Solar firm on way to Washougal

A company that installs solar electric panels for residential and commercial customers will soon move its operations from Vancouver to a new building in Washougal.

Sunbridge Solar plans to relocate from its 1,400-square-foot building at 706 W. 17th St., Vancouver, to a recently built, 5,400-square-foot structure at 421 “C” St., in Washougal’s Parker Landing Business Park, in September. The company will occupy half of the new building and lease the other half to KT Bell Fitness of Washougal.

Sunbridge Solar Owner and Project Manager Jordan Weisman, of Portland, said he looked for a larger site in Vancouver but could not find anything for sale that was the right size.

“The Washougal property was the best and most fitting property that I saw,” he said. “I also feel like there is some promising activity and growth right now in Washougal and (am) happy to be a part of that.”

Weisman said his company has outgrown its current space. Sunbridge Solar has four office staff members and eight field workers and sales employees. Sunbridge Solar has more than 30 clients in the Camas-Washougal area.

“We plan on hiring a few more people in 2018 and beyond,” Weisman said.

Itek Energy, in Bellingham, Washington, manufactures the solar panels. Weisman said there is currently a great incentive program in Washington State and a federal tax credit for solar panel installation.

He added that tariffs imposed by the Trump administration have increased the cost of solar modules, but only marginally for residential projects.

“I would say the cost has increased by about $500 for residential projects, due to the tariffs,” Weisman said. “The real impact was in commercial- and utility-scale solar. There are much smaller margins on utility scale projects, and price increases in modules can increase the costs to an extent that can make a project not economically viable.”

The company plans to install solar panels on their new Washougal-based building by the end of the year, Weisman said.

For more information about Sunbridge Solar, call 360-313-7190 or visit sunbridgesolar.com.

Information about the Washington State Renewable Energy System Incentive Program and federal income tax credit can be found at solarwa.org/solar_incentives.