Our standing as Best Solar Company in San Diego in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 in the UT San Diego Readers Poll - plus our industry leading 5 Star Reviews on Yelp, is testament to the quality of our team of San Diego solar power specialists.
With over a decade installing residential and commercial solar, Stellar Solar is one of the oldest and most experienced solar energy companies now operating in San Diego – we specialized in solar before it was hot!
Our contractor’s license has been active since 1998 and we put that expertise to work for you with over 7,000 San Diego residential solar panel installations, and over 20 megawatts of commercial solar installed throughout the Southwest.
We carry a C-10 contractor’s license, considered the gold standard for PV solar electric installation. Many other companies hold only a C-46 plumbing license (for solar hot water installer). We are also a Better Business Bureau accredited member and hold an A+ rating.
Stellar Solar is wholly-owned, managed and operated by the experienced team below. We concentrate our residential business here in San Diego and have the flexibility to make decisions in our clients’ best interests, quickly and effectively. We run a lean business with low overhead that enables us to offer the lowest priced plus zero down solar in San Diego.
Our solar power specialists are the best and the brightest in the industry and strive to make the process of installing solar panels on your home or business easy and educational, with no high-pressure sales pitches. Many of them left national and regional competitors to be a part of the Stellar Solar team.
Founding partner Kent Harle has over 20 years experience in electrical contracting and project management, with an emphasis in PV Solar Energy, Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management. He is a successful entrepreneur, launching Redline Performance Products and its line of Low-Emission, High-Performance Snowmobiles. He was also involved in several other start-up businesses including Energy Masters International which later became Chevron Energy Solutions. Solar power is his passion leading him to found Stellar Solar over 20 years ago. His business savvy has enabled Stellar to experience consistent growth and has positioned the company as one of the leading residential and commercial solar integrators in San Diego. Kent holds several design patents and is currently working on a new, non-penetrating commercial solar mounting system. Kent is an avid motorcyclist, riding and also collecting vintage European bikes.
Brian is an experienced electrical engineer and licensed electrician. He is a Purdue graduate, who studied at one of the world’s top PV research labs at the University of New South Wales in Australia. He began his career designing solar cells in a research & development laboratory then later moved into the field, to specialize in systems design and installation. Brian is a founding partner in Stellar Solar.
Michael is a former marketing manager at Home Depot Supply and helped to launch the national solar program at The Home Depot. Since 1999, he has been a board member of Global Energy Network Institute (GENI). In 2007, Michael was invited to speak on renewable energy at Stanford University and World Economic Forum in London. He trained in PV solar sales and installation at AstroPower (now GE Solar) before becoming a founding partner in Stellar Solar.
Annie plays an essential role in the fast-paced growth of Stellar Solar by managing our day-to-day human resource and accounting operations. She has over 15 years of experience in similar roles working for some of San Diego’s most respected businesses. Her impressive mix of analytical and people skills have enabled Stellar Solar to manage our explosive growth in a manner that has enhanced our standing as San Diego’s Best Solar Company in the UT San Diego Readers Poll. Annie, a Poway native, enjoys spending her time outside of work with her husband and three children.
David is a respected solar industry marketing professional who has been a featured speaker at the Solar Power International tradeshow on marketing residential and commercial solar. He has marketed solar all over the country for integrators and manufacturers with annual revenue from $1 -$100 million, working with any size marketing budget. He has an extensive playbook of what marketing, events, and PR produces for both commercial and residential solar and is currently heading up the Stellar Solar marketing and business development efforts. His experience is not limited to solar as he also brings 20 years of corporate and agency marketing experience to the table.
When John joined Stellar Solar in August 2006, he worked installing solar panels for residential and commercial clients. Today, he is a PV solar energy systems engineer and a CAD specialist managing the engineering team responsible for site surveys, systems design and engineering, permits and city inspections. Committed to delivering the highest quality and most efficient solar energy system that will benefit clients for the long term, he is pursuing NABCEP certification, the “gold standard” for the renewable energy industry. This certification reassures Stellar Solar customers that they have highly qualified, trained, and skilled professionals working on their behalf. On the weekends, John makes time to give back to the community by supporting local charities by competing in 5k and half-marathon races.
As a Solar Energy Consultant at Stellar Solar, Dave is passionate about providing a solution for homeowners looking to reduce or eliminate their electric bills and create their own clean energy from the Sun. In March of 2014, he surpassed the $10 million mark in sales and since then has provided over 18,000 solar panels for over 700 clients in and around San Diego, with 90% of his business coming from referrals. With a degree from Ohio State University in Business, majoring in Finance and Real Estate, Dave is able to lend his knowledge in financing to Stellar Solar customers. In his free time, he is active in the San Diego political community. He is also a founding member of the San Diego chapter of CALSEIA, which exists to promote, foster, and advance the use of solar energy systems in the San Diego region through cooperative action of the members of the local solar industry. Dave's efforts have helped to build a strong coalition in San Diego among solar installers and policy experts.
Kenny came to Stellar Solar after competing against us (mostly unsuccessfully) with a national competitor. He admired the way Stellar Solar did business and how homeowners reacted to our no-pressure, easy-to-understand, educational approach. That and Stellar's longevity in the market and repeat status as San Diego's Best Solar Company and a contact within Stellar Solar, led him to join our growing team. Kenny has over 6 years of construction project management and over 18 years of customer service experience so his style is well suited to our customer first approach. He is a member of CALSEIA and an advocate for clean, independent energy choice. He is also a member of Business Networking International (BNI) La Mesa, Synergy Chapter. Outside of work, Kenny is a frequent half marathon runner, enjoys the occasional pick up kickball game in Pacific Beach, hosting Ohio State football games at his home and spending time with friends and family, which includes his wife and two year old daughter.
Keith comes to Stellar Solar with several years under his belt as a solar sales professional and sales manager. Prior to that he was a Financial Branch Manager and Mortgage Consultant with Wells Fargo and Bank of America after attending College of San Mateo. He relocated from the San Francisco Bay Area to become part of the solar industry in San Diego. His educational, low-pressure approach to presenting homeowners with all the options available to gain energy independence fits right in with the Stellar way of doing business.
Keith enjoys all of the outdoor activities San Diego has to offer including mountain biking, motorcycle riding and playing guitar although most of his spare time is now occupied with the new addition of a baby daughter to his family.
Marc comes to Stellar Solar with 6 years of solar experience in California, 6,000 solar panels installed, and over 150 satisfied customers. A testament to his educational, no-pressure approach is that over 70% of his new business comes from customer referrals. People like working with Marc. Marc graduated from the Greco School of Business in New York, is an advocate for clean, independent energy choice, and a frequent speaker on solar-related subjects.
New England native Tom Woods developed an affinity for environmental science and renewable energy in college while obtaining his Bachelor's degree in Business Studies. Combining both his passions for the environment and business, Tom sought to enter the solar industry after graduating, so naturally, he moved to San Diego to pursue his career as an energy consultant. Tom got his start at a big-name national solar company that showed him the ropes of the industry but soon realized that he wanted to work for a smaller company that paid more attention to customer service and quality installations. He wanted to be part of the best, so when he discovered Stellar Solar and its incredible reputation, Tom knew he had found his home. Tom joined the team in 2015 and since then has helped many happy customers switch to solar. Tom truly enjoys meeting new people and guiding them on their path to renewable energy, and when he's not putting panels on roofs, you can find him hanging at the beach.
Connor started his solar career in 2010 learning the industry from the inside out, both conducting installations and managing warehouse activities. After learning the trade, he redirected his focus to interface directly with homeowners and employ his first-hand experience in the industry to educate prospective clients in a straight-to-the-facts, low pressure sales style. After working for a national solar competitor, he came to Stellar Solar in 2015 with the intention to represent a company that provides high quality solar installations with a personal touch. Prior to his career in solar, Connor earned his BA in Global Studies at UCSB and furthered his education acquiring a MBA at CSU Channel Islands before investing in a Youth Hostel and Backpackers in Baja California. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors in nature, and hitting the beach when the surf is up.
Robert has over 5 years of solar industry experience. His passion is providing his clients with an incredible experience while helping them transition to clean energy through solar power. He has helped over 400 clients go solar in the greater San Diego area, and is an active member of local renewable energy innovation groups that promote the implementation of new clean technologies. With a degree in Business from Washington State, he grew up surrounded by the outdoors which helped spark his passion for renewable energy. Previously a sales manager for some of the nations largest solar companies, his home is now with Stellar Solar. With his passion, expertise and extensive industry knowledge, you will be in very good hands with Robert.
Erin has had over 4 years in the solar industry starting from the bottom up! Her experience comes from spending several years at one the nations largest solar companies where she held her rank as the number 1 Consultant. You will find her passion engaging for choosing a greener solution for your home as she makes it an easy switch with solar! Originally from Cleveland, Oh she now loves to be close to the coast and enjoys swimming and running at the beach.
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