Innovation

Northeast Solar is a certified B Corporation based in Hatfield, Massachusetts, whose goal is to partner with the utility and technology industries to provide better resources to consumers that educate and help them to be more conservative in this area. By interconnecting these industries, consumers are empowered to be more knowledgeable of energy conservation and maintain it on their own. “This technology is the future,” Greg Garrison stated. Customers are able to monitor and manage energy consumption within their own homes from mobile devices.

The company has also strived to reduce the pricing on solar to make it more appealing and affordable for consumers. In the past 7 years, Greg’s team has been able to decrease the price per watt for solar by 50% (2010 - $8/watt, 2017 - $4/watt). Northeast Solar’s goal through their innovation is to maintain an economic and sustainable business model. Giving money back to the local communities is a top priority for the solar industry. Instead of consumers sending funds to out-of-state companies for their utilities, they can instead be putting those funds back into their community in other ways by using solar energy. “In the next 20 years, Northeast Solar will be able to put approximately $10 million back into the city of Amherst alone.”

Northeast Solar is the seventh business Greg has owned and spearheaded. After graduating from the Renewable Energy Program at Greenfield Community College with his current business partner, Ann, he was approached by the founder of Northeast Solar to partner with the company. Management said, “You can create jobs, go do it.” He signed on for a 3-year contract. In that amount of time, he was capable of building a strong, diverse, and dependable team to sustain the functionality of the business. The company has grown from 3 to 20 employees since his introduction to the company. He bought the company from the original owners in 2014 and ran with it. Northeast Solar partners with technology companies based in California and services the local communities of Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties. Northeast Solar currently has the highest referral rates of any solar company in Massachusetts.

Inspiration

Northeast Solar states on their website that “We are able to respond to our clients quickly and in person. We strive to make the solar experience a pleasant one throughout the process.” The organization’s inspiration is that everything is done to benefit the client as best possible. This is what inspires Greg to lead the organization to the success it has had.

Greg's inspiration is to commit to the community and to the consumers. They engage their consumers by managing complicated paperwork so that their customers can enjoy the benefits of solar energy.

Overall impact

Since 2010, Northeast Solar has grown from 3 to 20 employees. Northeast gives back to the community by providing energy to those who are "resource poor." They educate and provide resources to nonprofits in the area. In the past several years, they have been able to positively impact seven different nonprofits in Massachusetts.

"This company is not successful because of my leadership, per se. My goal is to allow the people that work for the company to see the same mission. Having the same end goal makes all the difference. That is success," said Greg.

Business benefit

The company has provided sustainable jobs to local individuals and enjoyed continued growth. This benefit has allowed the organization to prosper as well as benefit its surrounding communities.

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Social and environmental benefit

While building and implementing this innovation in the community, Northeast Solar also takes care of their employees, which contributes to a lot of their success. Greg said himself, “It’s about the employees. I want to create success for them.” When investing in a new employee, their strategy is to start by asking, “what can I do for you?” before telling them, "this is what we need from you." They educate and empower their employees to be confident and successful past their employment at Northeast. Greg believes in providing his employees with educational opportunities, not only within the company but also in trade skills to be utilized in other parts of their lives. He has paid for several of his employees to attend school and receive certificates in industries such as renewable energy and electricity. These skills contribute to the success of Northeast and also set these individuals up for success later in life, if and when they are no longer employed by this company.

Many farms have had solar arrays installed by Northeast Solar. Happy Valley Organics in Whately, MA, the largest organic produce farm in the state, power their greenhouse with an array. Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Easthampton, MA, is a Mass Audubon Pilot Climate Action Center. They power 100% of their needs with a solar tracking array. Kitchen Garden is a certified organic farm in Sunderland, MA, and power their barn with solar energy provided by Northeast. These farms are just a few examples of organizations reducing carbon emissions by leveraging renewable energy.

Interview

Greg Garrison, President