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Namaste Solar: Namaste Solar Becomes Poster Child for Economic Recovery

Posted on February 17, 2009

Namaste Solar is an employee-owned solar electric company dedicated to the betterment of the planet by bringing clean, reliable, and affordable renewable energy technologies to homes, businesses, and nonprofits throughout the Front Range. Integrating both holistic and traditional business methods, Namaste Solar is the leading solar electric company in Colorado. With a values-based business model and reputation for philanthropy, Namaste Solar is a likely partner for homeowners and local businesses that want to make a positive impact on the community by purchasing a solar electric system. Namaste Solar is committed to maintaining the highest standards of environmental stewardship, customer satisfaction, employee morale, community involvement, and professional integrity.

Namaste Solar Electric snagged a starring role in the signing of the $787 billion economic stimulus package by President Obama on Tuesday.

The Boulder, Colo.-based solar service company was held up by Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and other Colorado officials as an example of how the massive legislation, billed by Obama as the largest stimulus package in the U.S. history, would create green jobs and boost the country’s production of clean energy. Namaste installed the solar panels on the Colorado governor’s mansion, as well as the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, where the signing ceremony took place.

Blake Jones, CEO of Namaste Solar, gave Obama’s introduction. Before the president signed the legislation, Jones told the story of his company, which installs solar energy systems, and said that it was on a hiring freeze and had to cut budgets in recent months. The company grew its staff from three to 60 in the last three years, but was considering laying off employees.

“This weekend I called the CEOs of other solar companies, and the overwhelming consensus was that this stimulus bill will immediately benefit companies like ours,” Jones said. “Now we have plans to increase the workforce by 20 percent this year and 40 percent through 2010.”

The testimony is an important message for Obama to send. Winning support for this stimulus package proved difficult, and Americans are pinning a lot of hopes on this mammoth spending and tax reduction plan. The Solar Energy Industries Association expects the package to create 60,000 new jobs in the solar industry this year, or 111,000 over the next two years.

The package includes tax credits, grants and loan guarantees for solar, wind, plug-in hybrid cars, advanced batteries and other renewable energy sectors.

Categories: Business

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