About Us

Switch provides on-site renewable energy systems that generate reliable, high-quality electric and thermal energy. We are the one-stop shop that provides the full range of services – technology, design, installation and service – necessary to put in place a complete energy system that takes full advantage of the existing renewable resources to fully meet your energy needs on an assured, long-term basis.

Switch concentrates on smaller projects – 5 megawatts or less - because we believe at this scale there is both the need and the opportunity for standardization, modularity and "ready-to-run" capability – all of which add up to ease of installation, simplicity of use and low-cost. By minimizing high-cost customized engineering and pushing for standardized design and simplified integration, we aim to make purchasing a small-scale renewable energy system as easy, affordable and reliable as purchasing a home appliance from a local retailer.

Switch is a full-service "general contractor." We identify the best-fit, most cost-effective solution for your needs. Then we oversee the complete process from design to installation and commissioning. Once the system is in place, we stand by it with long-term service and maintenance. For some examples of what we do, view our recent projects.

Because we are knowledgeable in all technologies – solar, wind, fuel cell, biomass, micro-hydro, energy storage, and hybrid combinations - and have relationships with most of the major vendors, we are wedded to neither a particular technology nor a particular vendor. We consider only technologies and components that have been commercially proven. We work closely with manufacturers, installation professionals, government agencies, and financial institutions to optimize, install, maintain, and finance your system.

System Approach

We provide systems, not individual components so that you get a complete solution. You don't have to source different components from different vendors. You don't have to worry about integrating the various components into a single, synchronized, smoothly working system.

Four principles drive our system approach:

Broad technology platform: We work with a broad range of technologies – solar electric, solar thermal, wind, biopower, fuel cell, hybrid – and vendors so that we have the flexibility to put together the optimal system for the specific need.

Commercially proven: All systems are built from commercially proven components.

Off-the-shelf: To minimize cost, we use off-the-shelf components.

"Ready-to-Run": Analogous to a home or office appliance, our systems are designed to "plug-in" and be ready to start delivering energy. Internal components interconnect simply and easily, and the whole system plugs seamlessly into the existing building or other systems.

History

Switch grew out of Scott Sklar's efforts with the Stella Group to promote the use of on-site renewable energy. Scott, a leading light in the renewable energy industry, has been a tireless and long time advocate of standardization and modularization in on-site renewable energy systems.

The response to his recent efforts with the Stella Group has been overwhelming. So much so that it was clear a new, more focused vehicle was needed. Hence the founding of Switch in 2006, a new and separate entity focused exclusively on developing and providing “"ready-to-run" on-site, renewable energy and energy efficiency systems.

Core Values

  • Integrity – We do what we commit to and commit to only those things we can do. It is essential to the success of our business that all of our stakeholders – customers, vendors, contractors and others – can trust and rely on us.
  • Innovation – We are constantly looking for better ways to meet the needs of our customers.
  • Responsibility – We are committed to the development, commercialization and broadcast use of environmentally responsible and energy efficient technologies.
  • Partnerships – The success of our company depends on the relationships we build with all of the stakeholders, including our customers, involved in making renewable energy a viable alternative to fossil fuel-based energy. We believe in the value of collaboration, and put that belief to work within our own organization as well as with everyone with whom we work.

Principals

Chris Graves, PhD, Director of Business Development.

Chris has over twenty years experience in the energy, information technology and financial industries. He developed independent power plants in Asia, the Caribbean and South America for Enron, Sumitomo and other energy companies. He has participated in over $2 billion in structured financings for energy projects. In addition to his experience in energy, he has led two start-up companies in information technology and managed the turnaround of another.

Chris is a graduate of Yale University and has a doctorate in Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Scott Sklar, Director of Research and Development.

For the last 10 years, Scott Sklar has run The Stella Group, Ltd., a strategic marketing and policy firm advancing the utilization of clean, distributed energy applications. Previously he spent 15 years running both the Solar Energy Industries Association and the National BioEnergy Industries Association. For two years prior, he was Political Director of the Solar Lobby formed by the national environmental groups, after a 3 years at the National Center for Appropriate Technology as alternatively RD&D and Washington Directors. Scott served for nine years as an energy and military aide to Senator Jacob K Javits (NY) and was co-founder of the Congressional Solar Coalition - the group that drove the early 1970's legislation for renewables.

Scott Sklar, lives in a solar home in Arlington, Virginia and his coauthored book The Forbidden Fuel: A History of Alcohol Fuels was published in 1985 and his other coauthored book, A Consumer Guide to Solar Energy, was just re-released in 2003 for its third printing. Stella Sklar, his 12 year old daughter, is a registered lobbyist on clean energy.

Kyle Teamey, Director of Product Development.

Kyle has a technical background in biofuel research and international field experience with rural electrification and energy development. He joined The Stella Group, Ltd. in early 2005 and founded Switch in 2006 with Scott and Chris. Kyle has developed renewable energy systems and services including novel systems employing underground thermal energy storage. He has been involved in projects using a wide range of technologies including solar, wind, biomass, and energy storage.

Kyle has a degree in Environmental Engineering from Dartmouth College and a Master's degree in Energy Policy and International Finance from Johns Hopkins.