News & Blog

Welcome to the SFUSA Team - John Bollentin

John Bollentin is a Project Coordinator and Assistant Designer for Solar Foundations USA. John holds an A.A.S. in Architectural Design and comes to us with years of experience in the field of architecture. John’s proficiency in project management, coordination, and design is a natural fit within the SFUSA team. John has vast experience with both our manufacturing and installation processes which is an asset when it comes to planning and coordinating our projects. He also has spent years as a professional photographer and has photographed many of our projects and products. 

John is responsible for working with clients to develop standard and custom project designs, drafting for the Engineering Department, and coordinating with clients to ensure a smooth process from start to finish.

Questions for John?

*SFUSA Celebrates 12 Years* 

September is where it all began and this year, Solar Foundations USA is celebrating our 12th year in business providing creative solutions for solar ground mount, canopy, and carport projects. SFUSA has grown to acquire facilities in New Castle, DE, Columbia, SC, and Ballston Lake, NY, with installation capability across the entire east coast from ME to FL, and now the state of TX. We are committed to ensuring our systems meet or exceed all of your company’s expectations. This is reflected in every stage of our process. From product engineering and design all the way through certified installation by our crews, consistently providing best in class service for you and your client is our goal. 

Get in touch with us about our solar racking systems and installation services for your residential or commercial project. We will be glad to partner with you on creating your foundations for renewable solar energy.

End of the Year Push

Here is a friendly reminder to all of our clients to send in any potential projects required to be installed before the end of the year. Our lead times vary by region and our team is doing all we can to bring in additional resources to keep installation availability flowing. 

Solar Foundations USA cannot schedule a project until the permits have been approved, the SFUSA contract signed, and the four corners of the array(s) have been staked out. Please review our Scheduling Details Brochure for more information on those required items. 

Contact our Operations Team with any questions regarding scheduling an installation.

Site Slope Feasibility

The array location is a critical piece of information that needs to be confirmed with the homeowner prior to Solar Foundations' arrival. The array location dictates matter such as engineering, materials, equipment, etc. The safety shut-off on the mini skid steer Solar Foundations uses to install the piles initiates when the ground slope is over 15 degrees (about a 32 in. drop in 10 ft.). When it is necessary to rock drill, we need to limit ground slopes to 10 degrees because of the drilling equipment (about 21 in. in 10 ft.).

Anytime the site slopes more than 10” over the east-west length of the array, we will slope the array to follow the site contour. If there is ever a reason you need the array held level, you must provide actual grade elevations of the four corners of the array. Without grade elevations, we cannot design the system level and will not have the correct product on the equipment trailer when Solar Foundations USA arrives for the installation.

Establishing an Access Route

Solar Foundations’ crews bring a full-size pickup truck and 22’ trailer (48’ combined length) to the worksite. We will need a satellite view showing how we can drive the truck and trailer to the array location (and photos if there is tight access). Please let us know if there are restrictions driving the truck and trailer off the end of the driveway to the array area.

Occasionally, the above is not possible and SFUSA needs to know ahead of time so we can budget for laborers to carry the product (usually several thousand pounds) from the truck location to the work area.

Review for a Chance to WIN!

Solar Foundations USA would love your feedback. Post a review to our Google Profile and we will enter you in the drawing to win tickets to Six Flags Great Escape in Queensbury, NY, or some Solar Foundations USA apparel!

12.96 kW in Converse, TX
This featured array in southern Texas was built for 6 panels high in landscape by 6 panel columns wide.