RCC Solar

Fred Rugg and Kevin Holme are using the sun to energize their business.

The two Upland residents are the owners of RCC Solar, an Upland-based company that has been installing solar panels on roofs across Southern California since 2007.

"We both got sucked into this for the one and only reason that this is the coolest thing we've ever seen,"

Holme said. "We've got the sun and it can make electricity. I mean how cool is this, you make a purchase and get free electricity."

Rugg had started his company, Rugg Construction Company six years ago and was installing about 3 panels a year. Holme joined the business two years ago and RCC Solar was formed.

Now they are installing two a week with a goal of 10 to 12 a month.

"Two years ago we got serious about this and started doing trade shows," Rugg said. "90 percent of the people came up to our booth with this deer in the head lights look. Two years later, pretty quickly, 90 percent of the people are bringing their electric bills to us."

RCC Solar is located at 90 E. Stowell St. in Downtown Upland.

For more information on the company call (909) 981-7736 or visit http://www.rccsolar.com/index.htm

Read more in the business section of this weekend's Inland Valley Daily Bulletin newspaper.

From a news release from RCC Solar:

January 13, 2009 - RCC Solar announced today that they are the proud recipient of the prestigious Sunpower™ Intelegant Award, a semiannual honor given to one solar installation company on the basis of aesthetic design, quality, and performance. Dealers from around the country submitted applications with their premiere solar installation projects, in consideration for this distinguished award. RCC Solar's winning entry featured the residential installation of a 5-kilowatt SunPower™ system in Rancho Cucamonga. RCC Solar has become one of the top installers of SunPower™ products in Southern California in under two years as an authorized dealer, a rise capped by their recent promotion to Premier Dealer by SunPower™. 

Photo of the winning installation