LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--8minute Solar Energy announced today that solar energy development veteran Frank DeRosa has joined the Company as Senior Policy Advisor. A founder and former CEO of NextLight Renewable Power, DeRosa was also General Manager for the Americas at First Solar, where he and his team developed over 5,000 MW of utility-scale solar energy power plants.

“Frank is a true pioneer. He foresaw the potential of solar energy when he founded NextLight more than a decade ago,” says Tom Buttgenbach, 8minute Solar Energy founder and CEO. “He was the first American to launch a viable independent solar energy development company, and we look forward to many more groundbreaking ‘firsts’ for 8minute Solar Energy, under his expert guidance.”

DeRosa’s onboarding comes at a critical inflection point—both for 8minute Solar Energy, and for the solar industry in general. “With solar energy prices finally dipping below the cost of natural gas and coal,” DeRosa says, “we no longer have to choose between affordability and sustainability. It’s an exciting time for change-makers, and I’m thrilled to be joining the best in the business.”

Thanks in part to breaking this essential price barrier, 8minute has been tapped by some of the leading utilities in California, for first-of-its-kind partnerships that will provide storable clean energy to hundreds of thousands of homes throughout the Los Angeles metropolitan area. DeRosa will be instrumental in helping keep these projects and future endeavors on the cutting edge of solar science—advising 8minute Solar Energy on the myriad of commercial, legislative, and regulatory issues facing decision makers in today’s dynamic energy market.

About 8minute Solar Energy

8minute Solar Energy ("8minute") is the largest privately-held developer of solar PV and storage projects in the United States. Founded a decade ago by President and CEO Tom Buttgenbach, 8minute has over 15 GW of solar and storage under development in California, the Southwest, Texas, and the Southeast, with more than 1.5 GW of solar power plants now in operation. The company has also developed the largest solar plant in the nation, the 800 MW Mount Signal solar farm in California. 8minute has one of the best development teams in the industry with a track record of delivering above-market profitability and strong financial returns on utility-scale solar and storage projects. For more information, please visit www.8minute.com.

Jeff McKay
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