PERRYSBURG, Ohio —
Toledo Solar, Inc., is closing its doors for good. The Perrysburg-based solar energy company is a derivative of the Willard and Kelsey Solar Group.
The solar panel company wanted to make a specific type of solar panel.
"They were trying to break the code," Toledo Solar interim president Tom Pratt said. "Develop the secret sauce to manufacture a cadmium telluride panel, which isn't easy given the technology they were working with."
The company was working with equipment that was over 20 years old, according to Pratt. In the years that the company was operating, it was not able to accomplish that.
"They never really produced a solar panel since they came into existence," Pratt said.
Pratt was brought in by Toledo Solar's board of directors in July of 2023 and was appointed interim president, treasurer and secretary after there was a leadership overhaul. First Solar had filed a lawsuit against Toledo Solar, claiming the company had bought First Solar panels and misrepresented them as Toledo Solar panels.
The settlement terms required Toledo Solar to review the manufacturing processes it was using.
"When we realized we were stepping on six or seven of their patents, we tried to negotiate something with them but unfortunately we were unable to do so," Pratt said.
Pratt said there was an attempt to use solar panels in another capacity and use another business plan, but they were not able to get the technology.
"Ultimately the board of directors determined it wasn't worth the effort, so the decision was made to shut Toledo Solar down," Pratt said.
He said as of right now the plant is being decommissioned.
"It means all the equipment out, floor swept and turning the keys over to the landlord who owns the building," Pratt said.
The business will be shut down by the end of August, according to Pratt.
He said when he started there were about 35 employees, and now there's a "skeleton crew" of five working.
"They're all looking at other options in front of them, and again I'm sure they'll be just fine," Pratt said.