Every established company has a beginning. For Big Dog Solar, that story started before residential solar became a familiar sight across Idaho.

In this video, Brad and Michelle Barrett share how Big Dog began in 1999, how a chance conversation in California introduced Brad to the solar industry, and why the company decided to pursue solar when few people around them understood its potential.

Big Dog’s Beginning in California

Brad and Michelle Barrett founded Big Dog in 1999. At the time, the company operated a satellite television office in Fresno, California.

While working there, Brad met someone who sold solar and was interested in receiving leads from the company. Solar was unfamiliar territory for Brad. He had little knowledge of the industry, and solar installations were not common in Idaho at the time.

That conversation stayed with him. Brad went home and began seriously considering whether solar could become part of the company’s future.

Taking a Chance on Solar

When Brad decided to pursue solar, not everyone shared his confidence. According to Brad, he was initially the only person in the company who supported the idea. The rest of the team wondered what they were getting into.

Despite the uncertainty, Brad and Michelle decided to move forward. The company entered an industry that was still developing and began learning how solar could serve properties in Idaho.

Starting With Off-Grid Solar and Battery Backup

Big Dog’s earliest solar projects primarily involved off-grid systems with battery backup. At that time, those were among the most practical solar applications available in Idaho.

Off-grid systems generate and store electricity for properties that may not have reliable access to utility power. Although solar technology and utility programs have changed significantly since those early projects, energy storage remains an important part of Big Dog Solar’s work. Today, homeowners can explore both grid-tied residential solar and solar with battery backup.

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Growing With the Solar Industry

What began as an unfamiliar opportunity gradually became a long-term vision. Brad describes Big Dog Solar as one of the companies that helped introduce solar to Idaho during the industry’s early years.

As solar became more accessible, Big Dog expanded its work beyond early off-grid systems. The company now provides commercial solar solutions, agricultural solar systems, residential installations, battery storage, and backup-power options.

Big Dog Solar continues to maintain a strong Idaho presence through its Pocatello-area installation hub while serving communities throughout the Mountain West.

The company’s story is ultimately about recognizing an opportunity, taking a risk, and continuing to move forward when the path was not yet clear.

Watch more stories and educational content in the Big Dog Solar video gallery, or request a personalized quote to begin exploring solar and backup-power options for your property.

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Brad and Michelle Barrett: We are Brad and Michelle Barrett. We started and founded Big Dog in 1999.

Brad Barrett: At the time, we had a satellite television office in Fresno, California. I met someone there who was selling solar, and he was interested in getting leads from our company.

I had never heard of solar, and I did not know anything about it. There really was not any solar activity in Idaho at the time.

I went home and began seriously thinking about solar as a business. When I made the decision to pursue it, I was the only person in the company who thought it was a good idea. Everyone else thought I was insane. They were asking, “We’re going to do what?”

We decided to jump in and go for it. At the time, we were primarily installing off-grid solar systems with battery backup because that was what was available in Idaho.

The dream was there, and we were not going to let anything get us down. We helped pioneer solar in Idaho, got the business off the ground, and here we are today.

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