Being a pioneer in any field can be a daunting task, just ask Nick Watson our VP of Operations. His love for the solar industry dates all the way back to the twentieth century. In 1997, he stumbled upon an opportunity to work with a small residential solar contractor. Between all of the challenges and the newness of the solar industry, it didn’t take long for Nick to catch the clean energy revolution bug. “I fell in love with the solar industry. It was challenging, new and nothing like anything I had done before, “said Nick. The novelty of the industry sparked his curiosity and offered him a challenge that he was eager to take on. While his enthusiasm was high, he did become frustrated with the slowness in which the industry was growing. Lucky for him, he wasn’t the only one looking for ways to improve manufacturing, installation and financing. Many changes, research breakthroughs and innovative concepts paved the way towards making solar the booming industry it is today.
While Nick worked on the front lines to help the solar industry grow, he also had the opportunity to use his expertise to help a number of non-profit organizations. Nick has helped Edward Norton and his Solar Neighbors Program, which gives solar systems to low income families after a celebrity purchases a system for their personal homes. In addition, Nick has also worked in partnership with Habitat for Humanity following Hurricane Katrina to put solar on homes in New Orleans’s devastated 9th ward. “I clearly remember how painful it was to see all of the destruction that Hurricane Katrina had caused. Churches were trashed, debris littered the streets and people had abandoned their homes. It was like being in a war zone,” Nick explained. Working with another company who donated solar panels Nick and his crew installed nine solar systems on homes that were affected by the storm. “It was sobering to see how grateful these people were for any assistance we could provide,” Nick added.
Nick’s commitment to the solar industry and his big heart are just a few of the reasons why we are glad to have him on the OneRoof Energy team. October 18th marks Nick’s one year anniversary and we are looking forward to celebrating more anniversaries and his continued accomplishments.
