by Kelly Pickerel
Little Rock – Solar Power World Magazine today named Little Rock’s Scenic Hill Solar as Arkansas’s top solar contractor on its annual “Top Solar Contractors List”. The magazine is the solar installer industry’s leading online and print publication.
Founded by former Arkansas Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter who serves as its CEO, Scenic Hill Solar provides customized turnkey delivery of innovative solar power projects to businesses, utilities, non-profit, and public-sector organizations.
“Scenic Hill Solar is delighted to be recognized for our work on behalf of our forward-thinking clients who are utilizing clean renewable energy,” said Halter. “Our partnerships with world class organizations like L’Oréal USA and Clarksville Light and Water Company demonstrate that you can simultaneously reduce electricity costs and do the right thing for our environment by using solar power.”
In addition to ranking tops in Arkansas, Scenic Hill Solar also rocketed onto the magazine’s list of top-tier national solar companies, debuting at #22 among solar power developers nationally in its second year of operation.
"Solar Power World is very excited about the 2018 class of Top Solar Contractors," said Kelly Pickerel, editor in chief of Solar Power World. "Our 2017 list showed impressive installation numbers after 2016's huge rush to meet ITC requirements, and many companies were hesitant to show unavoidable installation dips after last year's high. We're happy to feature a strong group of thriving U.S. solar installers on the 2018 Top Solar Contractors list. These companies truly are at the top of their markets."
The “Top Solar Contractors List” is developed by Solar Power World to recognize the work completed by solar contractors across the United States. Produced annually, the Top Solar Contractors list celebrates the achievements of U.S. solar developers, subcontractors and installers within the utility, commercial and residential markets, and ranks contractors by kilowatts installed in the previous year. The 2018 list was released on July 24.
The U.S. solar market had its biggest year ever in 2016, installing more than 15,000 MW. Although installations in 2017 dropped to 10,608 MW, the total still represents 40% growth over 2015 numbers. The year-over-year downturn can be attributed to the large influx of 2016 projects rushing to meet the anticipated expiration of a 30% federal tax credit that was eventually renewed. Last year also saw uncertainty surrounding potential Section 201 tariffs on imported solar panels, which may have led to delayed or canceled projects.
The first quarter of 2018 showed a 13% growth over the first quarter of 2017, and Scenic Hill Solar will continue to contribute to the wave of increasing solar generation. By 2023, more than 15,000 MW of solar is expected to be installed annually.
Scenic Hill Solar’s success in 2017 included:
- Construction of the second largest commercial solar power plant in Arkansas (at the time of construction) and the largest by an Arkansas headquartered solar company. Utilizing over 3500 solar modules and a single-axis tracking system on 8 acres, this 1.2 MW solar power plant for L’Oréal USA’s North Little Rock manufacturing facility was completed in 49 days from construction start to production of electricity, on budget, over 3 months ahead of schedule, and without safety incidents.
- Construction of the largest solar power plant in the state of Kentucky, also for L’Oréal USA at their Florence, Kentucky manufacturing facility. Utilizing over 4000 modules mounted on the facility roof, this 1.42 MW solar power plant was delivered on time, on budget, and without safety incidents.
- Scenic Hill Solar developed, owns, and operates a 6.5 MW DC solar power plant which delivers 11,000,000 kWh of solar power per year to Clarksville Light & Water Company (the Municipal Utility for Clarksville, Arkansas) under a long-term Power Purchase Agreement. This plant is the largest solar municipal utility power plant in Arkansas and utilizes over 20,000 solar modules and single axis tracking system on 42 acres of land. This solar power plant supplies 25-percent of Clarksville’s residential electricity consumption.
