Josh Mason, owner of BlueSky Energy, is on the roof of a home overlooking Laʻaloa Bay, the cheery blue sky smiling at him as the morning sun’s light hits newly installed solar panels.
“‘Blue Skies’ is one of my favorite songs and an inspiration for the company name,” says Josh, once he’s climbed down a ladder and is back on the ground. “And of course, a blue sky day is the best day for solar energy.”
Josh founded BlueSky Energy, a solar energy equipment supplier, in 2014 to provide access to and guidance on the best equipment combinations for meeting the energy needs of commercial, residential, and industrial clients across Hawaiʻi Island. However, his 14-year solar energy career began after graduating from Christian Liberty Academy, Keaʻau, and attending the University of Hawai‘i, Hilo.
“While working on getting my BBA Degree, I had a professor who got me into business brokerage, mergers, and acquisitions. That led to a VR business sales role at Hawaiʻi Island Intermediary, helping small business owners sell their businesses and meet their exit goals. After doing that for seven years, I needed a change,” Josh explains. Fortunately, his sister connected him to an Oʻahu-based solar company. “Over the course of three years, I went from being a sales rep there to commercial division manager.”
It was an experience that opened Josh’s eyes to the tremendous benefits of solar power. He explains that investing in solar energy can financially boost a business or home’s equity, equate to qualification for state and federal tax credits, and offset energy bills.
“That’s a benefit that is becoming increasingly relevant as more Hawaiʻi Island residents are driving electric vehicles,” says Josh, nodding toward his electric pickup truck. “A non-quantitative benefit is autonomy. On an individual basis, owning and controlling solar energy means you don’t have to worry as much about power outages. You can buy electricity from the utility service provider, but have the option to operate off the grid — partially or completely — indefinitely. On a macro basis, solar power can make Hawaiʻi less dependent on fossil fuels, moving us toward more energy independence and a more sustainable future. Why bring in fuel from somewhere else when we already have so much sunshine here?”
An ʻio, (native Hawaiian hawk) soars over Josh and the team of solar panel installers, serving as a potent reminder of why more environmentally-friendly energy sources, like solar, are so important.
“Fossil fuels contribute to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, while solar energy is clean,” says Josh, who was motivated to start his own solar energy company to expand renewable energy sources and improve solar sales techniques. “Solar can be a highly-incentivized industry. I saw how commissions can encourage salespeople to prioritize the sale over the insightful information customers need to understand their options. I wanted to change that.”
BlueSky Energy doesn’t have salespeople, so the company can focus on ensuring that the customer is well-served, which includes designing systems for their needs and investing time in educating them. What BlueSky Energy does have is Josh's expertise, who helps clients navigate the financial and legal landscape of going solar.
“When I first started out, I could train a high school graduate to install the products. It’s more complex now because of batteries, system controllers, county and utility standards, and the biggest challenge — software. That’s why I spent a year training Andrew Fujimura for the role of BlueSky’s project manager,” says Josh, stepping into the shade to dodge the sun as it rises higher in the sky. “Solar can be complicated. Electric utility service providers like HELCO are one of the major players. The others are county governments, which have jurisdiction and solar code standards, and the equipment manufacturers. BlueSky Energy brings all the players together for a better solution.”
“At BlueSky Energy, we work with equipment manufacturers whose standards support our commitment to designing systems with integrity,” says Josh, who has found that while many equipment combinations are available, solar panels, inverters, and energy storage systems are the most reliable. Solar panels use sunlight to produce electricity, inverters convert direct current electricity from the solar panels into alternating current electricity (which most businesses and homes use), and energy storage systems store the excess electricity that solar panels generate in a lithium-ion battery.
Once this installation in Kona is finally complete and Josh has ensured that the customer understands their new energy system, he will call it a day and drive back to Volcano, where he lives with his wife and their two dogs: “For most customers, investing in a solar product is a one-time experience. At the end of the day, I want to go to bed knowing that BlueSky put their interests above all else.”
Learn more at WhyBlueSky.com.
“Solar energy can make Hawaiʻi less dependent on fossil fuels, moving us toward more energy independence and a more sustainable future. Why bring fuel from somewhere else when we already have so much sunshine here?” — Josh Mason, BlueSky founder.