Meridian Solar Inc., a developer of solar installation projects, has expanded to San Antonio by opening a new local office.
The Austin-based company also hired Matt Haecker, the former director of the solar rebate program for CPS Energy, to lead the office. Meridian will hire solar design, sales and installation professionals for the San Antonio office over the next year based on business growth. The company will work with Alamo Colleges and other local educational institutions on various renewable energy training programs.
“Meridian Solar’s expansion into San Antonio is a strong indicator that our city continues to embrace renewable energy at an accelerated pace,” says Bill Sinkin, founder and chairman of Solar San Antonio, a non-profit advocacy and resource center for renewable energy applications. “Utility rebate programs continue to lure both residents and businesses to implement solar electric installations, and Meridian Solar has been a critical solar energy solution provider for our area by delivering impressive projects, such as the Pearl Brewery and Fort Sam Houston,” Sinkin adds.
Meridian’s other clients in Texas include San Antonio-based H.E. Butt Grocery Co., the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the University of Texas at Austin, and the ranch of country music singer Willie Nelson.
Meridian Solar founder and CEO Andrew McCalla says the company has served the San Antonio market for the past 10 years from its Austin headquarters. However, the growing interest in solar electric installations from San Antonio homeowners and businesses led the company to consider opening a permanent office in the city.
The company opened an office in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in January. The San Antonio office represents the company’s third in Texas.
“San Antonio is aggressively working to expand its solar energy profile to meet the energy needs of the future. We are excited that contractors like Meridian Solar have recognized the growing demand for renewable sources of energy in our city,” says San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro.
CPS Energy also recently introduced the Solartricity Producer Program, which is a distributed generation model that is designed to encourage owners of energy systems to sell their energy back to the utility for use in the city. This program also could lead to more business development for Meridian Solar.
