New solar power installations plummet on Long Island

David Schieren, chief executive of EmPower Solar, a large installer in Island Park, said the fever pitch of sales in 2016 led to “customer backlash” with solar that established companies like his have worked this year to reverse. Still, he said, his sales are up 20 percent year over year. “There was consumer fatigue from customers getting door-knocked and cold-called,” Schieren said. “That sector of the market that the lease appealed to has been saturated.” EmPower has been able to grow by branching out into consumer battery systems while expanding the commercial sector of the business, Schieren said.

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EmPower Solar develops, engineers, installs, and services solar and battery systems for residential and commercial clients. Since 2003, EmPower Solar has empowered thousands of New York homeowners and businesses with 35 megawatts of distributed solar. Its vision is to create a new energy paradigm powered by clean, renewable energy for a more prosperous, healthy, and civil world. The company culture is defined by the EmPowering Way, which results in consistent 5-star customer service reviews. For more information visit empower-solar.com.