The Clean Energy Revolution Just Got Cleaner
From pile driving to rack installing on commercial projects, Emilie Oxel O'Leary has firsthand experience of the waste generated from solar project sites. The 10+ year solar veteran is keeping her hard hat on to clean up and green up the solar industry. Emilie has turned solar waste pain points into a complete turnkey solution for project sites. Green Clean Solar is proud to be the first woman-owned full-scope solar site cleanup company dedicated to making solar sites cleaner, greener, and clients happier with one-stop-shop waste services. Here are ten things you should know about your new partner for cleaner solar sites.
10 things to know about Green Clean Solar and our Mission
1. The Green Clean Solar Mission
Green Clean Solar LLC’s mission is to provide solutions for all the trash accumulated during the construction phase of building commercial solar sites throughout the United States. Green Clean Solar LLC will promote and support landfill diversion with local partners on the latest recycling technology while empowering a large, diverse workforce.
We are on a journey to bring the solar waste crisis to the forefront, support solar installers and their customers to protect the environment, and provide options to a cleaner, greener solar site.
- Emilie Oxel O’Leary
At 16, Emilie Oxel O’Leary, the founder of Green Clean Solar, started her first mission-driven business to help cancer patients with empowering makeovers before graduating high school and entering college. Now, after dedicating more than 10 years to commercial solar installations, helping some of the world's largest companies to reach their sustainability goals, O’Leary and her team are at it again.
2. The rate of solar waste is surging and Green Clean Solar is here to help
The demand for commercial solar keeps growing - what a wonderful thing. The U.S. solar market continues to set a growth record with 19.2 GW installed in 2020. In fact, in the next 10 years, 348 GW will be installed, a record of more than 3 times the amount installed through 2020. More efficient panels are making it more attractive for early solar adopters to switch out their older, less efficient panels.
Solar waste is reaching a tipping point, and unless we tackle this issue head-on by adopting diversion solutions, we will be in over our heads. Relying on landfills as a home for solar waste is no longer a viable option. To know only 10% of solar panels get recycled in the U.S. is to know there’s room for improvement. That 10% estimation is not accounting for the packaging materials like cardboard, wood crates, shrink wrap, and so much more. Green Clean Solar is ready to help everyone do better.
3. A woman-owned business supporting job growth
Green Clean Solar is a woman-owned business, and our place in the solar industry is one of support so everyone can grow. Having a hard-working, highly experienced, diverse crew is a big part of our company’s mission and success - it lends to our goal of expanding a much-needed skilled workforce in the renewable energy sector.
Solar installations require trade collar jobs and are one of the many positive outcomes of increasing solar demand. Solar’s growth means growth in job market growth. Solar photovoltaic installers' employment growth is projected to increase 52% from 2020 to 2030, one of the fastest-growing occupations, and we're here to support that growth.
4. Bringing 10+ years of extensive commercial solar experience
Green Clean Solar’s CEO and founder, Emilie Oxel O’Leary, has led several commercial solar installations over the years. As a result of working with major brands in commercial solar, we know all too well the type and amounts of trash leftover at a site - and we know the headaches it can create. We’re able to safely and quickly clean up a site leaving a pristine, ready to commission facility. Owners/Developers, EPCs, and General Contractors know us for our exceptional customer service, quality of work, speed, and doing a phenomenal job in the industry.
We know the value of time, the importance of a clean site, and why efficiency and competitive pricing matter.
- Emilie Oxel O'Leary
5. We support disasters related solar cleanups
As we experience increasing extreme weather events, wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, hailstorms, blizzards, and floods, we will see a greater need for panel cleanups, including removal, reinstallations, and replacements. Having a ready-to-go partner that is solar-wise and adept at a solar cleanup will make a world of difference in a disaster. Fast, clean, and waste diversion focused.
6. Green Clean Solar is a turnkey solution
Our full suite of turnkey waste services makes your solar project run more smoothly by allowing your team to focus on what’s important - commissioning. The last thing that should be on an installer’s plate is cleaning up the massive waste left behind.
Our team is professional, efficient, and fast. From the beginning to the completion of the solar project, we handle waste by getting it off your site and recycling materials everywhere we can.
“It’s empowering to look around at the massive solar project that you just put in. It’s contagiously motivating to look around at a squeaky clean site where you know your waste was either reused, repurposed, recycled, upcycled, and not need to be destined for the landfill. You pass that knowledge along to the client, and it’s gratifying to see the respect and delight on their faces. It really sets you apart.”
- Emilie Oxel O'Leary
Solar waste has become a mounting issue; it takes commitment to managing trash appropriately by finding aftermarket solutions and diverting it from the landfill. In order to keep the solar industry booming, installers and project managers need to focus on what’s important, commissioning the site. Some companies may focus only on panel removal and recycling, but we are a turnkey solution offering solutions to all trash needs.
7. We believe in delivering education and awareness about solar site waste
There aren’t many dull days in solar - there’s always something to learn, test, new tech advances to get excited about. Solar end-of-life materials are no exception. We are in the thick of it, and recovering materials will always be the right direction. The more we learn, the more we must share. We are leaders in this sector implementing the latest recycling technology and landfill diversion options. We strive always to keep the environment clean and the industry educated on solar waste. This education does not exclude providing ongoing training and education to our staff to maintain and increase their skill sets and productivity while executing stellar client relationships.
8. We help improve ESG reporting on waste
As solar projects become a bigger part of many corporate EGS goals, so too will reporting on waste materials, quantities, and final destinations. Diverting waste from the landfill is the first rule of thumb. The solar industry has opportunities to tackle waste problems in packaging materials and electronic solar panel waste. Being transparent about waste on ESG reports will help investors know you take sustainability seriously with every install.
9. We are headquartered in Georgia
We are based in Marietta, Georgia, but our clients span all along the East Coast and Southeast and Southern regions.
10. We support solar legislation
More solar, please! Our goal is to see more solar projects take place and to help solar sites achieve landfill-free status. We love solar, and we want to see more projects. We support policy that increases solar energy and policies that open up doors to waste diversion efforts to help improve the status quo and make the industry in the U.S. more circular.
The Green Clean Solar team is ready to get to work on your solar site cleanup needs. We bring the best solutions because we are the #1 solar trash pickup company. Let our team get to work for your site.
Does your site need a cleanup? Call the Green Clean Solar team now to get a quote.
Contact us at 770-229-7168, or
email us at easyclean@greenclean-solar.com