For RPCS, 2019 has been a banner year.
The California-based solar project design and installation firm completed well over half a gigawatt in 2019 alone—an increase of more than 200% over 2018—and more than 200 projects in 19 different states. To date, RPCS has completed over one gigawatt of projects in 32 different states and Canada.
At the center of their accomplishments this year, RPCS successfully tripled its workforce, welcoming new staff members to help the company expand further into new regions and focus on building larger projects. The hiring of new staff required attention to training and development efforts to allow RPCS to grow safely, without compromising the company’s stellar reputation for quality.
“Employees are the most important asset in our organization,” says RPCS Executive Vice President of Operations Brendan Teague. “That’s why we believe in investing in their safety and development, both of which are foundational to continuing our success in the solar industry.”
RPCS expects the team to continue to evolve, innovate, and refine in the coming year as their pipeline for 2020 takes shape.
Earlier in the year, RPCS began offering customers a stocking services option with the opening of two locations in California and Texas, an endeavor that has already proved advantageous since its initiation in January. Bringing stocking operations in-house gives RPCS added levels of predictability, efficiency, and reliability to their business operations. RPCS is able to control the delivery schedule and material accuracy, eliminating schedule impacts as well as overall inefficiencies.
RPCS concurrently implemented their Safe Harbor strategy to help project developers, financers, and owners take advantage of the highest possible solar investment tax credit rate for projects built in the coming years. Their strategy allows customers to realize savings and maximize ROI by both purchasing materials directly from RPCS as well as storing them safely and cost effectively in RPCS’s storage facilities to serve projects nationwide—safeguarding project pipelines prior to the stepdown of the ITC to 26% beginning in 2020.
Among other notable achievements was the company’s recognition as a Top Solar Contractor for the second year in a row by Solar Power World Magazine, the industry’s leading resource for news and information regarding solar PV installation, development, and technology. RPCS achieved a rank of No. 15 overall out of 415 solar companies, moving up on the list from No. 18 the previous year. RPCS holds the reigning position in the state of Georgia at No. 1, in addition to being ranked the No. 15 Utility Contractor, the No. 4 Installation Subcontractor, and the No. 11 Contractor in their home state of California.
RPCS celebrated their landmark year by giving back, increasing involvement in charitable initiatives, namely helping fundraise for eReaders for the solar-powered SEGA Girls School in Tanzania, Africa, and donating to the efforts of the Youth Sports Alliance in support of RPCS Sales Director Jay Miles, whose daughter fights Leukemia with the help of the organization’s Utah chapter.
“This is such a great time to be part of RPCS,” says RPCS Chief Sales Officer Alex Smith, reflecting on the year’s successes. “We’ve been adding top talent to our team, building larger and more exciting projects, and we continue to innovate and improve the way companies design and build their single axis tracker projects. We’re very lucky to have such a strong team and a brilliant CEO leading the way.”
RPCS’s 2020 forecast is bright, with a number of projects scheduled to begin in early 2020, continuing their momentum and putting the company on schedule for another prolific year ahead.