Our History

In 2008, just over 1 GW of solar electricity capacity was online in the United States, and Alex Blackmer, current President and co-owner of Solaris Energy, was not yet working on financing and developing solar, but was converting used vegetable oil into biodiesel fuels for schools in Costa Rica. That same year, Blackmer would bring together the project’s learnings and his unique construction past to play a pivotal role in increasing that gigawatt, creating the beginning of Solaris Energy. He formed The Atmosphere Conservancy to finance and develop a biodiesel manufacturing plant using grants and donations, for a local school to fuel their school buses. The 2008 project would turn out to be the first project of Solaris Energy’s U.S. nonprofit arm, and one of a long string of endeavors leading to the present day.

In 2009, this mission led to the modest installation of a 10 kW project for a low-income housing community. From then on, the organization found itself providing much-needed solar services to help schools, homeless shelters, churches, and other mission-driven organizations reduce their carbon footprint and save money on operational expenses. As the solar industry grew and tens of kWs became hundreds and even thousands, Blackmer foresaw creative ways to utilize new U.S. federal policy to extend solar to all types of non-residential customers through third-party financing and tax equity.
 

In 2010, Solaris Energy formed its for-profit arm to implement this expanded vision, but made sure to stay aligned with its founding values. Today, more than 15 years since its founding, the company is a Certified B Corporation and Public Benefit Corporation, ensuring its social and environmental roots continue to be instilled in its culture, partnerships, and daily work. As a values-based, long-standing developer and financier in the U.S. distributed solar and storage space, Solaris is proud to be continuing in its mission to bring solar energy to all.