Power Production Management of Gainesville, FL, July 20, 2021 — The U.S. solar industry is on the upswing, thanks to a pro-renewables presidential administration and increased concern over climate change. PPM has had a front-row seat to this action, with business increasing over the last year. Solar Power World has recognized the company’s installation success by ranking PPM on the 2021 Top Solar Contractors list.
The Top Solar Contractors list is developed each year by Solar Power World to honor the work of solar installers in the United States. Solar firms in the utility, commercial and residential markets are ranked by the number of kilowatts installed in the previous year. Companies are grouped and listed by specific services, markets, and states.
“Not even COVID-19 closures and slowdowns could prevent the solar industry from installing fantastic numbers last year,” said Kelly Pickerel, editor in chief of Solar Power World. “The Solar Power World team is so glad to recognize over 400 companies on the 2021 Top Solar Contractors list that not only survived a pandemic but thrived in spite of it.”
The U.S. solar industry grew 43% in 2020, installing more solar panels on homes, businesses, and across the country than any other year on record. The residential market saw an 11% increase, which is remarkable considering the difficulties of maneuvering home solar projects through pandemic precautions. In an interview with PPM’s co-founder, Jason Gonos reflects on the past year and all of the challenges the company has faced during these uncertain times. “One of the greatest difficulties of operating during the pandemic was definitely running a construction firm with most employees being remote. The lack of guidance from State and National leadership, and a lot of mixed messages from different groups. With all of those things combined, people went through a period where they just stopped buying things.” While the world was at home waiting out the storm, thousands of small businesses like PPM were trying to figure out how to stay afloat. While the typical seasonality of the solar industry reflects a slow first quarter, “the doubling of the natural slowdown and a global shutdown created turbulence. We weren’t sure if it was naturally slowing or how bad things were going to get” (Alex Khokhlov, co-founder).
The federal government passed a two-year extension on the solar investment tax credit (ITC) at the end of 2020, which will further accelerate solar adoption across all market segments. After installing 19.2 GW in 2020, research firm Wood Mackenzie expects the U.S. solar market to quadruple by 2030. “The Pandemic really forced us to improve and become more efficient. We are very grateful that we could take a bad situation and turn it into an opportunity” (Gonos).
PPM employs 22 workers who worked together to install over 1400 kW of solar power in 2020. Since its founding in 2009, the company has installed OVER 13.5 megawatts of solar. Although there were many road bumps and obstacles along the way, 2020 was a year of growth and development for Power Production Management. With a strong sense of collaboration and determination, owners Alex and Jason alongside their team of dedicated employees were able to come out of these troubling times stronger than before.
**To read more on Power Production Management’s journey through the pandemic and 2020, check out our blog, “Local Solar Companies Feel the Effects of COVID-19”**
