Kailua, HI — Sunetric, Hawaii’s leading solar design and installation company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Aaron H. Cates as an analyst.

Cates, who recently graduated with a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Hawai’i Shidler College of Business, brings years of experience in business analysis and research, including market opportunity analyses, market profiles, and business feasibility studies. He will be responsible for internal financial analysis and the development of programs and tools to assist with the company’s finances and operations. Previously, Cates worked at Oceanit as a product development intern and at Chevron Energy Solutions as a market analyst.

Coverage

• May 24, 2012: Pacific Business News: PaceSetters
• May 25, 2012: Hawaii News Now Kailua

Kailua, HI — Sunetric, Hawaii’s leading solar design and installation company, announces the promotion of Aaron Kirk to chief operating officer. Kirk, formerly director of sales, will now over oversee the day-to-day operations of the company which include supporting commercial and residential clients.

“Aaron is the perfect candidate for this position. He has been a vital team member as director of sales and has contributed significantly to Sunetric’s growth in the past year,” said Alex Tiller, CEO of Sunetric. “He is highly regarded by his colleagues and has demonstrated the necessary leadership skills and commitment to company values to be an exceptional chief operating officer.”

Kirk joined Sunetric in July 2011 as director of sales with nearly 20 years of managerial experience, including management of sales and operation divisions of companies as well as the development of long term strategies. Prior to joining Sunetric, Kirk was vice president of sales and operations at Oceanic Values. He was responsible for the management of its domestic and overseas software development teams, the creation of its sales team and overall management of the day-to-day operations of the local web-based marketing and advertising company.

Kirk has also served as vice president of operations at Toreador, LLC and general manager at Professional Image, Inc.

“I’m honored to serve as chief operating officer at a time when Sunetric is positioned to experience continued growth this year,” said Aaron Kirk. “Furthermore, I’m committed to ensuring the success of team members in their respective roles and look forward to contributing to the company’s continued success and growth.”

Kirk holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management. He is also certified trainer for ISO 9002 Quality Systems Implementation and a “train-the-trainer” facilitator for Stephen Covey’s “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.”

Coverage

• May 21, 2012: Pacific Business News: PaceSetters
• May 20, 2012: Hawaii News Now Kailua

Denver, Colorado – May 17, 2012 - Sunetric, Hawaii’s leading solar design and installation company, announces the appointment of Tyler Fauerbach as Managing Director of Project Finance and Strategic Development. Mr. Fauerbach will be responsible for raising debt, tax and cash equity for the company’s residential, commercial and utility-scale solar projects and developing new market opportunities. He will be based in the company’s Denver office.

“Tyler’s vast experience in the financial services and banking industry with a focus on the energy sector will be valuable as Sunetric continues its expansion in the continental United States,” said Alex Tiller, CEO of Sunetric. “Tyler will be developing the companies Renewable Energy Finance business, guiding and shaping the offering as we develop and introduce innovative programs to fund renewable energy systems and projects throughout the country.”

Fauerbach brings 10 years of energy banking to his new role at Sunetric. He served previously as vice president of Power Finance at U.S. Bank, where he developed the bank’s power project finance lending programs and helped facilitate approximately $270 million in wind, solar and gas-fired power generation project financings. The solar project financings in this portfolio included debt transactions for Solar Power Partners, Perpetual Energy Systems and SunEdison. In addition, Fauerbach worked closely with U.S. Bank’s Community Development Corporation on the development of unique debt and tax equity structures. Prior to working for U.S. Bank, he served as a vice president in the Utility Lending Group at CoBank, ACB where he managed a loan portfolio of electric cooperatives in excess of $300 million.

One of Fauerbach’s projects will be the development of a Solar Fund Company that is to be partially owned by Sunetric. He will be responsible for working with Tiller to help raise additional equity for the fund company, meeting with potential fund investors, and hiring and managing the fund company’s employees.

We are proud to announce that Sunetric CEO Alex Tiller has been named a finalist for the Business Executive of the Year category at the 2nd Annual Pacific Edge Magazine Business Achievement Awards! The Business Achievement Awards are designed to “spotlight those businesses who have made a difference in business and the community.”

The red-carpet awards gala will be on Thursday, May 31st from 5:30pm to 9:00pm at the Waterfront at Aloha Tower Marketplace.

As a result of more eyes on the Foam-free Hawaii campaign, we’ve just added a half-dozen restaurants to our list. We’re also starting to hand out our eco-friendly awards, and putting photos of them all on Facebook.

Sunetric leads the charge against Styrofoam in Hawaii

Pacific Business News — April 10, 2012:

One of Hawaii’s largest solar design and installation companies is leading an effort that doesn’t include the sun. Kailua-based Sunetric is trying to help other businesses reduce their usage of, or eliminate altogether, Styrofoam as part of its “Foam Free Hawaii” campaign.

Since then, during the past several months, Sunetric has been engaging with customers and fans on its social media sites and talking to environmental groups to identify their favorite Styrofoam free restaurants. It has developed a list of more than 40 Styrofoam-free restaurants and is recognizing each restaurant with an eco-friendly award and a sticker decal to display, which hopes to inform their patrons of their commitment to using environmentally friendly products.

Read more at PBN.

Solar energy firm pushes no-Styrofoam restaurants

Honolulu Star-Advertiser — April 11, 2012:

Say no to Styrofoam. That’s the goal of the “Foam Free Hawaii” campaign started by local solar energy firm Sunetric to discourage Hawaii restaurants from using foam packaging.

Read more at the Star-Advertiser.

Read the full text of the article below or at the Hawaii Business website:

Q: As a small business owner, what are the tax benefits of installing a photovoltaic system?

A: A photovoltaic system is an incredible investment for Hawaii business owners. By installing and owning a PV system, you are protecting all or part of your power use from future electric rate increases. In Hawaii, electric rates have increased by an average of 6 percent each year since 1991.

In addition to offsetting rising electricity costs, tax incentives, when coupled with depreciation, can offset up to 8o percent of the upfront cost of a commercial PV system. How quickly those credits apply depends on your tax situation, so it is always best to consult a tax professional in addition to your solar provider.

Here is a closer look at commercial incentives available this year:

Hawaii’s Renewable Energy Technology Income Tax Credit

This allows businesses to claim a state in come tax credit of 35 percent for the cost of the PV system. In 2009, Gov. Linda Lingle signed into law Act 154. (Senate Bill 464, Session Laws of Hawaii 2009), allowing customers the option of converting their income tax credit into a refundable tax credit at a rate of 24.5 percent.

U.S. Treasury Tax Credit

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 allows taxpayers eligible for the federal business energy investment tax credit to take this credit equivalent to 30 percent of the installed cost of a PV system. This credit is available through 2016.

Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) Depreciation Deduction and Special Depreciation

PV systems placed into service in 2012 are eligible for a bonus depreciation of 50 percent, which means up to 50 percent of the cost basis of the project can be depreciated in the same year it is placed into service. In addition, the remaining o percent of the cost basis is also eligible for MACRS accelerated depreciation and, when combined with the special depreciation, allows up to 6o percent depreciation in the first year alone.

Alex Tiller
CEO, Sunetric

Paul Craig has been appointed Electrical Engineer, PE and Robert Branson as Warehouse Manager.

Paul Craig, an Electrical Engineer, PE, and Project Manager licensed in Hawaii and Colorado with more than 17 years of engineering experience joins Sunetric as Electrical Engineer, PE, and will be responsible for the design and engineering components of the company’s residential and commercial jobs. Craig received his Bachelor’s in Science from the United States Air Force Academy, a Master’s in Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Robert Branson brings over 15 years of experience to his new role as Sunetric’s Warehouse Manager. As the Warehouse Manager, Branson will be responsible for ensuring proper inventory of the company’s products and ensuring that solar modules are in stock for projects. Prior to moving to Hawaii in 2010, Branson spent over 10 years working for various companies in Indiana.

Sunetric, a Kailua, Hawaii-based solar power developer, has hired Tyler Fauerbach, v.p. power finance at U.S. Bank.

Fauerbach recently joined Sunetric in Denver as managing director of project finance & strategic development, SparkSpread has learned.

He is responsible for raising debt, tax equity and cash equity for Sunetric’s residential, commercial and utility-scale solar projects in the U.S., according to an industry source.

Sunetric’s completed projects include a 600 kW roof-mounted photovoltaic system on a warehouse owned by Y. Hata & Co., a food service distributor; and a 229 kW roof-mounted PV system for Kona Brewing Co., a Hawaiian brewing company.

Prior to a five-year stint at U.S. Bank, Fauerbach was an energy banker at CoBank.

Sunetric is posting extensive interviews with each beneficiary on its blog (sunetric.com/blog) and Facebook page (facebook.com/sunetricsolar), and is raising awareness by giving away prizes throughout February and March, including 13 iPod Shuffles, and a grand prize microbrew kit and stereo cooler.

The Brewers Festival raises funds for environmental, educational and cultural causes, donating $475,000 over the past 16 years to Big Island charitable organizations. This year’s beneficiaries include: The Aloha Performing Arts Company; ACF Chefs de Cuisine Kona Kohala Chapter; Hawaii Montessori School at Kona; Honaunau Elementary School; Hualalai Academy; Innovations Public Charter School; Kealakehe Project Grad; the Donkey Mill Art Center; Kona Historical Society; Kona Pacific Public Charter School; the Peoples Advocacy for Trails Hawaii; the Society for Kona’s Education and Art; and the Na Wai Iwi Ola Foundation.

“This is Sunetric’s third year serving as the Community Champion Sponsor of the festival,” said Sunetric CEO Alex Tiller. “We are proud to help put a spotlight on these vital Big Island organizations that contribute so much to our communities, and also educate the public about solar technologies.”

Sunetric has donated $30,000 in the past three years of the festival. The company will also provide the popular Watt Wheels mobile solar energy station – a bright blue Honda Element that has been retrofitted with three 230-watt SunPower modules – to power one of the festival’s stages. Watt Wheels is provided at events as a community service by Sunetric.

“We couldn’t host the Kona Brewers Festival without the generous continuing support of Sunetric and other sponsors,” said Kona Brewers Festival Executive Director Kate Jacobson. “Each year, Sunetric steps up and provides the seed money to get things rolling for this extraordinary community celebration and benefit.”

Solar Beer Production

Sunetric is committed to brewing with solar power. In 2010, Sunetric installed a 229-kilowatt (kW) solar energy system for Kona Brewing Company, which started the Brewers Festival in 1996. The system now offsets nearly half of the annual energy consumption at the company’s Kailua-Kona flagship brewery and pub. The brewery is the first in Hawaii to produce beer using solar power, and has one of the largest solar arrays of any craft brewer in the United States.

The Kona Brewing Company solar array has:

• Produced 314,563 pints, or 2,537 kegs, of hand-crafted brew to date.
• Produced enough wattage to power 76 average residences each day.
• Conserved 734 barrels of oil to date; the equivalent of 4,498 trips around the Big Island.
• Prevented 691,132 pounds of CO2 from entering the atmosphere – the equivalent of taking 2,425 mid-sized cars off the road.
• Saved Kona Brewing Company $209,416 in electric costs in 2011 alone.

After a shakeup in the Hawaii Solar Energy Association’s leadership that included the ouster of board President Mark Duda, the trade group has announced its 2012 board of directors.

Board members are:

• President Gabriel Chong, who is special projects manager for Sunetric

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