BrightCurrent CEO John Bourne, who used to work at SunEdison, now has 125 workers including eight at Powerhouse nearby.
“We are like the kids who came back to live at home because we love our parents,” Bourne said.
At Powerhouse’s office, a short walk from the headquarters of the music streaming business Pandora Media Inc., the decor is decidedly techy, with conference tables made from reconstituted solar panels. A replica of the Millennium Falcon sits on a coffee table, and Polaroid photos of the 107 members of the Powerhouse community are fastened to strings on the wall behind Kirsch’s standing desk.
The mood remains optimistic even with funding cuts looming. After a period of rapid growth in solar installations, SunEdison’s collapse rattled confidence. Some executives say the industry would benefit from specialists like those at Powerhouse with a sober approach to funding.
“We had this huge, huge party—it was ‘Party Like it’s 1999,’” says PVComplete’s Eyzaguirre. “A correction in this sector wouldn’t be a terrible thing.”
With assistance from Chris Martin.
This article was provided by Bloomberg News.