Solar Producer Closes After Half Century

Solar heater manufacturer FAFCO has shut its doors after 55 years.

For five years leading up to the closure, it worked to develop a novel solar thermal-assisted heat pump water heater. “Despite our best efforts and hard work, all attempts to pursue our dream ultimately failed,” FAFCO said on its site. “Now, we find ourselves out of capital, and we’ve decided to close the business.”

Founded in 1969 by Freeman A. Ford and Richard Rhodes “with a goal to become a large, thriving company that did good while doing well,” the company said it started the United States’ modern-day solar industry. More than 200,000 of its systems were installed, generating the power equivalent of five nuclear power plants, the firm said.