Future bright for solar farms in Robeson County

Sun Peeks Through in Solar – Wall Street Journal

Strata Solar Honored for Creating Jobs across North Carolina

Chapel Hill-based Strata Solar wins NCSEA Clean Energy Award

Charlotte, N.C. (October 11, 2012) – Today, the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA) honored Chapel Hill-based Strata Solar with its coveted Business Leadership Award. Over the past year, Strata has served as a leader in economic development by providing steady employment for hundreds across the state in rural communities.

By building its solar farms in clusters, Strata Solar has been able to effectively hire, train and maintain a strong workforce and, in turn, contribute to North Carolina’s growing economy. This year, 125 local employees were hired in construction, installation and engineering capacities for the six solar farms in Strata’s “southern cluster” in Robeson county. An additional 170 individuals have recently been hired for its “western cluster” of six, 6.4 megawatt solar farms in Catawba, Cleveland, Davie, Gaston and Lincoln counties.

The NCSEA Clean Energy “Business Leadership Award” was presented to Markus Wilhelm, CEO of Strata Solar this afternoon at the Making Energy Work Conference. Strata Solar was honored for its commitment to creating clean energy jobs across North Carolina. NCSEA’s annual awards are presented each fall to individuals and businesses who demonstrate outstanding innovation and leadership in growing North Carolina’s clean energy and energy efficiency industries.

“Strata Solar has shown time and again its commitment to putting North Carolinians back to work,” said Ivan Urlaub, Executive Director of NCSEA. “By focusing on training and developing valuable skills in our growing clean energy workforce of men and women across the state, Strata has provided long-term employment opportunities for hundreds of individuals.”

“It’s a privilege to be recognized among North Carolina’s leading renewable energy businesses,” said Markus Wilhelm, CEO of Strata Solar. “With hard work and the support from organizations like NCSEA, Strata has been able to develop new business opportunities and create many long term jobs in rural communities.”

Strata’s proven expertise is providing renewable energy options to consumers and utilities in the Southeast. The firm specifically offers products and services to help utility, enterprise and commercial businesses generate reliable, clean energy. Strata Solar will install more than 60 megawatts in 2012, more than all solar companies across North Carolina installed in total last year.

About Strata Solar

Strata Solar LLC is a leading provider of complete solar energy systems and installations. In addition to turnkey services for the complete design, construction and installation of utility, commercial and residential photovoltaic and solar thermal systems, Strata Solar provides a full array of engineering, procurement and construction EPC services, separately, as needed, to solar developers and companies interested in clean renewable energy. Headquartered in its LEED Silver certified office and showroom in Chapel Hill and expansive warehouse nearby, Strata Solar also has operations in California. Visit stratasolar.tronestaging.com for more information.