A&R Solar Company History
A&R Solar started with two guys who wanted to create a company focused on people and the planet. Since 2007, we’ve grown from Andy and Reeves (the A&R) to 115 employees in two states. We’ve been recognized for our craftsmanship, commitment to customers and employees, and forging relationships with lawmakers to create policy that helps broaden the reach of renewable energy. Here are some of our company’s milestones over the years.
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A&R Solar begins
Andy Yatteau and Reeves Clippard leave their jobs and found A&R Solar, focusing on solar hot water installations. They file the paperwork with the state of Washington and each pay $350 for incorporation fees. It will take them several years to take home consistent paychecks as they funnel profits back into growing the company.
2007 -
First year totals
Andy and Reeves install three solar hot water projects. The company earns a total revenue of $69,318 in the midst of a tough year for the construction industry.
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First PV system installed
A&R installs its first solar photovoltaic system totaling 2.6 kW (an average system today is over 12 kW). Solar hot water continues to be the focus of the company as the cost of solar means few people can afford it.
2008 -
First employee
Dave Kozin is hired as the company’s first employee. Dave sells mattresses out of a storage unit on the side to support himself as the company puts profits back into operations. Dave becomes A&R’s CFO and is a co-founder of WASEIA, Washington’s solar industry trade association.
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The company grows
As 2008 comes to a close, the company installs 15.79 kWs of solar with revenue of $268,886. The global economy continues to decline.
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Seattle Aquarium
A&R scores a big job for an iconic Seattle landmark. The guys install a solar hot water system on the Seattle Aquarium.
2009 -
Wrapping up our third year
Revenue hits $439,047 for the year, and the three employees are awarded with an occasional paycheck.
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Employee #2
A&R hires Evan Manderbach, who has construction experience. Today, Evan is COO and has multiple NABCEP certifications.
2010 -
First commercial install
A&R installs its first commercial solar PV system for Walla Walla Community College.
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Low-income housing
We are awarded a contract to install solar on Neighborhood House in West Seattle. It is the largest solar energy system in Seattle at the time at 73.6 kW. Neighborhood House offers education opportunities, gathering spaces, and social services for the High Point neighborhood.
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First office
Having worked out of their homes and trucks for the first three years, the guys finally secure office space in the Sodo neighborhood of Seattle.
2011 -
First electrician hire
Jason Budgeon is A&R’s first full-time electrician. Today, Jason is a lead electrician and site supervisor, focusing on commercial installations.
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Solarize
A&R participates in Solarize Northeast, a grassroots campaign that brings solar to 52 Seattle homes.
2012 -
Milestone
A&R Solar hits 100 projects of solar PV and solar hot water
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Business for Good
A&R Solar completes the process of becoming a Certified B Corporation, a new type of company that values planet and people alongside profit.
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Financial milestone
A&R Solar hits $1 million in annual revenue for the first time.
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An office…and a warehouse
With more employees, the company needs more space. They raise money through a crowdfunding nonprofit (they repaid the loan in full) to build out the office and warehouse on 1st Avenue South, directly across from Starbucks headquarters.
2013 -
National recognition
We are awarded SunPower’s prestigious Intelegant Award for Excellence, a national award going to only one solar project in the country. The project features a 11.76-kilowatt solar power system at Romerkoff Farms on Bainbridge Island.
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Another milestone
A&R Solar hits one megawatt in solar installations in both residential and commercial projects. The average home installation in 2013 was 5.71 kWs.
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Last solar hot water installation
We install our final solar hot water project. The cost of solar panels has fallen to a point where it makes more sense for homeowners to install solar panels to heat not only their water but to help offset their entire energy usage.
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Installing on the Grow Community
We complete the first installations for the Grow Community on Bainbridge Island. Since then, this award-winning green neighborhood–made up of single-family homes and multi-family rentals–has grown to more than 300 kWs of solar and nearly 2,000 solar panels.
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Fastest growing company
We appear for the first time on the list of Puget Sound Business Journal’s Fastest Growing Private Companies for 2013. We will appear on this list several times over the years.
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Growing the industry
A&R Solar is a founding member of Solar Installers of Washington, formed to educate legislators and regulators while promoting public understanding about the impacts of policies related to solar energy in the State of Washington. The organization, now WASEIA, has since become an official chapter of the national Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
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Solar heats up
We install a record number of solar PV systems and add eight more full-time employees as solar begins to gain traction in Washington State.
2014 -
Affordable housing
A&R Solar is selected as the contractor to install Capitol Hill’s first community solar project to benefit the Holiday Apartments affordable housing community. The system totals 25.92 kWs.
2015 -
Community solar
Thanks to a new state program, utility-scale community solar becomes popular in Washington, and A&R installs projects for Clark PUD, PennLight, and Avista.
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Solar heroes
As part of the Solarize Bellevue campaign, we donate a solar energy system to the KidsQuest Children’s Museum. Our installers dress up as superheroes to complete the installation.
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Expanding into Oregon
A&R becomes licensed to work in Oregon and opens our first office in Milwaukee, just outside of Portland.
2016 -
First Oregon install
With our first Oregon employees hired and trained, we complete our first Oregon solar installation in Northeast Portland on a new home that will be net zero.
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Washington’s solar production incentive is reaching its cap
With all of the interest in solar energy, the state’s financial incentive program is hitting its cap much sooner than expected, causing a slowdown in the industry. Several installers pull out of the state or close their doors.
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Biggest project to date: IKEA
We install solar on the new IKEA in Renton. It is the largest rooftop solar project in the Pacific Northwest.
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Room to grow
With employees packed into the Seattle office and spilling into the old warehouse, A&R moves from SoDo to the Mount Baker neighborhood on Martin Luther King Jr Way South. The new space offers a large warehouse and gate surrounding the yard.
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Employee owners make donations
At the end of each year, employee owners of A&R Solar make cash donations to charities that are important to them. A&R Solar now has 13 employee owners (employees are eligible for ownership after three years with the company), up from six in 2015.
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Service team created
With the number of customers now reaching into the thousands, we create the A&R Solar Service and Warranty Department, ensuring that resources are available to serve customers through the lifetime of their systems.
2017 -
Lobbying for solar
A&R Solar leads Solar Installers of Washington in a successful attempt to have the state legislature enact a new solar program that will help thousands of families and businesses install solar throughout the state.
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More recognition
The Association of Washington Business awards A&R Solar the Advance Award, which recognizes a business that has had a significant cause-oriented impact in its sector and/or community and contributed to the advancement of the economy.
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Working together for a better future
A&R joins the Amicus Solar Cooperative, a member-owned purchasing cooperative of high-quality, independent, values-driven solar energy companies that have projects in all 50 states, Washington DC, plus Canada and Puerto Rico.
2018 -
Growing in PDX
Our Oregon business grows and so does our need for more office space. We settle into a location in Northeast Portland where we can host events.
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First public SPC report
In 2012, Washington State created new type of corporate entity called a Social Purpose Corporation (SPC). This designation allows a company to prioritize environmental and social criteria above the pursuit of profit. A&R Solar was one of the first companies in the state to convert to a Social Purpose Corporation. View our latest public SPC report.
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Tesla Powerwall
We become a Tesla Powerwall Certified Installer in Washington and Oregon and install our first battery system.
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Oregon solar incentive ends
Oregon’s Renewable Energy Tax Credit program comes to a close, causing a slowdown in the market.
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From the warehouse to the White House?
We were honored to host Washington Governor Jay Inslee’s announcement to run for president. Our warehouse is usually filled with hundreds of solar panels. Today, it was also filled with hundreds of supporters of limitless clean energy. Jumping forward a few years to 2022, we will install solar on Gov. Inslee’s home on Bainbridge Island.
2019 -
Largest community solar project
We install a 615.6 kW community solar system for Snohomish PUD in Arlington. It is the largest community solar project in the Northwest.
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More legislative wins
A&R Solar leads Solar Installers of Washington to update the state’s solar net metering law; also passes legislation winning state sales tax waiver for distributed solar.
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Car dealership
A&R Solar installs solar on Audi Seattle – University Volkswagen, one of the first car dealerships to go solar in Washington.
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Becoming carbon neutral
Ever since we became a Social Purpose Corporation, we’ve been tracking our carbon footprint. Installing solar all over Washington and Oregon while running two offices and warehouses creates more CO2 emissions than we’d like. We chose to purchase carbon offsets. That means that we supported projects that plant trees, improve forest management, and capture/destroy methane gas emissions from landfills. Learn more in our annual report.
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Helping drive energy policy
Co-founder and CEO Reeves Clippard was named co-chair of an advisory committee to guide an update to Washington State’s energy strategy. Reeves will serve with representatives of utilities, industry, local government, tribes, labor unions, civic organizations representing vulnerable populations, environmental organizations, government officials and legislators.
2020 -
COVID-19
Covid-19 hits the Northwest hard, shutting down Washington construction projects for weeks. Oregon is able to continue installing during quarantine. Workers in both states must comply with regulations mandating workers wear masks.
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Charitable giving
While our daily work supports a cleaner environment, we strive to make meaningful impacts in our communities as well. In that light, the Community Impact Program was created to encourage employees to support organizations making an important difference in our communities through employee-directed donations, company matching, and volunteer hours.
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Battery milestone
We reach an important milestone—200 batteries sold and installed (no subcontracting). Many more home and business owners in the Northwest are turning to solar energy and storage solutions like Tesla Powerwall for resiliency and peace of mind.
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100,000 solar panels
We surpassed 100,000 installed solar panels. That represents almost 3,000 solar projects of all sizes.
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100+ employees and extension of the federal tax credit
A&R Solar reaches a milestone of over 100 employees, while the historic Inflation Reduction Act is signed into law which extends and restores the federal solar tax credit to its full rate of 30% for ten years beginning in 2022.
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Oregon’s 100 Best Places to Work
The people have spoken! We’re proud to say that A&R Solar ranked 6th on Oregon Business’ best places to work in 2023!
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Oregon Business’ 100 Best Green Workplaces in Oregon
We’re proud to have made it on the list of Oregon Business’ 100 best green workplaces! From day-to-day efforts to long-term strategies to realize our green mission, A&R Solar is committed to improving our sustainability goals.
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Puget Sound Business Journal’s Best Places to Work
We’re happy that A&R Solar has once again been voted by our employees as one of the Best Workplaces in Washington!
