# Cool Earth Solar

> Cool Earth Solar is a California solar company with two lives: it launched in 2006 as a venture-backed clean-energy startup chasing utility-scale power with cheap, air-inflated plastic concentrator dishes, then evolved into a locally owned residential and commercial solar installer serving the Stockton-to-Placerville corridor. Today it designs, engineers, and installs solar power and battery storage systems in-house - no outsourcing - under CEO Rob Lamkin, and has been a recognized SunPower dealer, winning national and regional dealer awards.

- **Founded:** 2006
- **Headquarters:** Stockton, California, United States
- **Founders:** Eric Cummings (Founder (2006), physicist), Rob Lamkin (CEO (joined 2007))
- **Team size:** ~23 employees
- **Products:** Inflated CPV concentrator (legacy), Residential solar installation, Commercial solar systems, Battery / energy storage
- **Notable:** SunPower 2018 Commercial National Dealer of the Year, SunPower 2019 regional award for commercial solar, Advanced to SunPower Elite Dealer status (2021)

## Products & services

- **Inflated CPV concentrator (legacy)** — A concentrated-photovoltaic system using a ~10-foot-diameter, 4-foot-deep plastic-film balloon inflated with ordinary air to focus sunlight 300-400x onto a small solar cell, using up to 400x less cell material than flat panels. Mounted on dual-axis sun-tracking rigs.
- **Residential solar installation** — In-house design, engineering, and installation of rooftop solar power systems for homeowners, with financing and leasing options.
- **Commercial solar systems** — Solar power systems for businesses, including engineering and project management delivered entirely in-house.
- **Battery / energy storage** — Home and commercial battery storage systems for backup power and energy independence.

## Achievements

- SunPower 2018 Commercial National Dealer of the Year
- SunPower 2019 regional award for commercial solar
- Advanced to SunPower Elite Dealer status (2021)
- Raised ~$23M in venture funding, led by Quercus Trust (2008 Series A)
- Developed a novel air-inflated CPV concentrator using ~2 lbs of plastic and up to 400x less solar cell material
- Technology tested with Sandia National Laboratories at the Livermore Valley Open Campus
- BBB Accredited since 2019; nearly 20 years in operation

## Latest updates

- **2024-08** — Published guidance for customers on the SunPower Corporation bankruptcy filing and what it meant for system owners.
- **2024-07** — Marked the U.S. milestone of 5 million solar-powered homes with a customer-facing article.
- **2024-05** — Announced 'Cool Earth Solar Expands Its Reach,' extending its service footprint.
- **2023-09** — Published market commentary on the outlook of California's solar market.

## Links

- Website: https://coolearthsolar.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cool-earth-solar
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/coolearthsolar

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/cool-earth-solar
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-12