Bright Futures
Off the Grid With Brent Hilton’s Callahan Solar…
When President Grover Cleveland pushed a button at the World’s Fair in 1893 and illuminated 100,000 light bulbs at the exact same time, the leap from a single light source to the concept of a power grid was realized, and the world was forever transformed. But in recent years, the questionable sustainability and reliability of that grid have become a flashpoint in the energy industry, and a big motivator for people seeking an alternative.
“I get lots of questions about batteries. Almost all the systems that I install nowadays do have some sort of battery component to them, whether that’s using the batteries every day fully off-grid, or using the batteries for emergency backup power when the grid is down,” explains Brent Hilton, president and founder of Callahan Solar. “The utility companies have also caused a lot of fires over the years. And so, if it’s a windy day, they’ve gotten into the habit of simply turning the power off, sometimes for days at a time. And for people who have medical issues or the elderly who need air conditioning, it can be pretty rough. So, there’s a lot more interest in general, in just having some kind of insurance with the system, so people can at least keep their critical items running.”
A 20-year-veteran of the solar industry, Hilton ended up launching his own company in 2021 and based it out of Callahan. And while at first glance it may seem like an unexpected place for company headquarters, the company has met great success. “Callahan is definitely not a booming metropolis, but Siskiyou County is really large, and there’s a big demand for solar, not just with new construction, but also with a lot of remote applications, like cabins and off-grid situations. I do a lot of bringing power to locations where there is no utility power, and where there’s often not even the option for utility power. Those are some of the ones I really get into.”
Working in remote areas has also made Hilton an expert in customization. “I do all forms of solar electric applications, but where I really specialize are the battery-based projects and installation. A lot of companies down south, for instance, are just focused on tying into the existing grid, which is really kind of plug-and-play at this point. But once you get into the design work, every project becomes unique. It’s about figuring out how much storage capacity this person needs, and how many batteries that equates to. It requires calculations like how many solar panels are needed to properly charge those batteries and still provide power to the house at the same time. There’s just a lot more that goes into the battery-based designs, and that’s where I think Callahan Solar really shines.”
Hilton himself lights up when discussing solar power. “The cool thing is, it’s a technology that works. We know when the sun’s going to rise, and we know when it’s going to set every day. So, here’s this super-reliable source of energy. And, the fact there are positive environmental impacts of the work, that’s an even bigger win. But what I find the coolest is that every system is different. Everyone has different goals, and so it’s fun to come up with these custom designs for people and install a system that makes their life better. A good example. A lot of these off-grid properties, I mean, there might be people that have been living on a generator for five years, and they’re putting fuel in it every day, but it’s what they can afford because it’s cheaper than bringing power to their property. And then they save up for a solar-based system, and I install it for them, and for the first time they have power without this giant gas bill and loud noise in the background. Those are the kinds of moments I enjoy most.”
For Hilton, he believes the future of solar – and the industry in general – is battery-based because of the independence that goes along with it. “Without a doubt, there’s going to be more and more lithium battery-based technologies incorporated into solar applications. Even taking the fully off-grid folks out of the equation, it’s about reliability. When people are paying for power from utility companies, they expect to have power. But when it gets shut off at random and the companies are like, ‘Hey, it’s windy outside. We’re going to turn the power off. Sorry, good luck,’ I feel like that’s where people are drawing the line and saying ‘OK, enough’s enough. We want to invest in something that we know will work.’” •
Callahan Solar • www.callahansolar.com
