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SolMicroGrid Completes its Latest Microgrid Project with Chick-fil-A in California

Kirk Edelman and Chick-fil-A team members cut the ribbon

SolMicroGrid outfitted a Chick-fil-A restaurant with energy-resilient microgrid solutions, including an innovative ground-mount solar installation.

New York City and Oceanside, CA – SolMicroGrid, a leading national microgrid company, announced the completion of a microgrid project at a Chick-fil-A® Quarry Creek  in Oceanside, California.

SolMicroGrid typically leverages a combination of solar, on-site battery energy storage, and generators to enable reliable and continuous power to its clients. The project at this Chick-fil-A restaurant includes an 81 kWh battery energy storage system and has a 112 kW solar array consisting of canopy and ground-mounted modules. The project’s components are all controlled by a sophisticated energy management system which optimizes the performance and maximizes the synergies between the technologies. Due to the location’s unique, sloped terrain, SolMicroGrid approached the ground-mount installation with a technique specifically designed for rocky slopes – utilizing ground screws instead of standard concrete-poured footings.

Among other benefits, microgrid projects strategically deploy distributed energy resources to lower energy bills. The Oceanside project is expected to deliver about one-third of the restaurant’s annual energy needs at a 10% discount to grid power.

Chick-fil-A microgrid
Photo by Chris Brosan

“The combination of solar and battery storage that we provided Chick-fil-A will help reduce energy costs while also achieving sustainability goals,” said Kirk Edelman, CEO of SolMicroGrid. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to provide Chick-fil-A with renewable energy at a discount.”

SolMicroGrid and Chick-fil-A’s latest achievement comes after successful microgrid deployments at local owner-operated locations at Chick-fil-A Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa, CA and Chick-fil-A March Lane at I-5 in Stockton, CA.

“Chick-fil-A’s investment in piloting solar-powered microgrids, in partnership with SolMicroGrid, demonstrates our commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Peden Young, a principal program lead on the sustainability team at Chick-fil-A, Inc. “Harnessing renewable energy onsite at our restaurants reduces our environmental footprint, while also reflecting Chick-fil-A’s dedication to pursuing what’s next and caring for our planet.”

SolMicroGrid requires no upfront costs and provides quick-service restaurants, large franchises, grocery stores, and other building operators with customizable microgrid components that reduce energy costs and improve efficiency.

About SolMicroGrid

SolMicroGrid is a differentiated developer and operator of solar-enabled microgrid systems, offering energy resiliency and efficiency to commercial and industrial customers. The company’s service solution reduces operating expenses without the need for customer capital investment. SolMicroGrid is a portfolio company of Morgan Stanley Energy Partners. 

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David Klein

Vice President, Finance & Administration

David Klein brings more than 20 years of experience in financial planning and analysis, investor relations, mergers and acquisitions, and overall financial management. As a results-driven leader in the energy industry, he brings a wealth of financial insight and expertise to SolMicroGrid, driving growth and financial excellence.

Klein has held senior finance positions with leading companies in the energy, renewable energy, and related industries, including PBF Energy, NRG Energy, and PSEG. At PBF Energy, he served as Director of Financial Planning & Analysis, overseeing a $2 billion annual EBITDA budget. As Senior Manager of Financial Planning & Analysis at RailWorks, Klein provided critical financial oversight and strategic guidance across the organization. During his tenure at NRG Energy, Klein managed key M&A projects, strategic market analysis, investor relations, and financial planning and forecasting within FP&A.

Klein holds a BS in Management from Tulane University, A. B. Freeman School of Business.

Photo of David Klein

Barry Sanders

Managing Principal, Merle Management

Barry Sanders is the Managing Principal of Merle Management LLC and is based near Boston. Mr. Sanders advises ClimateTech clients with growth and funding strategies and tactics. He also coaches executives and key investors to maximize potential.
He is also a Columbia Technology Ventures – New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) Entrepreneur-In-Residence. Mr. Sanders currently sits on the Board of Directors of ClimateTech companies.

Prior, he launched American DG Energy Inc. in the US and EuroSite Power Inc. in the UK from start-up through IPO. He was the President and Chief Executive Officer. The companies provided Energy-As-A-Service (EaaS) in the form of electricity, heat, hot water and cooling for C&I customers. He grew business to over $350 million in contract value.

Also, Mr. Sanders served in Executive roles with MicroLogic, Inc.; Schneider Electric (Andover Controls Corp.); Thermo Fisher (Tecogen Inc.); and NYSERDA. He holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Rochester and an MBA in Entrepreneurship from the Lally Business School at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Barry Sanders

Robert Duva

Senior Vice President, Operations

Bob Duva leads our Operations and Project Management teams. He brings over 38 years of experience in construction, energy efficiency technologies, automation, and renewables. His background includes growing talented engineering teams, managing projects across the continental U.S. and Hawaii, and developing creative solutions in the fields of demand response, solar production, battery integration, and remote automation and control.

Additionally, Bob has served as Engineer of Record for many Solar projects in the NJ/CT/MA area since 2010, being Licensed in those states as a Professional Engineer, as well as NY and PA. He also holds an Electrical Contracting License in NJ.

Bob Duva

Bill Gifford

Vice President, Business Development

Bill Gifford is focused on our business pipeline, building our business development team, and exploring new opportunities to expand our network of microgrid customers. He’s a seasoned industry veteran in C&I renewable energy sales and project management. Gifford joined SolMicroGrid from Dynamic Energy where he worked in various senior business development and revenue origination roles for five years. His previous experience includes roles at SolarCity which was acquired by Tesla. Gifford started his career as a solar installer in 2015, which provided valuable hands-on experience.

Gifford graduated from Hunter College with a BA in Political Science and Rutgers University with a Master of Public Administration.

Smiling white guy in blue suit in front of blurred building

Ryan Jordan

Executive Director, Morgan Stanley Energy Partners

Ryan Jordan is an Executive Director of Morgan Stanley and is based in New York. Mr. Jordan joined Morgan Stanley in 2009 as an Analyst in the Investment Banking Division, working in the firm’s Natural Resources Group in Houston. He joined Morgan Stanley Capital Partners (MSCP) in New York in 2011 and focused on investments in the energy sector, prior to joining Morgan Stanley Energy Partners (MSEP) upon its inception as a separate investing team in 2015. Mr. Jordan currently serves on the Board of Directors of Sterling Energy, a portfolio company of MSCP, and of Specialized Desanders, M.G. Bryan, SolMicroGrid and Durango Midstream, all MSEP portfolio companies. Mr. Jordan holds a B.B.A. in Finance and the Business Honors Program from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin and a B.A. in the Plan II Honors Program from the University of Texas at Austin.

Ryan Jordan

Andrew Griffin

Executive Director, Morgan Stanley Energy Partners

Andrew Griffin is an Executive Director of Morgan Stanley and is based in Houston. Mr. Griffin joined Morgan Stanley Energy Partners in 2017 after completing graduate school. From 2013 to 2015, Mr. Griffin was an Associate at Lindsay Goldberg and, from 2011 to 2013, he worked as an Analyst in the Mergers & Acquisitions group of Bank of America Merrill Lynch. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Catalyst Energy Services, Mission Creek Resources and SolMicroGrid, all current MSEP portfolio companies. Mr. Griffin holds an A.B. in Economics, magna cum laude, from Harvard College and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where he was a Palmer Scholar.

Andrew Griffin

John Moon

Head of Morgan Stanley Energy Partners

John Moon is a Managing Director of Morgan Stanley and Head of Morgan Stanley Energy Partners (MSEP). He is based in New York and Houston and has 25 years of investing experience. Mr. Moon served as a senior member of the Morgan Stanley Capital Partners (MSCP) team from 1998 to 2004 and then rejoined Morgan Stanley in 2008.

Prior to his return to MSCP, Mr. Moon was a Managing Director of Riverstone Holdings LLC where he served on the Investment Committees of the Carlyle/Riverstone Global Energy & Power Funds III and IV. Prior to Riverstone, Mr. Moon was a founding partner, Managing Director and member of the Management Committee of Metalmark Capital LLC, which sub-advised Morgan Stanley on investments held by MSCP III and MSCP IV beginning in September 2004. He is a former member of the Investment Committees of MSCP III and MSCP IV and Metalmark Capital Partners I.

Mr. Moon served on the Board of Directors of the following MSCP Fund portfolio companies: Aventine Renewable Energy, Cantera Resources, Canyon Gas Resources, Concert Capital Resources, Triana Energy/Columbia Natural Resources, Triana Energy II and Union Drilling. He currently serves as a director of Sterling Energy and Trinity CO2, both MSCP portfolio companies, and M.G. Bryan, XRI, Presidio Petroleum, Specialized Desanders, Durango Midstream, Mission Creek Resources, SolMicroGrid and Catalyst Energy Services, all MSEP portfolio companies. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 1998, Mr. Moon worked in the Investment Banking Division of Goldman Sachs in New York.

Mr. Moon holds an A.B., magna cum laude, from Harvard College. He also holds an A.M. and Ph.D. in Business Economics from Harvard University. Mr. Moon is an adjunct professor of finance at Columbia Business School.

John Moon

David Klein

Vice President, Finance & Administration

David Klein brings more than 20 years of experience in financial planning, investor relations,  M&A, financial oversight, forecasting, and reporting to SolMicroGrid. He is an outcome-focused energy industry leader.

Klein has held senior finance  positions with leading companies in the energy/renewable energy and adjacent industries such as PBF Energy, RailWorks, and NRG Energy. He was Director of Financial Planning & Analysis at PBF Energy and managed an annual $2B EBITDA budget. At RailWorks, Klein was Senior Manager of Financial Planning & Analysis and provided financial oversight to the organization. As Manager of Strategy and M&A at NRG Energy, he led acquisition strategy and execution, conducting market analysis and identifying strategic markets. 

Klein holds a BS in Management from Tulane University, A.B. Freeman.

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Kirk Edelman

Chief Executive Officer

Kirk Edelman is focused on expanding business opportunities and driving organizational change to position SolMicroGrid for its next phase of growth. He is a driven leader and proven energy executive with a 25+ year history of success managing multi-cultural teams focused on investing in power, oil gas, natural resources, and infrastructure projects. Edelman served as President and CEO of Siemens Financial Services, Inc. where he built a $15 billion investment portfolio. He has held senior positions in financial services firms like Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein and TD Securities and has led several energy investment organizations including those within Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, and GMAC. He was the Chief Commercial Officer of Safari Energy – a leading solar company which is now part of Carlyle’s Aspen Power platform – where he helped build a $300 million portfolio of operating assets. In 2022, Edelman became the Chief Commercial Officer of Verdagy, Inc., a pre-revenue green hydrogen company before accepting the CEO position at SolMicroGrid. He started his career as an engineer with Exxon and transitioned into more senior roles with companies like Catalyst Energy, Translink Transmission and Siemens.

Edelman graduated from Bucknell University  with a BS in Civil Engineering with honors and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School  with an MBA in Finance.  Board memberships have included The German American Chamber of Commerce, New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Martin Tuchman School of Management and Cornell University’s Program in Infrastructure Policy.

Kirk Edelman