Solar Liberty
Solar Liberty is a Buffalo-based American solar company that designs, sells, installs, and leases photovoltaic energy systems.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Solar Liberty is an American solar-energy company founded in Buffalo, New York, in 2003 by brothers Adam Rizzo and Nathan Rizzo. The company operates as a developer, seller, installer, and leasing provider of photovoltaic, or PV, energy systems. Its customer base has included homeowners, commercial organizations, schools, universities, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and other public and private facilities. The company’s business is centered on delivering distributed solar generation rather than manufacturing solar panels. Its work can include system development, project installation, financing or leasing arrangements, and the deployment of arrays on rooftops, institutional properties, landfills, and other suitable sites. Solar Liberty has concentrated much of its activity in New York State, particularly Western and Central New York, while also undertaking projects in the New York City area and Northern Pennsylvania. Its headquarters are in Buffalo, with offices reported in Rochester, Albany, Corning, Syracuse, Binghamton, and Plattsburgh. Solar Liberty expanded during a period when state incentives, declining photovoltaic costs, sustainability programs, and institutional demand were accelerating solar adoption in the northeastern United States. Inc. magazine ranked the company No. 92 on its 2008 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States. In 2012, Business First ranked it the sixth-fastest-growing private company in Western New York. The company was subsequently recognized as New York State’s largest solar installer in 2018, according to company and local reporting. Its documented installations range from relatively small charitable systems to multimegawatt institutional and commercial projects. Examples include a donated 48-kilowatt array for Buffalo City Mission, the University at Buffalo’s Solar Strand installation, a 2-megawatt project for Rochester Institute of Technology, systems for Cummins Engines and Life Storage locations, and solar developments associated with municipalities and public properties. The company was also involved with a 10-megawatt system at St. John’s Annex Cemetery on Long Island, later acquired by PSEG Solar Source. Solar Liberty has also presented renewable-energy access as a social-impact issue through the Solar Liberty Foundation. The foundation has supported projects in developing countries, including solar installations or equipment for a health clinic, school, and orphanage in Haiti, solar cookers in Kenya, and donations involving Liberia and Tanzania. In 2017, Solar Liberty volunteers traveled to Kitenga, Tanzania, to help provide solar power to an all-girls school; the project was described as the first provision of electricity to the community. This philanthropic activity complements, but is distinct from, the company’s commercial solar-installation business. Solar Liberty is therefore best understood as a regional clean-energy services brand whose identity combines solar project delivery, institutional and municipal contracting, commercial deployment, and renewable-energy philanthropy. Publicly available reference material does not establish a parent company, public listing, current ownership structure, or a complete roster of present executives.
History
Solar Liberty was established in Buffalo, New York, in 2003 by brothers Adam Rizzo and Nathan Rizzo. The company entered the solar market as a project-oriented energy business, focusing on the sale, installation, and leasing of photovoltaic systems rather than on panel manufacturing. Its intended customers included homes, businesses, educational institutions, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and other facilities seeking on-site renewable generation. The company grew during the expansion of the United States solar market in the 2000s and 2010s. Its growth was recognized outside the energy sector when Inc. magazine placed Solar Liberty at No. 92 on its 2008 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States. Business First later ranked the company sixth among the fastest-growing private companies in Western New York in 2012. These recognitions indicate substantial regional expansion, although the available reference material does not provide revenue, employee, or installation-capacity figures for those years. Solar Liberty’s operating footprint developed around New York State. In addition to its Buffalo headquarters, the company was reported to have offices in Rochester, Albany, Corning, Syracuse, Binghamton, and Plattsburgh. Its installations were concentrated in Western and Central New York, the New York City area, and Northern Pennsylvania. The project portfolio included systems for both private and public customers, allowing the company to participate in commercial, educational, municipal, charitable, and community-oriented solar deployment. Among the documented projects was a 48-kilowatt system donated to Buffalo City Mission in 2010. The company also worked on a solar installation for Cummins Engines in 2013 and participated in the University at Buffalo’s Solar Strand project in 2014. Solar Strand was described as a 750-kilowatt, 3,200-panel photovoltaic array on the university’s North Campus in Amherst, New York. In the same period, Solar Liberty was associated with a 2-megawatt installation for Rochester Institute of Technology. In 2015, it worked on systems serving 27 Life Storage locations, formerly associated with the Uncle Bob’s Storage name. The company’s later work included projects connected with the Town of Holland, the City of Rochester landfill, and Monroe County in 2017. Solar Liberty was also associated with the 10-megawatt St. John’s Annex Cemetery solar system on Long Island. That project was described as the second-largest solar system in New York State at the time and was later acquired by PSEG Solar Source. The company was recognized in 2018 as New York State’s largest solar installer, according to company and local news material. Alongside its commercial operations, Solar Liberty developed a philanthropic program through the Solar Liberty Foundation. The foundation supported renewable-energy projects in developing countries, including a health clinic, school, and orphanage in Haiti; solar cookers in Kenya; and solar donations involving Liberia and Tanzania. During the fall of 2017, Solar Liberty volunteers traveled to Kitenga, Tanzania, to assist with a solar project for an all-girls school. The project was presented as the first time the Kitenga community had access to electricity. The available sources document Solar Liberty primarily as a privately held, regionally focused solar-services company. They do not establish a public listing, ticker, parent company, current ownership, or a complete history of executive appointments. Its documented legacy is the combination of New York solar contracting and project development with charitable efforts intended to extend renewable-energy access beyond its core commercial markets.
- 2018
Recognized as New York State’s largest solar installer
[2]Solar Liberty was reported as the largest solar installer in New York State.
- 2017
New York municipal and public-property projects
[1]The company was associated with solar projects involving the Town of Holland, the City of Rochester landfill, and Monroe County.
- 2017
St. John’s Annex Cemetery project
[1]Solar Liberty was associated with a 10-megawatt solar system at St. John’s Annex Cemetery on Long Island, later acquired by PSEG Solar Source.
- 2017
Solar Liberty Foundation Tanzania project
[1]Solar Liberty volunteers supported a solar electrification project for an all-girls school in Kitenga, Tanzania.
- 2015
Life Storage portfolio deployment
[1]Solar Liberty worked on solar systems serving 27 Life Storage locations, formerly associated with the Uncle Bob’s Storage name.
- 2014
University at Buffalo Solar Strand
[1]Solar Liberty participated in the University at Buffalo Solar Strand, described as a 750-kilowatt array containing approximately 3,200 panels.
- 2014
Rochester Institute of Technology solar installation
[1]The company was associated with a 2-megawatt solar project for Rochester Institute of Technology.
- 2013
Cummins Engines solar project
[1]Solar Liberty was associated with a photovoltaic installation for Cummins Engines.
- 2012
Recognized as a leading Western New York growth company
[1]Business First ranked Solar Liberty sixth among the fastest-growing private companies in Western New York.
- 2010
Buffalo City Mission solar donation
[1]Solar Liberty donated a 48-kilowatt photovoltaic system to Buffalo City Mission.
Products and positioning
A regional full-service solar-energy provider focused on photovoltaic project development, installation, sales, and leasing for residential, commercial, institutional, municipal, and nonprofit customers, with an additional emphasis on renewable-energy access in developing communities.
Residential solar
Residential photovoltaic systems
Solar Liberty sells, installs, and leases photovoltaic systems for homes. The residential offering is part of the company’s broader distributed-energy business and is designed to enable on-site solar generation for individual properties. The available sources do not specify standard system sizes, equipment brands, financing terms, or current residential product packages.
Commercial solar
Commercial and industrial photovoltaic systems
The company develops and installs solar arrays for commercial and industrial customers. Documented customers or projects include Cummins Engines and Life Storage locations. These systems form part of Solar Liberty’s project-based business, but the available references do not provide a standardized product catalog or current technical specifications.
Institutional solar
Institutional and educational solar installations
Solar Liberty has delivered or participated in photovoltaic projects for universities, schools, and other institutions. Examples include the University at Buffalo Solar Strand and a 2-megawatt installation associated with Rochester Institute of Technology. The offering is project-specific and can involve large arrays installed on institutional or campus property.
Public-sector solar
Municipal and public-property solar projects
The company works with public entities and public-use sites, including municipalities, landfill properties, and county facilities. Reported examples include projects involving the Town of Holland, the City of Rochester landfill, and Monroe County. These installations extend Solar Liberty’s activity beyond private customers into public infrastructure and community-scale renewable generation.
Renewable-energy philanthropy
Solar Liberty Foundation projects
Through its foundation, Solar Liberty supports renewable-energy access projects in developing communities. Reported activities include solar equipment for a health clinic, school, and orphanage in Haiti; solar cookers in Kenya; donations involving Liberia and Tanzania; and a 2017 electrification effort for an all-girls school in Kitenga, Tanzania.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017Kitenga Tanzania electrification project
Tanzania
The Solar Liberty Foundation organized support for a solar-energy project serving an all-girls school in Kitenga. Solar Liberty volunteers traveled to Africa during the fall of 2017 to assist with the effort.
Outcome. The project was described as bringing electricity to Kitenga for the first time.
- Solar Liberty Foundation international renewable-energy program
Haiti · Kenya · Liberia · Tanzania
The Solar Liberty Foundation funds or supports renewable-energy projects in developing nations, including a health clinic, school, and orphanage in Haiti, solar cookers in Kenya, and solar donations in Liberia and Tanzania.
Outcome. The foundation’s documented projects expanded access to solar energy and solar cooking equipment in several underdeveloped communities.
Brand decisions
2017
Expanded public-sector and utility-scale project activityStrategyBackground
Solar Liberty’s documented 2017 portfolio included municipal, landfill, county, and large cemetery-site solar projects, showing activity beyond residential and small commercial installations.
Action taken
The company participated in projects involving the Town of Holland, the City of Rochester landfill, Monroe County, and the 10-megawatt St. John’s Annex Cemetery system.
Aftermath
The projects reinforced Solar Liberty’s position as a regional installer serving public and large-site customers. The St. John’s Annex system was later acquired by PSEG Solar Source.
Recent events
- 2018
Solar Liberty recognized as New York State’s top solar contractor[2]
Other
Solar Liberty was reported as the largest solar installer in New York State, reflecting its regional installation scale and activity across residential, institutional, commercial, and public-sector projects.
- 2017
Solar Liberty volunteers support electrification project in Kitenga, Tanzania[1]
Campaign
Through the Solar Liberty Foundation, company volunteers traveled to Kitenga to help provide solar electricity to an all-girls school and an underdeveloped community.
- 2017
Solar Liberty installations include major New York institutional and municipal projects[1]
Product launch
The company was associated with solar projects involving the Town of Holland, the City of Rochester landfill, Monroe County, and the St. John’s Annex Cemetery project on Long Island.
Sources3 sources
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