated county’s top 25 sales tax generators, according to a report released last week.
Solar panels are being installed more frequently on buildings ranging from the Nevada City Masonic Lodge, to the First Baptist Church of Grass Valley, to Hills Flat Lumber in Grass Valley.
The two companies are receiving attractive leasing deals, too.
“We structured the lease so that groSolar’s rental overhead was closer to a 5,000 square foot space for a period of time until they expect to grow into the total 10,000 square foot space,” said Jeff Johnson, chief executive of Pacific Land Enterprises in Grass Valley. “This is the flexibility that is often required to keep buildings occupied in today’s economic climate.”
The 10,000 square foot space in Pacific Land’s 25,000 square foot building had been on the rental market since March. Now it’s full, Johnson said.
GroSolar, founded in 1988, is a leading distributor and installer of solar energy systems for residential and commercial use. It has warehouses throughout the United States.
KACO makes solar inverters, akin to the brain of a solar energy system, Lucia said. It is Germany’s second largest photovoltaic inverter manufacturer and has been in business more than 60 years.
In one case, KACO Solar USA, is opening a engineering and logistics facility once used by a solar company that left the area last year for Rocklin— SMA America.
“Solar left, and now it’s back,” said Vince Lucia, KACO’s vice president of operations, referring to KACO reoccupying SMA’s facility in the Loma Rica industrial area. “We will be doing development and logistics in Grass Valley and growing at a rapid rate — typically 35 percent a year.”
San Francisco-based KACO Solar USA is leasing 7,500 square feet of space at 12438 Loma Rica Drive and expects to double the space in a year. The staff will grow from 7 to 12 workers within five months and should grow to 20 during the next three years, according to Lucia.
In the other expansion, groSolar is leasing a 10,000 square foot space at 900 Golden Gate Terrace.
“We’re starting up a California operation,” said John Berdner, vice president of technology for the Vermont-based company.
GroSolar hopes to open its warehouse and light manufacturing facility, formerly occupied by an organic foods distributor, as early as December. Berdner expects to ramp up to nine workers next year and more than double to 20 people in two years.
Berdner also is the founder of SMA America. He didn’t want to commute to SMA’s new location, so he joined groSolar. He didn’t completely agree with SMA’s decision to relocate, either, citing the benefits of the Grass Valley area.
Both executives cited the lifestyle attributes, as well as the quality schools and pool of qualified workers.
“I like the area, and we have good, talented people,” said Lucia.
“I didn’t need the stress and hassle of a commute,” added Berdner.
Both executives were bullish about the prospects for solar energy companies — already a cottage industry in western Nevada County.
They cited a provision to renew many alternative-energy tax credits under the $700 billion bank bailout bill, approved by Congress and signed into law by President Bush on Oct. 3.
In addition, they expect President Obama’s administration to spend increased amounts of money to spur alternative energy programs.
Some people criticize alternative energy spending, worrying about taxpayer subsidies and questioning the return on investment. They also point to sharply lower
crude oil prices from earlier this year.
Solar companies help generate needed local sales tax revenue, however. Plan It Solar of Penn Valley, for example, is listed as one of the unincorporated county’s top 25 sales tax generators, according to a report released last week.
Solar panels are being installed more frequently on buildings ranging from the Nevada City Masonic Lodge, to the First Baptist Church of Grass Valley, to Hills Flat Lumber in Grass Valley.
The two companies are receiving attractive leasing deals, too.
“We structured the lease so that groSolar’s rental overhead was closer to a 5,000 square foot space for a period of time until they expect to grow into the total 10,000 square foot space,” said Jeff Johnson, chief executive of Pacific Land Enterprises in Grass Valley. “This is the flexibility that is often required to keep buildings occupied in today’s economic climate.”
The 10,000 square foot space in Pacific Land’s 25,000 square foot building had been on the rental market since March. Now it’s full, Johnson said.
GroSolar, founded in 1988, is a leading distributor and installer of solar energy systems for residential and commercial use. It has warehouses throughout the United States.
KACO makes solar inverters, akin to the brain of a solar energy system, Lucia said. It is Germany’s second largest photovoltaic inverter manufacturer and has been in business more than 60 years.
