Ali Chehrehsaz is the cofounder and CEO of TerraVerde Energy, an independent energy advisory firm helping California public agencies deploy solar, batteries, and microgrids to reduce energy costs and improve resilience.

For more than 16 years, Ali has worked at the intersection of engineering, finance, and public policy to advance distributed energy adoption across California's water and wastewater agencies, K-14 districts, and municipalities. TerraVerde supports public agencies with project feasibility, procurement, and long-term asset management.

TerraVerde is an active member of various California public agency associations, including CASH, SEC, and CASBO in education, and ACWA, CASA, and CMUA in the water sector.

In 2026, Ali was appointed by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to serve on the California Water Plan (CWP) 2028 Advisory Committee, where he advocates for integrating energy affordability, grid reliability, and distributed energy solutions into long-term water infrastructure planning. His primary focus is helping DWR address the energy requirements of California's targeted 10% increase in water supply, or 9 million acre-feet, under SB 72.

Why I Want to Join the CALSSA Board

I bring the perspective of commercial scale energy customers and practical experience turning energy policy into deployed projects.

I want to help CALSSA elevate positioning of solar and batteries microgrids as preferred infrastructure for preferring load growth in California.

Bio

Chris Soderquist is the Founder and Managing Director of New Energy Assets, LLC (NEA). Under his direction, NEA has developed more than 1,300 residential, multifamily, commercial and agricultural solar projects. In addition, NEA provides solar project advisory, underwriting and project management services to financial institutions and property developers. Chris also directs RepowerYolo, a residential solar company that has been voted Best Solar Company in Yolo County for the past eight years.

Chris has 35 years experience founding, managing, advising, capitalizing and selling companies in the clean tech, high tech, professional services and private equity industries. Prior to forming NEA, Chris was President and CEO of Octus Energy, a clean energy company that completed more than 200 energy- and water-efficiency property renovations, and Interim CEO and Board Director of Sierra Energy, a utility-scale waste-to-energy company. He co-founded and served as Managing Director of Crescendo, a luxury real estate investment firm that was acquired in 2008 by Fortress Capital (Abercrombie & Kent). Chris also created and sold a marketing strategy firm that he grew to 130 clients, and founded and directed several software companies.    

Previously Chris managed two business incubators, Technology Development Center and Venture Lab. He is an active volunteer, having served on the board of directors of the Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance, UC Davis Connect, Comstock’s Business Magazine, the Cool Davis Foundation, the Sacramento Entrepreneurship Academy, Downtown Davis Business Association, Davis Community Meals and Housing, Inventopia and the UC Davis Graduate School of Management Alumni Association. He also volunteered as a member of the Yolo Food Bank “End Hunger Yolo” Capital Campaign Committee and as co-chair of the Paul’s Place Steering Committee and Capital Campaign. Chris earned a BS from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and an MBA from UC Davis Graduate School of Management, where he subsequently served as an adjunct professor, teaching innovation and entrepreneurship.

Candidate Statement

CALSSA is a beacon, a catalyst and a ballast to my company and our industry. The collective headwinds we face as solar business owners – the “solar coaster” we endure – warrants increased focus and advocacy to ensure our industry perseveres. I have had the pleasure of serving as a volunteer director for multiple organizations, and it would be an honor to commit to CALSSA and serve solar industry colleagues as a board member.

Bio

Edmond Alberton is a veteran sales executive and business strategist with 18 years of continuous hands-on leadership across the solar and renewable energy sector. For the past 14 years, Edmond has focused on navigating, expanding, and scaling clean energy markets in California.

Starting his journey in 2008 as a NABCEP-certified and SEI-trained professional in technical design and installation, Edmond gained foundational industry experience as Founder and President of Maui Solar Project in Maui, Hawaii. Over the past decade, his career has spanned crucial nodes of the California supply chain: financing, distribution, manufacturing, and territory development. His roles include serving as Regional Sales Manager for Renew Financial (CaliforniaFIRST), Territory Sales Manager at AEE Solar, Regional Sales Manager at Inxeption Energy, and currently Western Territory Sales Manager at Mission Solar Energy.

Throughout his career, Edmond has operated at the intersection of regulatory frameworks, contractor operations, and distribution channels. He has successfully scaled C&I and residential module deployments, structured complex finance options, and onboarded hundreds of installation partners across Northern and Southern California.

Candidate Statement

Having dedicated 18 years to solar energy—with the last 14 spent directly in California's unique and dynamic landscape—I am running for the CALSSA Board of Directors to bring a balanced, practical perspective to our industry's most pressing challenges.

My path through this industry covers nearly every operational layer: from designing systems in the field as an independent business owner to scaling statewide financing programs and driving manufacturer sales strategy. I understand the everyday operational friction installers face under shifting policies, complex interconnection rules, and changing market dynamics like NEM 3.0 and evolving ITC guidelines.

California’s solar and storage industry stands at a critical juncture. Protecting contractor viability, lowering barriers to grid interconnection, expanding commercial and residential storage adoption, and defending fair energy policies require leaders who understand both high-level policy impact and granular business realities.

If elected to the CALSSA Board, I will leverage my broad supply chain experience—spanning finance, distribution, and manufacturing—to advocate for policies that foster market stability, support contractor profitability, and accelerate clean energy growth across all California communities. Thank you for your consideration.

Bio

Erin Weber Kiel brings 15 years of experience in government affairs and is known as a key influencer in California policy. Weber Kiel currently leads Qcells’ State legislative and regulatory initiatives across the nation, with a focus on advancing residential financing solutions, rooftop solar and storage deployment, grid and energy services, and domestic manufacturing. Weber Kiel draws on her experience in both federal and local government and later the private sector, as a lobbyist for California’s leading lobbying firm, Axiom Advisors. Driven by her passion for creative problem solving, Erin has a proven track record of winning outcomes for emerging industries and is uniquely skilled at coalition building. She lives in Santa Barbara, California with her husband, two sons, and puppy Rona.

Candidate Statement

I’m seeking re-election to the CALSSA Board of Directors because we need fierce and diligent advocates for our industry at this moment in distributed solar and storage policy. Although I lead Qcells’ State legislative and regulatory initiatives across the nation, I specialize in California. Prior to my role on the Qcells Government Relations team, I led California policy for Sunnova. I have experienced the impacts of a solar bankruptcy, that were in part, caused by bad decision making in Sacramento. I’m a big fan of CALSSA and the collective power of our members to innovate and deliver affordable technologies to working families and small businesses. We continue to face significant headwinds as an industry, but I’ve seen the muscle and resiliency of our member companies spur into action. So what do I bring to the table? I have solid political instincts. Drawing upon my background in both state and local government, I can provide practical advice to CALSSA staff and member companies regarding advocacy strategy with the new Governor, and other decision makers (like the CPUC). I’m a problem solver and coalition builder. One specific initiative I’m passionate about pursuing is ramping up engagements with our state representatives by organizing member companies to meet with lawmakers in-district . This sounds simple but takes time and discipline to implement at scale – allowing us to harness political power outside of the toxicity of Sacramento. In conclusion, there is no other solar/storage trade association like CALSSA in the country, and I’m dedicated to continuing to support our incredible staff and member companies so we can continue to thrive.

Bio

Jeff Spies has dedicated his career to advancing solar as the leading source of electric power generation. With 20 years of experience in solar and storage, he specializes in codes, standards, permitting, energy storage systems, racking systems, interconnection policy, and technical training for designers and installers. He is President of Planet Plan Sets, a nationwide solar and storage plan set drafting provider and he serves as Secretary for both NABCEP and the California Solar and Storage Association (CALSSA), where he chairs the CALSSA Codes and Standards Committee. Jeff is also a founding member of the Sustainable Energy Action Committee creating information guidelines for the permitting and inspection of renewable energy systems, and he serves on the UL 2703 Racking Systems and UL 9540 ESS technical committees, where he has led task groups on bonding & grounding, and corrosion. Jeff is Executive Producer of Solar Roots – The Pioneers of PV, a documentary film about the birth of the PV industry and is a frequent industry speaker and published author.

Candidate Statement

In a few weeks I will complete my fourth term on the CALSSA board and I’m writing to ask for your vote as I seek a fifth.

Photovoltaics are pure magic to me. Put a chunk of silicon in the sun, and it makes electricity. After years of studying the physics and understanding the Photovoltaic Effect, I am still amazed it works. This fascination with the magic of photovoltaics inspired me to make the documentary film titled “Solar Roots - the Pioneers of PV” which tells the true story of the birth of an industry and will be debuting in several weeks at the Solar Roots Party. I feel this photovoltaics are truly magical.

Despite the magical qualities of PV, the realities of deploying it are mired in a sea of regulatory disfunction. We need to develop an effective advocacy program to battle entrenched adversaries determined to sell dirty, expensive, centralized power to consumers. Our opponents are sophisticated using red tape and arcane legal maneuvering to implement unfair regulations and rates designed to deter and disincentivize rooftop solar energy, kill competition, and maintain profitable monopolies.

This is not acceptable. Solar customers deserve fair treatment for the value their solar and storage brings to the grid. Our industry needs dedicated champions and advocates fighting for fair utility rates, sensible codes & standards, and standardized permitting & interconnection practices. I have dedicated my career to helping make a positive contribution to the industry, and this is why I sit on two UL Technical Committees, volunteer for the Sustainable Energy Action Committee, and serve on the boards of both NABCEP and CALSSA.

Over the past 12 years, I’ve assisted hundreds of CALSSA members with codes & standards problems, mediated countless issues with code authorities, led numerous working groups to craft practical language for codes and standards, and helped educate the solar and storage industry and the building safety community on the new codes and standards.

I am convinced my work on the CALSSA board is helping the industry adapt to new regulations, reduce cost, and improve the safety of solar technology in California and beyond. I‘ve been honored to work on behalf of all CALSSA members as a tireless advocate for fair treatment from regulatory authorities and in sensible future development of codes and standards.

If allowed to continue serving on the board, I will continue to champion the growth of rooftop solar in our shared mission to replace dirty energy with clean local power for the good of all.

Thank you for your support of CALSSA and GO SOLAR!

Bio

Ravi Mikkelsen has worked in clean energy for over two decades. He started in materials science and engineering, researching fuel cells and photovoltaics, then moved into deploying large- and small-scale distributed energy projects, and finally into clean energy finance, which he calls “the Archimedes Lever” of the energy transition.

In 2020, he co-founded Atmos Financial, which partners with credit unions, community banks, and green lenders to make clean energy loans instant, transparent, and locally owned. In its first three years, it has helped finance roughly $100 million in solar, storage, and electrification through its network of more than 800 installers nationwide.

Candidate Statement

Last year I argued that California solar should stop fighting to bring back NEM 2.0 and start building a market that pays batteries and rooftop systems for what they do for the grid. This year, CALSSA helped pass bills that start that transition.

CALSSA went four for four on its priority bills this session. SB 913 lets aggregated home batteries count toward resource adequacy. SB 905 shows where the grid has room to grow. AB 1738 brings remote inspections statewide. SB 690 stops wiretapping suits over installer websites. And SB 868 legalizes balcony solar, opening the door for renters, and homeowners who can’t do a whole-home system.

Now the work moves to implementation. The CPUC has until mid-2028 to build the SB 913 pathways, and the details will decide whether customers see lower bills and installers see new revenue. I want to help ensure that those rules  work for small and mid-sized installers, not only the largest aggregators. We also need a workable fix for the solar property tax exclusion, which expires this year.

Continued work on financing and other soft costs is the other half of the equation. With the federal residential tax credit gone, the monthly payment matters more than ever. At Atmos, we work with credit unions, community banks, and a variety of low-cost capital providers to offer loans that are instant, transparent, and locally controlled. Let's make residential solar, battery, and DER systems critical grid infrastructure in California, bringing greater affordability for homeowners and improving margins and cash flow for the installers doing the work.

And a fun fact: “Ravi” means “Sun” in Sanskrit, so in a way I’ve been in solar my whole life.

Bio

Ryan Work Miller serves as Director of Product & Customer Experience at SnapNrack, a leading solar mounting and racking manufacturer within Sunrun. Holding a B.S. in Economics and a PMP certification, Ryan brings nearly two decades of clean energy experience spanning product development, operations, engineering, quality, and executive leadership. Having operated as a General Manager and Vice President, he approaches industry challenges through a broad, 360-degree commercial lens - bridging hardware manufacturing with real-world installer workflows across solar, storage, and balance-of-system technologies.

Grounded in the principles of servant leadership, Ryan believes that exceptional outcomes are built on strong, empowered teams. His motivation for driving clean energy progress comes from a lifelong connection to the outdoors. Driven by a passion for protecting our natural environment and the quality of life that California provides, Ryan is dedicated to building a smarter, cleaner, and more sustainable energy infrastructure for future generations.

Having spent his career navigating California’s dynamic clean energy landscape, Ryan recognizes both the state’s legacy as a pioneer in climate policy and the real-world friction that regulation can create for business and innovation. On the CALSSA Board, he aims to advocate for practical policies, cut through operational hurdles, and champion scalable solutions that allow clean energy businesses across California to thrive.

Candidate Statement

I am honored to accept the nomination for the CALSSA Board of Directors. My commitment to our industry is rooted in a fundamental belief that solar and energy storage are not merely alternative resources, but essential pillars of a comprehensive, resilient, and modern energy portfolio. Expanding clean, local energy generation is critical to building a more sustainable future for our communities and our children.

Having worked across virtually every facet of our industry; from hardware design, engineering, and manufacturing to distribution, sales, and field operations, I understand the end-to-end realities clean energy companies face today. In an evolving regulatory landscape with shifting net-metering structures, complex grid dynamics, and changing customer expectations, CALSSA’s leadership and legislative advocacy are more critical than ever.

If elected to the Board, my goals will focus on three key areas:

1. Promoting Whole-System Solutions: Supporting policies and standards that accelerate the seamless integration of solar, battery storage, and smart energy management hardware across residential and commercial sectors.

2. Strengthening Industry Infrastructure & Workforce: Leveraging hands-on operational and manufacturing perspective to champion practical regulations, efficient permitting/interconnection, and high standards of product safety and quality.

3. Advocating for Long-Term Growth & Sustainability: Defending the economic viability of solar and storage businesses in California so that companies of all sizes, from local installers to national equipment suppliers can thrive and scale.

There is always a better way to produce, distribute, and consume energy. I look forward to contributing my experience, passion, and collaborative mindset to CALSSA's board as we advocate for California’s clean energy future.

Bio

Adam Rizzo is one of the founding partners of Palomar Solar & Roofing. Adam oversees sales and marketing and is the lead energy consultant. Adam contributes his interest in meeting new people and helping them go solar from his Midwest roots as he is originally from Northern Kentucky.

Prior to joining Palomar Solar, Adam owned A Rizzo Group, a home improvement company that services the Cincinnati, OH Tri-State area. He transitioned the company to his brother before moving to San Diego.

Adam has been helping homeowners one way or the other for over 20 years. He has specifically been in the solar industry for the last 17 years and has personally helped over 1,200 homeowners, businesses and faith-based organizations invest in solar power. Adam’s most notable customers include Waxie Sanitary Supplies and Goodwill San Diego.

Adam is a frequent guest on local San Diego broadcasting stations; you can catch him on KOGO 600 and on The Mike Slater Show.

Fun Facts about Adam: Adam enjoys spending his free time with his beautiful wife Katie and their two sons, especially watching them surf and play baseball. Adam drove a 31-foot pink RV over 40,000 miles around the country raising cancer awareness.

Candidate Statement

I am excited to run for this seat at the board of directors at CALSSA, an organization dedicated to advancing solar energy and sustainable storage solutions in California. With a background in renewable energy and a passion for advocating clean energy policies, I am eager to contribute to CALSSA's mission of accelerating the adoption of solar technology and fostering innovative solutions for a sustainable future.

My experience includes helping start one of the oldest and most reputable solar and roofing companies in San Diego back in 2010, which has equipped me with a strong understanding of the industry challenges and opportunities. I am committed to promoting equitable access to renewable energy and supporting policies that benefit both the environment and local communities.

I look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with CALSSA members and help drive meaningful changes in California’s clean energy landscape.

Thank you for your consideration.

Bio

Ian Lochore has worked in California’s solar industry since 2007, with experience spanning distribution, manufacturing, contractor operations, sales, and executive leadership. He joined Baker Home Energy in 2014 and currently serves as Vice President and General Manager, leading one of Southern California’s established residential energy businesses.

Since becoming General Manager in 2019, Ian has helped guide Baker’s evolution from a solar-focused contractor into an integrated home energy provider offering generation, battery storage, and energy management solutions. His leadership emphasizes customer experience, operational excellence, and practical adaptation to changing markets, incentive programs, and policy transitions.

Ian brings a broad perspective shaped by nearly two decades across the solar and storage value chain. He has been engaged with CALSSA since 2016 through communication with staff and participation in initiatives affecting residential contractors across California.

Outside work, Ian enjoys life with his family and two school-aged boys, including California’s beaches, mountains, and year-round outdoor opportunities.

Candidate Statement

I am seeking a seat on the CALSSA Board because California’s solar and storage industry will play an increasingly important role in the state’s energy future.

As electricity demand grows and the grid evolves, distributed solar, battery storage, and home energy management will deliver greater value to consumers, businesses, and the grid. Yet the regulatory and operational environment surrounding these technologies is becoming more complex.

Residential contractors are heavily affected by utility programs, state policy, consumer protection requirements, and local regulations, often without a direct role in shaping them. CALSSA is essential in ensuring contractors’ experience and practical concerns are represented.

My career across distribution, manufacturing, contractor operations, and executive leadership gives me a practical perspective grounded in implementation. I have helped businesses navigate major market shifts, policy transitions, and changing customer needs, and I understand the challenges and opportunities facing California contractors.

If elected, I will be a collaborative, straightforward, contractor-focused, and long-term-thinking board member. I hope to help CALSSA strengthen its advocacy and provide members with practical tools to understand regulatory change, manage risk, and identify opportunities for responsible growth and innovation.

I would be honored to have your support.

I am President and C-46, C-10 and B license qualifier for Luminalt, a solar and battery storage design build firm I co-founded in 2004. For over two decades, Luminalt has been known for the quality of the systems we design and build and our commitment to doing the right thing. Luminalt is also known for the caliber and expertise of our diverse craftspeople.

My Luminalt colleagues and I are active members of the CALSSA Codes and Standards and Policy Committees and we also provide support for CALSSA with the CPUC, CEC, Legislature, AHJs, Fire Departments and any place else we can be of service to CALSSA. I have been an attorney and member of the California Bar for over 30 years and am Chair of the Workforce Investment Board San Francisco (WIBSF).

The decades of institutional and industry knowledge I bring to the CALSSA Board, Luminalt and this industry provides a thoughtful perspective and steady hand at this time of massive changes and challenges to our industry. I was first elected as a contractor to the CALSSA Board in 2013 and am serving my fifth term as Vice President of the Executive Committee. Thank you for taking the time to read my candidate statement and for your consideration. I would be honored to receive your vote to serve a final term on the CALSSA Board dedicated to the development of our future leaders and our industry.

Bio

Marcus Gayou is the Founder and CEO of Guyou Roofing and Solar, a diversified roofing, solar, and energy services company serving residential, multifamily, and commercial markets. With nearly two decades in solar and more than 28 years in construction, he brings firsthand experience across project execution, operations, and business leadership.

Since founding the company in 2012, Marcus has built an organization grounded in financial accountability, disciplined execution, and customer service. Having navigated multiple market cycles and major shifts in California's solar industry, he believes successful contractors must operate with the rigor, systems, and performance standards expected of much larger enterprises. His perspective combines the realities of the jobsite with the responsibilities of leading a sustainable business.

Candidate Statement

I am running for CALSSA's Board of Directors to represent the contractors who turn our industry's ambitions into real projects. We employ the workforce, serve the customers, manage the risk, and stand behind the work. Our perspective must be central to the decisions shaping California's solar and storage future.

My first priority is restoring and strengthening industry credibility through professionalism, consumer protection, and accountability. Responsible contractors should be recognized for doing things right, and our industry should hold itself to standards that earn lasting public trust.

Second, CALSSA must help members become stronger businesses, not only advocate for better policy. Good policy means little if contractors cannot operate profitably. Sound financial management, operational discipline, and sustainable business models are essential to protecting jobs and serving customers for the long term.

Third, we must embrace what comes next: storage, grid services, multifamily opportunities, and new ways to deliver value. Incentives and regulation will change; our ability to adapt must endure.

I would bring a practical, business owner's voice to the board, focused on accountability, resilient contractors, and a stronger future for the entire industry.