SunShare Hires Minnesota's Renewable Energy Heavy-Hitters

DENVER, Oct. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Colorado-based SunShare, a rapidly growing Community Solar company with offices in Denver and Minneapolis, announced it has added four senior staff to the Minnesota Management team with the hiring of Ken Bradley, Director of Business Development; Aaron Peterson, Land Acquisition Specialist; Will Cooksey, Director of Land and Legal; and Ross Abbey, Director of Business Development and Governmental Relations.     

SunShare created the new roles to expand its management team as the company scales up in projects, customer reach and revenue.  With over 11MW in Community Solar projects built or under development in Colorado, SunShare has grown by 10 times in two years. SunShare's 11MW equals two-thirds of all the solar that has been developed in Minnesota.

Before joining SunShare, members of the new management team helped author and pass renewable energy laws, wrote solar market analysis, served in the Minnesota House of Representatives and developed utility scale renewable energy projects throughout the Midwest.

"Adding a Minnesota management team with this caliber and depth of industry experience is validation of our business model and the significance of Community Solar in the solar industry," said SunShare Founder and CEO David Amster-Olszewski. 

"In addition to its solar and wind industry background, the new team brings years of experience in public policy, law, real estate and politics in Minnesota and across the country," said Senior Vice President Jonathan W. (J.W.) Postal.  

The Minnesota office is near the Elliot Park neighborhood in Minneapolis, Postal said.  

The Solar Gardens program was developed through collaboration with the solar industry and the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, and created in response to the 2013 Solar Energy Jobs Act passed into law and signed by Governor Mark Dayton.  Xcel Energy supported the legislation and is leading a working group to flesh out details.

The law allows customers who can't or don't want to put solar panels on their homes, businesses or government buildings to buy energy from a solar array located in the community. Electricity generated by SunShare's Solar Gardens is fed into the main power grid. Customers buy a specific amount of energy from the Solar Garden and receive a credit on their bill. 

"The four of us are really excited to join SunShare. By merging our local connections with SunShare's strong track record we are ready to become a leader in the Minnesota Community Solar Market," Bradley said. 

"One of the reasons I joined SunShare is its innovative product offering for residential, governmental and business customers. SunShare offers a month-to-month pay as you go Community Solar product that immediately benefits the customers, doesn't require an upfront investment and is simple and intuitive," Abbey said.

For more information on the Community Solar Garden program, visit http://www.mysunshare.com. Customers interested in becoming a part of SunShare's Community Solar Gardens should email [email protected] or call 800.793.0786. For full bios of the Minnesota team go to: mysunshare.com/Minnesota-Solar-Gardens

SOURCE SunShare