From Valet Parking to Energy Independence: Why I Built a Solar Company to Do Things Differently
By Andres Pena, Founder of Starlight Energy
8/10/20266 min read
If you told me years ago that I would spend my life helping families produce their own electricity from the sun, I probably wouldn’t have believed you.
Right out of high school, my brother and I had no real plan for our future. Like many young people, we were trying to figure out what direction our lives should take. We decided to enroll in an electrical trade school. At the time, it just seemed like a practical decision—learning a trade that would keep us employed.
But that decision changed my life.
After finishing school, the first company that hired us was SunPower, one of the biggest solar companies in the world. That job introduced me to something I had never really thought about before: the incredible potential of solar energy.
And from that moment on, I was hooked.
Before Solar: Three Jobs and No Clear Direction
Before entering the solar industry, my life looked very different.
During the day I worked selling San Francisco 49ers merchandise at Levi's Stadium.
Sometimes I worked as a valet for employees at Apple Inc. in Cupertino.
In the evenings, I taught kids how to swim.
I was working constantly, but I didn’t feel like I was building something meaningful.
Solar changed that.
Once I began installing solar systems, I realized this wasn’t just another job. This was an industry that could genuinely change the way people live.
Electricity powers everything in our lives—and solar gives people the ability to produce it themselves.
Why I Started Starlight Energy
After working in the industry for years, I began hearing the same stories again and again.
Homeowners would tell me:
“Our solar company went out of business.”
“No one answers the phone anymore.”
“Our system stopped working and nobody will help.”
The truth is that the solar industry has a reputation problem.
Too many companies chase quick profits. They install systems, collect the money, and disappear when problems arise.
Eventually lawsuits pile up, the company shuts down, and homeowners are left with systems that don’t work.
I couldn’t stand seeing that happen.
That’s why I started Starlight Energy.
My mission was simple:
Build a solar company that doesn’t run away from problems.
If something goes wrong, we fix it.
If a customer calls, we answer.
We stand by our work.
The Hardest Moment in My Journey
Starting a company is never easy.
There was a moment when things became incredibly difficult. I was spending all my time trying to build the business, but financially things were tight.
There was a point where I couldn’t even pay my mortgage.
I seriously considered giving up and going back to working for someone else until I got back on my feet.
But I stayed committed.
And somehow, things started turning around. The right people came into my life at the right moments. Projects started coming in.
Looking back now, that struggle was necessary. It shaped the way I run my business today.
A Decade in Solar: Thousands of Systems Installed
Over the last 10+ years, I’ve installed thousands of solar systems.
From small residential rooftops to large commercial and utility-scale projects, I’ve seen almost every situation you can imagine.
One of the largest projects I worked on involved repairing a central inverter on a utility project in Colorado that supported over 1 megawatt of solar generation.
Another technically demanding job was rewiring a solar installation on an Amazon building.
The original installers ran 3/0 wire to distribution panels on the roof, which wasn’t sufficient for the load requirements. We had to replace it with 250 kcmil wire, which is extremely heavy and difficult to pull through conduit.
Jobs like that require serious electrical knowledge and experience.
Solar installation isn’t just putting panels on a roof.
It’s electrical engineering.
The Biggest Mistakes Homeowners Make Going Solar
After working on thousands of systems, I’ve noticed a few common mistakes homeowners make.
1. Not installing enough solar
Many people only size their system for their current usage.
But electricity usage almost always increases.
Families grow. Electric vehicles arrive. Homes become fully electric.
If you don’t plan ahead, you’ll end up wishing you installed more solar.
2. Believing solar is “free”
One of the biggest myths in the industry is the phrase:
“Solar is free.”
Nothing is free.
Solar can absolutely save you money, but there is still a cost involved in building the system.
Anyone who says otherwise is being misleading.
3. Thinking solar will eliminate your utility bill forever
Many sales reps promise customers they will never pay a utility bill again.
That’s unrealistic.
Systems require maintenance. Panels get dirty. Inverters eventually need replacement.
Solar drastically reduces electricity costs—but responsible companies are honest about long-term realities.
A Fremont Homeowner Who Was Paying $500 a Month
One of my favorite success stories happened with a homeowner in Fremont.
Before installing solar, he was paying over $500 per month to Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
After installing solar, his bill dropped to about $10–$30 per month.
But what’s interesting isn’t just the savings.
Because his electricity costs dropped so dramatically, he started exploring other energy technologies for his home. Every year he’s excited about adding something new—smart home systems, energy upgrades, and efficiency improvements.
Solar didn’t just lower his bill.
It changed the way he thinks about energy.
Fixing a Solar Disaster in Hayward
Another case that really stuck with me happened in Hayward.
A couple had hired a solar company during the COVID boom. The company sold them a system and arranged financing through a bank.
But the installation was never completed.
The company disappeared.
The worst part? The bank was still charging the homeowners every month for a system that didn’t work.
When we heard about their situation, we stepped in and helped finish the project properly. We got the system inspected and finally received permission to operate.
Seeing their relief made the entire effort worthwhile.
A Story That Changed Me Forever
One experience I will never forget involved a homeowner in Palo Alto.
Her solar system had stopped producing power because the inverter failed after 12 years.
We replaced the inverter and brought her system back to life.
During the installation she mentioned she loved coffee. I remembered that.
A few years later I went back to visit her and brought a bag of authentic Colombian coffee.
But when I arrived, her daughter answered the door.
She told me her mother had passed away.
That moment hit me harder than I expected. I handed the coffee to her daughter and left.
I’m not entirely sure why that moment affected me so deeply, but it reminded me of something important:
This work isn’t just about solar panels.
It’s about people.
My Approach to Solar Technology
When designing systems, I prioritize reliability and transparency.
Panels
I prefer installing bifacial solar panels, which can produce energy from both sides of the panel.
Two brands we frequently install are:
REC Group
Hyundai Energy Solutions
These manufacturers have strong reliability records.
Microinverters vs String Inverters
For residential systems, I prefer microinverters.
Why?
Because they allow monitoring of each individual panel. If one panel underperforms, we can see it immediately.
For large commercial systems, string inverters still make sense due to scale.
But homeowners deserve detailed monitoring and transparency.
Why Batteries Are Becoming Essential in California
Energy storage is becoming critical in California.
Utility electricity rates continue to rise, and time-of-use pricing means electricity is far more expensive during peak hours.
Batteries allow homeowners to:
Store solar energy during the day
Use it during expensive evening hours
Reduce reliance on the grid
In my opinion, batteries will play a massive role in the future of energy.
Why Solar Makes Sense in San Jose and the Bay Area
In places like San Jose, solar makes more sense than almost anywhere in the country.
Why?
Two reasons:
High electricity prices
Excellent solar exposure
Most homeowners I meet are paying $200 or more per month to PG&E.
Solar gives them the ability to lock in energy costs and gain independence from constant rate increases.
My Controversial Opinion About Solar Leasing
A lot of people in the industry argue endlessly about owning vs leasing solar.
My opinion might surprise some people.
If someone understands solar deeply, owning can be a great investment.
But if a homeowner doesn’t want to deal with system maintenance, monitoring, and repairs, a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) can be an excellent solution.
In a PPA, the solar company manages the system for the lifetime of the agreement.
That peace of mind is valuable.
The Future of Solar Energy
I truly believe solar energy is just getting started.
In the next 10 years, I believe solar could produce over 45% of global electricity.
Homes will increasingly generate their own power.
Electric vehicles will accelerate the transformation even further.
Imagine a future where homes, cars, and batteries are all powered by the same source:
The sun.
Why I Still Do This Work Every Day
The biggest motivation behind my company is simple.
Freedom.
Energy independence gives families control over something essential to modern life.
And every time we finish a project and a homeowner sees their system producing power for the first time, I see the excitement on their face.
That moment never gets old.
Every house is different. Every project is a new challenge.
And every system we install helps move the world toward a better energy future.
A Quote That Guides My Life
One quote has stayed with me for years:
“True success is based on how many people are better off because you lived.”
— Bill Britt
That idea guides everything I do.
Solar, to me, is more than a business.
It’s a way to make the world a little better.
Helping families power their lives with the sun is just one step toward that goal.
