Twenty years ago, Exact Solar began in Newtown, Pennsylvania, with a single project and a belief that solar power could make a difference for families and communities. What started as a small family business has grown steadily year after year. Now considered a trustworthy name working in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, and a multi-year listee on SPW’s Top Solar Contractors List, Exact Solar is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The company has installed more than 20 MW of solar capacity across the region and completed over 2,500 projects for homes, schools, nonprofits and businesses.
Exact Solar’s origin
Exact Solar’s original team, pictured in 2018
Exact Solar’s story began with a one-day course, a trip to Central America, and an unheated pool. In 2004, Exact Solar’s co-founders Mark and Dara Bortman moved their young family to Costa Rica for a year. There, Mark joined a local installer on projects and developed both hands-on skills and a deep respect for the potential of solar energy.
When the Bortman family returned to Pennsylvania, they saw a gap. People wanted solar pool heaters, but no one was offering them locally. They found their first customer, secured the job and installed Exact Solar’s very first system. What began as one project soon grew into many.
Because Exact Solar was founded before incentives made solar financially attractive, and before aggressive sales tactics began to erode public trust, Exact Solar built its reputation differently. From the beginning, the team was guided by curiosity, a willingness to learn by doing, and a simple promise to always do right by the customer.
“This is a company that you can represent proudly without hesitation. I’d sell solar systems to my mother and my sister with Exact Solar. I know the installation team is going to do a great job and leave the roof and home better than they found it,” said Don Kane, sales engineer at Exact Solar.
Growth over time
A current team photo of Exact Solar
In 2021, after nearly two decades of leading Exact Solar, Mark and Dara retired, passing the baton to Doug Edwards, who now serves as the company’s president. With a background in energy efficiency and renewable energy, Edwards has carried forward the traditions of quality and customer care that Exact Solar was built upon, while bringing a passion for mentoring, career development, and team growth.
Under Edwards’ leadership, Exact Solar has grown from a small team of 15 to more than 50 employees. The company has been intentional about welcoming people who share the same values, passion and commitment that have defined Exact Solar from Day 1. That shared dedication shows through in hundreds of verified five-star reviews.
Along the way, Exact Solar has been recognized locally and nationally, including honors from EnergySage, the Pennsylvania Solar Center and community favorites like “Best of the Region,” “Best of Bucks County,” and Philly’s Favorite Solar Installer by the Philadelphia Inquirer. Solar Power World has consistently named Exact Solar a Top Solar Contractor for more than a decade, and the Greater Philadelphia Civic 50 has recognized the company’s community impact for four consecutive years. These acknowledgments represent the trust people have placed in Exact Solar, the care the team brings to every project, and the difference that trust and care have made over the last two decades.
“Our mission has never changed,” said Doug Edwards, president of Exact Solar. “Educate first, install with pride and support our customers for the long run. The work is about people as much as it is about the systems we install.”
Education and community
Exact Solar accepting the Greater Philadelphia Civic 50 award
Exact Solar’s mission to educate and empower the community has grown alongside the company. In recent years, the team has built an extensive library of free online resources that are accessible to anyone. These materials help people learn how solar works, follow policy changes, and explore whether going solar could benefit them, all without high-pressure sales tactics. Whether or not someone chooses Exact Solar, their goal is to provide clear, honest guidance so people can make the decision that is right for their home, business or organization.
That commitment carries through to Exact Solar’s own sales practices, which prioritize an educational, non-pushy approach. The team views every conversation as a chance to explore solar together and help customers make informed decisions.
Exact Solar is also active in community events and workforce development. Team members regularly participate in local festivals, Earth Day events and school fundraisers, and the company partners with workforce development programs such as OIC Philadelphia to create pathways into clean energy careers. As the company looks ahead, it plans to expand these efforts, showing up, giving back, and creating more opportunities for people to learn about solar and take part in the clean energy transition.
Focused on the future
Solar technology continues to evolve, and so do the needs of the communities Exact Solar serves. Rising energy demand from data centers, the growth of electric vehicles, and shifting policies will bring new challenges, but also create opportunities to make solar more valuable than ever. With energy storage, EV integration and new and innovative financing options becoming an even bigger part of the conversation, Exact Solar’s team is excited to help their customers navigate these choices with the same care and honesty they’ve always brought to every project.
The next 20 years will bring change, just as the last 20 did. Policies will shift, technology will improve and the clean energy transition will advance. What will not change is why Exact Solar does this work. From the beginning, Exact Solar has been about people: customers, team members, and the wider community. Every installation represents a family, a school, an organization, or a business that chose to take a step toward something better. Whether that choice is motivated by lowering energy bills, protecting the planet, or gaining energy independence, each decision has played a role in the progress Exact Solar is celebrating today.
“We are grateful for the trust so many have placed in us and inspired by the impact we have created together,” said Edwards. “We are more committed than ever to carrying that spirit into the next two decades, continuing to grow, to learn, and to serve.”
