Twenty years ago, Exact Solar began with a single project and a belief that solar power could make a difference for families and communities. What started as a small family business has grown steadily year after year. Over the years, we’ve become one of the most trusted names in solar energy across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.
As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, we’re proud to reflect on what this milestone means. Together with our customers, we’ve installed more than 20 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity across the region. That’s enough to power 20,000 homes at once! Over time, those systems have already generated nearly 91 million kilowatt-hours of clean, reliable electricity. To put that number into perspective, if you’d like to see what 20 MW looks like in one place, take a look at the McNeal Solar+Storage Facility in Southeast Arizona, a utility-scale project of similar size.
These numbers only tell part of the story. Behind every system is a family hoping for stability, a school investing in its students’ futures, a nonprofit redirecting savings toward its mission, or a business strengthening its future. Every panel we’ve installed has been part of something bigger: a shared effort to build a future that is cleaner, fairer, and more resilient.
In 2024 alone, more than a fifth of that total capacity came online, and we’re on track to grow even more in 2025. This progress is a reflection of the trust our community has placed in us, and it serves as a reminder of what we can accomplish when we work together.
Where Exact Solar Started
Exact Solar’s story began with a one-day course, a trip to Central America, and an unheated pool.
In 2004, when solar PV systems cost $12 to $15 per watt, our co-founders Mark and Dara Bortman made the decision to rent out their house in Philadelphia and move their young family to Costa Rica for a year. They wanted their children to experience life in a different culture, and they were open to wherever the journey might lead them.
That’s where solar energy first found them.
While in Central America, Mark came across an ad from a man named Bruce Carey, who was building solar pool heaters in the region. Intrigued, he joined Bruce on installations, learning the trade one project at a time. From those first days on rooftops in Costa Rica, Mark developed both hands-on skills and a deep respect for the potential of solar energy.
When the Bortman family returned home to Pennsylvania, Mark realized there was a gap. People wanted solar pool heaters, but no one was offering them locally. He and Dara found their first customer, sold the job, and quickly realized they’d have to learn how to install in the United States. Mark flew to Florida for training and materials, came back, and installed Exact Solar’s very first system. What began as one project soon grew into many.
In the beginning, solar PV systems were so expensive that they made up only about 10% of our installations. But as the years passed, costs came down, residential technology improved, and programs like the PA Sunshine Program, AEPS, the residential federal tax credit, and SRECs helped spark a broader market.
This is what makes Exact Solar so special. Because our company was founded before incentives made solar financially attractive, and before aggressive sales tactics began to erode public trust, we’ve always done things differently. At our core, we’ve always been guided by genuine curiosity, a willingness to learn by doing, and the simple promise to always do right by our customers.
“This is a company that you can represent proudly without hesitation. I’d sell solar systems to my mother and my sister with Exact Solar. I know the installation team is going to do a great job and leave the roof and home better than they found it.”
– Don Kane, Sales Engineer at Exact Solar
Exact Solar’s Growth Over Time
In 2021, after nearly two decades of leading Exact Solar, Mark and Dara were ready to retire. They passed the baton to Doug Edwards, who now serves as the company’s President. With a strong background in energy efficiency and renewable energy, Doug has carried forward the traditions of quality and customer care that Exact Solar was built upon, while also bringing his passion for mentoring, career development, and team growth to the company.
Under Doug’s leadership, Exact Solar has grown from a small team of 15 to more than 50 employees. As we’ve expanded, we’ve been intentional about welcoming those who share the same values, passion, and commitment to excellence that have always defined Exact Solar. That shared dedication shows through in the hundreds of verified 5-star reviews from our customers.
Along the way, our dedication has been recognized both locally and nationally. We’re grateful to have received honors such as the EnergySage Installer of the Year for Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Solar Center’s Lodestar Award, and community favorites like “Best of the Region,” “Best of Bucks County,” and Philly’s Favorite Solar Installer by the Philadelphia Inquirer. For the past four years, the Greater Philadelphia Civic 50 has also recognized our community impact, and for more than a decade, Solar Power World has consistently named Exact Solar a Top Solar Contractor. We’re proud of these accomplishments, but what means the most to us is what they represent: the trust people have placed in us, the care our team brings to every project, and the difference that trust and care have made over the last two decades.
Our growth has further strengthened our mission to educate and empower our community. Over the past few years, we’ve built an extensive library of free online resources that are accessible to anyone. These materials provide people the opportunity to do their own research, learn how solar energy works, follow the latest policy changes, and explore how going solar could benefit them, all without being at the mercy of high-pressure sales tactics. Whether or not someone chooses Exact Solar, we want them to have the clear and honest guidance that they need to make the decision that’s right for their home, business, or organization. That same commitment is reflected in our sales practices, where for 20 years we’ve maintained an educational, non-pushy approach. Our team genuinely cares about our customers, and we view every conversation as an opportunity to explore solar together and help them make an informed decision.
Today, our team continues to train, adapt, and grow so we can bring the latest technology and best practices to every project. We’ve now completed more than 2,500 installations across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, from residential rooftops to schools, nonprofits, and large commercial systems, each one approached with the same care, attention, and pride that has carried us through the past two decades.
Our Impact by the Numbers
Since 2005, Exact Solar has experienced steady growth year after year. From our earliest residential projects to systems for schools, nonprofits, and businesses across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, the numbers have added up over time to something we’re truly proud to share.
Here’s a look at how our installations have grown over time:
- 2005 – 2012: 1,600 kW installed
- 2013 – 2023: 11,734 kW installed (see more in our 2024 Energy Impact Study)
- 2024: 4,107.6 kW installed
- 2025 YTD: 2,587.2 kW installed
Altogether, our installations now add up to just over 20 megawatts of solar capacity, or 20,028.7 kW. That’s the equivalent of more than 57,000 solar panels installed over the past two decades. Panel sizes have changed a lot since we first started, smaller in the early years and larger today, but the total shows how much solar has steadily grown in our region.
Measuring Our Impact
Since 2013, we’ve reported our annual installation data through the Solar Power World Top Solar Contractors program, which tracks solar companies nationwide. By combining more than a decade of those submissions, calculating the electricity those systems have produced, and running the totals through the EPA’s Energy Equivalencies Calculator, we’re able to put real numbers to the impact of our work and share a clear picture of what it all adds up to.
Our Impact Over Time
Electricity can be measured in a few different ways, and both are important for understanding solar. The first is capacity, the amount of electricity a system can produce at any given moment. This is measured in kilowatts (kW), and in our case, the total comes to just over 20 megawatts (MW) of solar that we’ve installed over the past two decades.
The second measure is production, the amount of electricity generated over time. This is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). A simple way to think about it is like driving a car. The speedometer might tell you the car is moving 60 miles per hour, but to understand how far it has actually traveled, you need to measure the hours it’s been moving. Solar systems work in much the same way: capacity shows the speed, but production shows the distance covered.
So while 20 MW of installed capacity is an important milestone, it’s only part of the story. Over the years, the systems we’ve installed have been producing electricity day after day, year after year, adding up to something much larger. Taken together, our installations have now generated 90,922,910 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean electricity, equivalent to 90,922.9 megawatt-hours (MWh)!
That number may be hard to picture on its own, but it represents the real impact of two decades of work. In the next section, we’ll put it into everyday terms to show what that much clean energy has meant for our communities and our environment.
Our Total Environmental Impact
To measure our total environmental impact, we turned to the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator, a nifty tool that translates electricity production into familiar comparisons. Since Exact Solar’s installations have generated 90,922,910 kWh of clean electricity, that’s power that did not need to be generated by coal, natural gas, or other polluting sources.
According to the EPA’s calculations, over the past twenty years, our projects have prevented 61,087 metric tons of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere. Put another way, the electricity produced by our installations is equivalent to:
- 4,938,655,993 clean smartphone charges
- 67,855,926 pounds of coal not burned
- Taking 14,249 cars off the road for an entire year
These numbers reflect the tangible difference clean energy has already made in our region. We’re truly proud of what has been accomplished so far, and we look forward to our next twenty years of making an impact.
Looking Ahead to the Next 20 Years
As we celebrate 20 years, we’re just as focused on the future as we are on the past. Solar technology continues to evolve, and so do the needs of those that we serve. Rising energy demand from data centers, the growth of electric vehicles, and shifting policies will bring new challenges, but also create opportunities to make solar more valuable than ever. With energy storage, EV integration, and new and innovative financing options becoming an even bigger part of the conversation, we’re excited to help our customers navigate these choices with the same care and honesty we’ve always brought to every project.
Looking ahead also means continuing to stay active in our community. In recent years, our team has participated in local festivals, Earth Day events, and school fundraisers where we’ve had the chance to give back and connect with our neighbors. We’ve also partnered with workforce development programs such as OIC Philadelphia, welcoming new team members who are building lasting careers in clean energy. Moving forward, we are more focused than ever on increasing these efforts. That means showing up, giving back, and creating even more opportunities for our community to learn about solar and take part in the clean energy transition. Just as each installation contributes to a larger environmental impact, these connections add up to something meaningful.
The next 20 years will bring change, just as the last 20 did. Policies will shift, technology will improve, and the clean energy transition will continue to push forward. What won’t change is why we do this work. From the very beginning, Exact Solar has been about the people: our customers, our team, and our community. Every installation represents a family, a school, an organization, or a business that chose to take a step toward something better. Whether that choice was motivated by lowering energy bills, protecting the planet, or gaining energy independence, each decision has played a role in the progress we’re celebrating today. As we look ahead, we’re grateful for the trust so many have placed in us and inspired by the impact we’ve created together. We’re more committed than ever to carrying that spirit into the next two decades, continuing to grow, to learn, and to serve. We look forward to building the next chapter of Exact Solar’s story.
Ready to Join the Solar Revolution?
As we celebrate this significant milestone, we want to pause and say thank you. Exact Solar would not be here without the trust and support of our customers, our team, and our community. Each decision to go solar has made a lasting impact by lowering bills, reducing emissions, and helping to shape a cleaner, stronger future for generations to come. We are deeply grateful for the role each individual has played in our first 20 years.
Energy bills across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware are only becoming more expensive as demand rises. Solar gives you the power to take control, protect yourself from unpredictable rate hikes, and invest in energy you can count on. For 20 years, Exact Solar has helped our community make that switch with honest guidance, high-quality installations, and a team that cares as much about the experience as the end result.
If you’ve been considering solar, or maybe you’re just frustrated with rising energy costs, there’s no better time to explore your options. We’d love to talk with you, answer your questions, and see if solar is the right fit for your home or business.