RAD Solar Is Spearheading Erie's Solar Revolution

Contributed photo

What sets RAD Solar apart from other solar companies is their innovative approach to solar design. Rather than take up farmland space in rural areas, RAD's creative solution works solar panels into pre-existing urban structures like parking garages and storage facilities.

When solar power is mentioned, big, clunky, ugly solar panels typically come to mind. From panels mounted on roofs to arrays sprawling across fields, solar has earned a reputation for making houses stick out like sore thumbs and changing the character and landscape of rural communities. But RAD Solar is here to change that tired old image of solar energy into something fresh and innovative, using a new approach and new thinking to bring solar to the Erie area and beyond.

When Colin Russ moved to Erie in 2018, he wasn't particularly tied to the area: "I was traveling four or five days a week for work and came back on the weekends to spend time with my daughters, so I hadn't made any real effort to join the Erie community," he said. "It was just the place where I dropped my bags and did laundry."

But when the pandemic hit in 2020, he found himself grounded in Erie, working remotely instead of traveling, which gave him the opportunity to fall in love with the city. "I had more time to learn about the community I moved to, and I started meeting people who were engaged in the efforts to move the community forward," Colin stated. Much of his knowledge about the area came through reading and research, where he found that a city with so much room for opportunity was being excluded from important conversations.

"I discovered that Erie being left out of big, ambitious conversations wasn't the exception, but the rule," Colin stated, citing multiple factory deals where Erie wasn't considered that would have brought thousands of jobs to the area. "In the last two years, hundreds of companies have announced investments around the country totaling more than $600 billion to expand American manufacturing capabilities and increase domestic energy independence, but less than 0.5 percent of that is planned for Pennsylvania, with none of it in Erie."

Instead of despairing over this lack of opportunity and industry in Erie, Colin decided to fill one of the biggest needs he observed in the area through his creation of RAD Solar. After two years of part-time and weekend work dedicated to the company, they officially launched in 2023 as Erie Development and re-branded as RAD Solar in 2024 to better reflect their mission to the area.

Not all solar companies are created equal – Colin is looking to revolutionize the way we approach solar energy and take advantage of underutilized spaces: "The way solar developers approach it is all wrong – we shouldn't have to ruin farmland for energy production when we already have plenty of space." By using spaces already in existence – such as parking lots, building rooftops, and storage facilities – other, more rural areas can be left for agricultural and other natural developments.

"Our approach is different because we think about solar power differently," Colin said. "We don't see solar as a standalone solution; you have to consider the bigger picture. For us, this means using solar to improve customer experiences with amenities like covered parking and electric vehicle charging stations. It means offering companies reliable onsite power, and owners a way to generate income from underutilized spaces. But most importantly, it means ensuring our projects fit within the community instead of appearing to be a disruptive afterthought."

Colin also plans to keep production as local as possible: "We are committed to an 'Erie first' sourcing strategy, meaning we will exhaust all local opportunities for parts, materials, and labor before looking outside of the area," Colin stated. "Erie has the skills to build almost everything we need, while also being cost-competitive. We hope that the demand RAD Solar creates with area suppliers will help Erie develop a new local industry and establish a footprint in afield that is experiencing massive growth elsewhere."

Electric vehicles make up approximately 10 percent of new cars purchased and a lack of charging infrastructure can leave Erie behind when tourists with EVs look for accommodating places to travel. RAD Solar proposes installing EV charging stations in places where people live, work, and play for ultimate convenience. (Contributed photo)

When talking about electricity, electric vehicles (EVs) cannot be left out of the conversation. "With more than 3.6 million EVs on the road today and with EVs making up more than 10 percent of new car purchases, industries and businesses need to be able to accommodate these owners," said Colin. "As a community that relies heavily on tourism, this is especially important for Erie – with more than 11 million visitors each year to the Lake Erie region, most of whom arrive here by car – we risk undermining an important industry that employs thousands of people if we don't take steps to accommodate this change."

Another EV-related issue RAD Solar is trying to combat is "range anxiety," a term used for the concern people have regarding the lack of available charging stations. "Since chargers are not as prevalent as gas stations, some people have concerns about making it to a particular destination, which can deter them from going to certain places or prevent them from getting an EV in the first place," Colin said. "Our goal is to install chargers where people are already spending time, so places like shopping centers, grocery stores, movie theaters, hardware stores – you name it, we want to be there."

Colin continues, "Like solar, we need to rethink 'filling up' because what works for gas-powered vehicles doesn't make sense for EVs. Even with fast-chargers, it can still take 15 to 20 minutes to charge, and most people don't want to sit around waiting. That's why we are bringing chargers to the places where people live, work, and play. A routine trip to the grocery store transforms; it's no longer just a 30-minute errand but an opportunity to return to a fully charged vehicle. We think that if we can make charging easy and accessible it can help to minimize range anxiety."

Colin also believes that solar energy can have a major impact on Erie's local economy. "We don't generate any electricity in Erie, and that translates into $350M to $400M leaving the community every year," stressed Colin. "That's not money Penelec is making, that's just what we pay the companies supplying the electricity."

Generating electricity locally with solar would mean more local dollars staying local, which has a multiplying effect in the area: "When consumers support local businesses (non-chain/online business), every dollar spent is recirculated between two to four times and has a multiplier effect. By relying on companies outside of Erie to supply our electricity, we are losing out on hundreds of millions of dollars of economic activity in Erie every year," Colin stated. "That's equal to between 5 and 12 percent of our local economic output each year. If we can keep that money working in the local economy, imagine what that could do for Erie; it's exciting."

Colin knows that there are plenty of skeptics when it comes to solar energy, "Twenty years ago, a lot of the concerns were valid, but in just the last few years, the technology has made major strides, not just in terms of improved reliability and performance, but the pricing has improved as well. Today, solar panels don't need direct sunlight to generate electricity." Colin concedes, "It's true that panels are not as efficient on cloudy days, but advancements in technology mean that there's still a steady energy output, even under overcast skies. As for cold weather, solar panels operate more efficiently in cooler temperatures, as it increases conductivity and allows the panels to produce electricity more efficiently than in hotter climates."

With so much happening in the Erie area for revitalization and growth, it only makes sense for us to move forward in all aspects. For Colin Russ, the mission to get Erie involved in the energy transition was simple but also personal: "I've moved more than two dozen times in my life, and Erie feels like home," he confessed. "You can't find a city as affordable as Erie with all the amenities, entertainment, and resources – Erie is a hidden gem, and I love that it has so much to offer."

To learn more about RAD Solar, visit their website at rad.solar