Local solar CEO urges importance of research amid solar scams

The search for alleged solar scammer Jon Kirkland continues.

One local solar company has known of Kirkland since 2017 when his alleged scamming began.

Leonard Manos , CEO of 48 Solar, is one victim that has known Kirkland since the beginning.

However, Manos wants to assure people in the community that not all solar companies and systems are bad, and that scams can be avoided with detailed research.

Manos said he’s a victim whose company worked with Kirkland and now, he wants justice for himself and other victims.

Manos has come forward with a detailed timeline of events starting in 2017 through 2018.

He said one of the key events occurred in 2017 when Kirkland allegedly took money from his sales representatives and lied about wanting to use it to purchase a franchise that would have benefited the employees.

Instead, Manos said that Kirkland pocketed the money.

Even though Kirkland wasn’t charged with any crimes, he is tied to six cases in the Phoenix area where victims said they were scammed by Kirkland for thousands of dollars.

Manos said he hopes these situations will not spoil the community’s opinion on solar.

” You always hear those stories out there like I mentioned. You hear those stories and there’s always one bad apple out there, or there are a couple of bad apples. In this instance, that are out there and it gives every industry a stigma and people say, ‘Oh no I have heard this I have heard that, or no, my neighbor got taken for a ride on that ‘ , ” said Manos .

Manos suggests that people request quotes from multiple solar companies.

He also suggests checking reviews provided and be wary if there is no feedback for a company.

If you or someone you know has been scammed, you can submit your story on KSWT.com