Puget Sound Solar LLC, Lic# PUGETSS932MU, is an enterprise of Jeremy Smithson and Pamela Burton. Jeremy started Puget Sound Solar in 2001 with 30 years of construction contracting experience, and a desire to turn Seattle on to solar energy.What began out as a vague notion has gelled into a firm commitment to establish solar energy as a viable and permanent consumer choice.Along the way, Jeremy has become a NABCEP Certified Solar Thermal and Solar PV Installer, a Washington State certified Electrical Administrator, and a popular lecturer and teacher.What was initially a solo act is now part of a team effort, but his job description still includes providing vision and guidance to the company.
Pamela Burton was Director of the Pacifica Radio Archives before moving to Seattle in 1997, and remained in the non-profit world as the first Executive Director of Seattle Tilth until mid-2004.As the volume of phone calls to Puget Sound Solar increased, she pitched in to help and became the ‘front office’, taking messages at first, and learning solar fundamentals.Now she spends her day talking to prospective and current customers, utility people, suppliers, contractors, architects, and the like, dispensing information and advice, in addition to handling scheduling and customer paperwork.She has served as President of Solar Washington for the last four years, developing the annual Solar Tour, helping to educate the public, and working to effect public policy.
Now in its ninth year, the company continues to be a leader in the region, keeping a staff of eight busy full-time. The coming months promise more growth, thanks to our fantastic customers and crew!
Pamela
Killer 'Z's and Dutch Masters
Sean Izzarone
Sean Izzaroneattended The Evergreen State College and spent two years at San Juan College of New Mexico studying renewable energy and photovoltaics.Sean sent us his resume in early 2007, and on the strength of his academic record and teachers’ commendations we hired him mid-year to learn solar system design and estimating.He quickly became the ‘voice of Puget Sound Solar’ on the phone, and he has used his ample math skills to become the sharpest pencil in the office. When he is not handling the estimates and ordering equipment, he volunteers at a local food bank and provides periodic dinners at a local shelter, where his cooking is legendary.His cooking is legendary around here, too, and his voice can be heard on KAOShttp://kaos.evergreen.edu/ Saturday evenings from 6-8 as he hosts an excellent Reggae show, “Chant Down Babylon”.
David Lazerwitz is our project manager for the Shea Homes Trilogy installations and many other customers. David joined our company after serving in the Peace Corps and managing various projects in Guatemala. Under his direction at Trilogy we have installed over 36 kW so far. He is also developing procedures for completing and commissioning projects, and is handling all-around management duties in the field as well as hands-on work. Recently he completed training and certification for installation of Velux solar water heating systems, an exciting new entry in the U.S. market.
In the words of his team mate Michiel, 'he is intelligent, hard working, organized, and has a high work ethic'. Michiel forgot to mention 'polite'! We are fortunate to have Dave on the team.
Thomas Vroom is the second person of Dutch extraction to join our company. Thomas is a Journeyman Electrician who came to us from a background that includes organic farming and deconstructing homes with the ReStore crew, in addition to his solid electrical experience. Thomas decided to pursue a career in renewable energy systems and was just the person we were looking for; experienced, capable, thoughtful, and he is ace with equipment and conduit layout. He has organized our electrical shop and raised our level of professionalism. He has become involved in some of the solar hot water system installations in order to gain experience and knowledge in the thermal side of things. He and fellow sparky Chris make conduit installations look deceptively easy. Eventually we will lose him to an organic farm somewhere, but until then our customers get the benefit of his fine work.
Rodney Vos came to us from the Shoreline Community College PV program with a lot of experience and training as an auto mechanic. Yes, Vos is a Dutch name and no, we aren’t purposefully seeking out folks from the Netherlands, but Rod is from New Zealand, so he adds another international angle to the crew.He has shown a well developed ability to do really nice layout work, and sweats the details.Rod has completed training for Thermomax installation and recently became a certified Velux solar water heating system installer after taking their training along with Dave.
Chris Toler joined the team in September ’08.He brings additional skills and experience with all types of electrical work and is a key asset as we take on more commercial and institutional projects. His work is exemplary; a recent project that Chris installed drew rave reviews from the electrical inspector. We’re fortunate to have him in the crew.A dedicated father, Chris also has a knack for taking embarrassingly inexpensive used cars and coaxing many miles out of them before they are exhausted.
Kelly & Michiel
Michiel Zuidweg, first gen Dutch-American, worked on Waldron Island levitating wind turbines and building tree-mounted PV arrays before moving to the mainland and coming to Puget Sound Solar. 'Mac' worked with us for the last 21 months (minus a trip to the Himalayas) and helped to bring the company to a new level of efficiency. Not afraid to tackle any project, he has been a real asset. Curious to see how a PV array or wind generator is mounted on a tree? Check out www.solartreedesign.com , for examples of Michiel's work in this area. Michiel and Kelly are now out and about for some serious globe trotting, concluding with village solar powered water pumping projects in Ghana (Click Here to check out the Ghana project). Last fall he became a member of the 8,000 meter club, having climbed to 8,100 meters on Cho Oyu. Wouldn't you know it, instead of quenching his thirst for big, crazy climbing adventures, a trip to the roof of the world only made it worse! The clock, it would appear, is ticking for them and they have a few things they want to do before they are totally domesticated. Check out their blog if you want to see what they are up to.
We are located at: 5308 Baker Ave NW Seattle, WA 98107
About Our Logo
Many people notice our snappy leaping sun with the mystical eye. It is the work of the late artist Rick Griffin. Ida Griffin graciously loaned us the use of this image provided that Rick's signature appears.
