News & Blog

New Facility Approved for Northeast Operations

Solar Foundations USA is pleased to announce the approval of our brand-new manufacturing, research, and administrative facility in Clifton Park, NY. The 24,000-square-foot building will replace our existing smaller NY shop and office setup in Ballston Lake, NY.

Solar Foundations’ new space will help improve and restructure its manufacturing capabilities, expand research and development, and increase overall capacity for administrative and management needs.

Stay tuned for more announcements regarding this new build in the next few months!

FAQ of the Month

A common question our engineering team has received this month is whether or not we can expand onto existing Solar Foundations USA structures. SFUSA can expand onto our existing structures. However, we ask you to consider the following before designing a project:

• Is your client going to be able to add more panels at a later date? If so, Solar Foundations USA can build the structure to accommodate a future expansion ahead of time. This process will save your company time and money as it can become expensive for our crew to mobilize the entire setup a second time only to weld some pieces and install a couple of piles.
  • For example, if your client can eventually have 36 panels, except only 30 modules can be installed right now, SFUSA can install the substructure for a 6Lx6C array with a blank column or row.
• If Solar Foundations USA schedules an install to expand onto an existing array, your company must remove the panel column closest to the expansion side ahead of time. Additional module hardware will be needed for the column removed as well as for the expansion side.
• We recommend you order modules with dimensions as close as possible to the existing ones to avoid unlike-sized rails or spacing.

Questions regarding an upcoming project that may or may not entail the need for an expansion?

Contact our team today to review different configuration options that may work for your homeowner or business.

Solar Foundations USA Exhibiting at Solar and Energy Storage Northeast

Visit us at Booth #53
June 9-10, 2021
The Westin Boston Waterfront
425 Summer St, Boston, MA 02210

SFUSA will be attending Solar and Energy Storage Northeast on June 9th and 10th in Boston, MA. Solar Foundations USA provides a full range of services including consultation, engineering and design, permit-ready plans, custom component manufacturing, and installation services. With your company’s new ground mount structure in place, you simply install the solar panels and remaining infrastructure, and the project is complete.

A common issue encountered with ground mount structures in the Northeast is the installation in difficult conditions due to dense or rocky soils as well as solid bedrock. Our crews have the ability to install our custom ground screws in any of these soil conditions by predrilling pile locations with the use of a carbide rock auger or drilling into solid rock with our down-the-hole hammer attachment.

Interested in booking a one-on-one meeting with our Sales Director, Devin Paris, while visiting the show? Follow the link below to reserve a time that works for you.

Component Highlight

Solar Foundations’ custom Inline Preset Torque Limiter improves productivity and efficiency while maintaining precise torque control when mounting solar panels to our structures. Our preset click-type torque limiter ensures that the solar panel mounting fasteners and SFUSA rail holdowns are tightened to the correct specifications.

• Slip-resistant drive adapter
• Compatible with any standard 1/2-inch chuck cordless drill
• Utilizes standard 3/8-inch drive sockets
• An audible ‘click’ indicates that the preset 120 in-lbs. of torque has been reached
• Compact design helps maintain drill balance

*$145.00 each

Please specify in the Project Data Sheet, the description in the request email, or in your company’s plan sets that you would like a torque limiter for installation. Solar Foundations USA will include the price of the 120 in-lbs. Inline Preset Torque Limiter in the initial quote.

Meet the Team

Catelyn Linendoll
Assistant Project Coordinator

Catelyn joined Solar Foundations USA in 2020 as the Assistant Project Coordinator. Before this, she dedicated a big part of her life working as an automotive technician and team leader at her previous job. You may have interacted with her in our project design department as she helps manage the project database. Catelyn is responsible for ensuring timely completion of project installation reports and miss utility or mark-out requests. She also assists in posting online content on the company’s website and social media accounts.

Catelyn likes to spend her free time outdoors. She enjoys camping in the Adirondacks, fishing, and snowboarding. Currently, Catelyn is soaking up being a first-time homeowner and has many plans for her new home that she shares with her boyfriend and their spunky Siamese cat, Zelda. Although new to the solar energy world, Catelyn takes any opportunity to expand her solar knowledge. Catch her in Boston at Solar and Energy Storage Northeast for her first-ever tradeshow.

Connect with Catelyn