Versatility and Reliability Make RT-MINI a Winning Choice for AllCities Solar
- on July 13, 2022
- Categories: Roof Tech
Paul Comiskey, General Manager of AllCities Solar and Electric Company in Yakima, Washington, is the first to admit he wears many hats in his job. “I’ve been with AllCities since 2018,” he said. “Today, I oversee the sales team and all company operations.” Comiskey works closely with his installation manager and the company’s lead journeyman electrician, who manages the crews on each job.
A free product sample of RT-MINI makes a lasting impression.
Comiskey first encountered Roof Tech at the Intersolar North America tradeshow in San Diego in February 2020. “It was my first major tradeshow, and I made the rounds to learn as much as possible,” he recalled. When Comiskey visited the Roof Tech booth, he was given a sample of RT-MINI. “My team thought it was a great product, so we ordered enough RT-MINI's for a single residential job on a composite roof,” said Comiskey. “Not long after, we used RT-MINI on a 130kW commercial job, which was an overwhelming success. The self-flashing feature was very appealing to us, and we realized that it was a very dependable product.”
Raising the bar to use RT-MINI on a major commercial project.
In early 2022, Roof Tech General Manager Mike Dunlap and Western Sales Manager Rob Lusk traveled to Yakima to work with Comiskey on installation plans for a flat TPO membrane roof on Mosaic on the River. This upscale apartment home community in Richland, Washington, set to be completed in July, has eight apartment buildings and a pool with a clubhouse and fitness center. “This is a major project for AllCities with 180kW of solar panels,” said Comiskey. “It also includes our company’s first-ever installation of EV charging units. RT-MINI II was the perfect choice for this job.”
Extreme weather limits the use of some renewable energy systems.
Comiskey noted that there are four very distinct seasons in central and northern Washington which can pose challenges for renewable energy. “In the summer, we have very dry heat where many weeks have temperature in the 90s and even over 100,” he said. “Then we have severe winter weather with lots of snow and ice. As a result, some wind turbines and most solar PV tracking devices don’t do well in our region. But RT-MINI and RT-MINI II are very sturdy products that can be secured with up to five stainless steel fasteners, so they are extremely stable.”
Versatile applications make RT-MINI a top choice for many projects.
Comiskey appreciates the versatility of RT-MINI for his company’s projects. “We’ve used it to run conduit channels and many other uses,” he said. “With today’s shipping and supply chain challenges, the versatility of RT-MINI reduces the number of vendors we need to use.” He replied quickly when asked what he’d say to other companies considering RT-MINI. “When you find something that works well, is reliable, and has multiple uses, don’t be afraid to try it!” he said. “If I hadn’t walked past the Roof Tech display in 2020, I wouldn’t have known about RT-MINI. We’ve been very happy with it.”
About AllCities Solar and Electric Company
AllCities Solar and Electric Company was founded in 1979 as an electrical and satellite TV installation company and began working on solar projects in 1996. The company is headquartered in Yakima, Washington, and serves five counties within a 100-mile radius of their home office. Since 1986, they have also operated a retail storefront to sell various solar products direct to customers. AllCities performs all work in-house and employs three journeymen and three crews of installers to serve its base of 70% residential customers.