Leadership Team
Jeanine Cotter, Esq is a founder of Luminalt and its President and CEO. Jeanine holds Luminalt’s C-46 solar license and is a Certified Green Building Professional through Build it Green. Jeanine is a strong advocate for responsible renewable energy growth in the Bay Area. Under her leadership, Luminalt became the first solar installer in San Francisco to become workforce development certified under San Francisco’s innovative GoSolarSF solar incentive program. As one of a handful of women running a solar installation company, she participates in a number of national and local committees relating to renewable energy, creation of green collar jobs and sustainable business practices. She is a member of the San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee’s 100% Renewable Energy Task Force, the San Francisco Solar Task Force, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Advisory Council and the North American Certified Energy Practioners (NABCEP®) committee which has crafted the residential solar company accreditation program. Jeanine is passionate about educating consumers about the benefits of solar and energy efficiency. She wrote “Deciding if Solar is Right for your Home” for the Sierra Club.
Noel Cotter is a founder of Luminalt and its Chairman of the Board/Chief Technology Officer. Noel built his first solar electric system in 1981, a 50kW grid-tied system in Cork, Ireland. Committed to craftsman level quality solar electric and solar hot water installations, he and Jeanine founded Luminalt in 2004. An avid supporter of continuing education for installers and for keeping training relevant to the practical skills installers need to ensure safe and high performing systems, Noel frequently teaches solar classes and advises on curriculum. He taught SF City College’s first Solar Thermal course, has been a subject matter expert on the panel that designs questions for the solar contractor exam at the California Contractor State Licensing Board, and on the NABCEP® committee that crafted the Technical Sales examination. Noel holds three California contractor licenses, a C-10 electrical, C-46 solar and class B general. He is a NABCEP® Certified PV Installer. An advocate for leveraging energy efficiency and building performance with solar for the highest return on investment for our solar customers and the environment, Noel holds three separate certifications on energy efficiency and building performance from the Building Performance Institute. Noel has worked with most renewable energy technologies, including wind and micro-hydro.
August Goers is Luminalt’s VP of Engineering. He has over a decade of hands on solar experience. He is a Cal Poly trained mechanical engineer and holds both the NABCEP® Certified Solar PV Installer and NABCEP® Certified Solar Thermal Installer certifications. He also holds Luminalt’s C-20 HVAC contractor’s license and is a California Certified General Electrician. He was an active participant in the SF Department of Building Inspection’s recent revision of the PV permitting requirements and has managed multiple volunteer installations with Grid Alternatives. August oversees the design and installation of each of our systems.
Izzy Carson, Director of Operations, has been with Luminalt since 2009. A native San Franciscan and graduate of UC Santa Cruz’s Environmental Studies program, Izzy oversees Luminalt’s Operations Team. Certified by NABCEP® in PV Technical Sales, Izzy designs proposals, drafts contracts, coordinates panel orders, and schedules the installation teams. She is particularly knowledgeable on the financial payback and return on investment associated with installing solar. When not managing Luminalt’s friendly and knowledgeable office team, Izzy grows tomatoes, kale, and fruit trees in Luminalt’s backyard, taking advantage of the Mission’s sunny weather.