In the latest issue of enerG Magazine, as part of their Ask the Energy Experts feature, Ampacity’s Senior Vice President of Business Development Dylan Wraga was asked, “What are the top three things your customers are looking for from you and other suppliers, and how do you meet those needs?”
Below is his response.
At Ampacity, our customers come to us with high expectations, and we meet them by delivering three key things: efficiency, reliability, and accuracy. These qualities drive momentum and value at every stage of the solar value chain.
Efficiency & Optimization: Speed and precision are key to our operations. Our customers rely on us for fast turnarounds and responsive communication that keeps their projects on track. We’re continually evolving to meet the market’s pace by scaling our engineering and operations teams, refining internal processes, and staying ahead of project demands. More than just a product supplier, we offer a full suite of solutions optimized for each site, helping customers move faster and more effectively.
Reliability: We’re in our customers’ corner from start to finish. Whether it’s foundation design or engineering support or simply being available when needed, we build confidence by being a partner they can depend on. Our team and expertise become an extension of their team, especially when timelines are tight and precision is critical.
Accuracy: There’s a lot of nuance in solar tracking systems—and our customers count on us to know the difference between a good fit and the right fit. We bring deep knowledge of the industry’s complexities and translate that into insights they can act on. It’s not just about delivering a number—it’s about delivering the right number and helping our partners make smarter, experience- and data-backed decisions.
Original article by Brad Kramer, Managing Editor, Solar Builder, July 28, 2025
Earlier this year, RP Construction Services rebranded as Ampacity Renewables. A member of the Quanta Services family of companies, Ampacity specializes in end-to-end structural and electrical solutions with a forward-thinking approach for clean energy projects, and the ability to orchestrate the full process from engineering to kitting to installation.
Eben Russell founded RPCS in 2014, but the business really came of age during COVID. They opened a warehouse operation in Mississippi and started to focus on enabling tracker projects as a value-added distributor instead of always doing it as a “turnkey” installer.
“Our sales have doubled since then,” Russell tells us. “We’ve opened two additional warehouses in the last three years and just celebrated the five-year anniversary of the MS facility back in April. We’ve got a team of over 300 spread out across the U.S.”
The team built a reputation in the industry as a trusted partner with a one-stop-shop approach, and the evolution of the company necessitated a new brand identity. The team selected a well-known industry term — “Ampacity,” defined as the maximum amount of current that a conductor can safely carry — to evoke the concept of electrification and acceleration, as well as to represent the company’s above-and-beyond approach to serving its customers.
I recently spoke to Ampacity founder and president Eben Russell about the name change, the company’s expanded capabilities, and general industry trends. Read on for the rest of my interview with Eben.
Why change the company name from RP Construction Services?
Russell: When we first started the company, we were on a mission to sell trackers at a time when very few contractors had experience assembling them. We trained our own crews and filled a key gap in the marketplace. A lot of our customers in the early days were only comfortable buying a tracking system if they knew we would build it for them, so we did.
Obviously, the market has changed a lot over the past ten years, and so have we. We still do a decent volume of installs every year, but today the bulk of our business is value-added distribution. We sell essential solar construction supplies to other contractors and developers. We know how to make our customers successful because we’ve been in their shoes. The way we do things is all about helping steer around the stumbling blocks that every project encounters at one point or another. We’ve seen it all.
We changed our name to make it easier for the marketplace to understand what we’re about and where we’re going. Our business carries a constant river of metal into our warehouses and out to small solar sites – truck after truck after truck. And we’re going further. Late last year, we started distributing electrical goods in addition to tracker and pile. There’s so much value we can offer because of the level of familiarity we create with each site, and because everything we do is done with the field in mind.
Ultimately, the name ‘Ampacity’ gets right to the core of who we are – a value-added distributor operating at maximum capacity for our customers.
What can you tell me about the company’s expanded capabilities?
Russell: In the past 6 months, we’ve focused on building two new areas of the business. First, electrical distribution. We now support customers with wire harnesses, wire management products, MV cable, termination kits, and sectionalizing cabinets. To support this new line of products, we’ve invested in inventory, warehouse space, and value-added services like custom reels and MV kitting.
The second area that we’ve expanded is our service business to support the installed base. When Ampacity started, there was less than 20 GW of operating solar capacity in the US. Now there’s more than ten times that amount, and plants that are five, six, seven years old are needing goods and services to solve performance problems and run safely. We can help.
Can you explain Ampacity’s distribution approach? What does that mean for your customers?
Russell: We talk about four things that really make us tick. The first one is expert sales. Our salespeople are not cold callers – they’re product experts and problem solvers. They get deep into drawing sets and geotechnical reports. At Ampacity, sales is about helping customers get to the right answer, not just taking their order.
The second thing that defines our approach is premium goods. We partner with leading manufacturers so that we can offer our customers the highest quality products. The whole business is oriented around “no apology technology”.
Number three is value from design. Our design team makes major design contributions to most of the projects we supply. In some cases, we have an active engineering dialogue with the project owner even if we end up transacting with their contractor at NTP. Applications engineering is core to who we are and how we think about distribution. One of our first things we did in launching our electrical distribution effort was hiring our first electrical designer.
Finally, our commitment to the field sets us apart. The head of our warehouse operations used to be one of our best field superintendents. The head of our electrical warehousing effort spent the bulk of his career on project sites. Everything we do in the warehouse – from pre-kitting tracker rows to overnighting a mission critical part – is about helping crews succeed in the field.
What size project are your “bread and butter”?
Russell: Our sweet spot is 1-100 MW, but we usually do a couple projects per year that are larger than that. Because there are usually statutory limits on project size in community solar states, we see a high number of projects under 10 MW. We provided trackers for over 300 projects last year.
Where do you see the most opportunity in the solar industry? Is it all about data centers and AI? Are there other areas spiking in the market?
Russell: Data centers and AI are definitely big growth drivers for any business in our sector right now. It boils down to a basic supply & demand problem. There isn’t enough generation for all the load that’s coming – the energy demands of AI infrastructure are staggering and growing exponentially. From a climate perspective, it feels like a bit of a setback, and we’re on a mission to help the industry respond. Speed of deployment is a huge theme, and solar is the best option from that standpoint.
The increase in power demand isn’t just impacting large solar projects. A lot of regulators are searching for ways to reduce the impact of all this additional demand on individuals and small businesses. Keeping rates under control won’t be easy.
One option that keeps gaining traction across the country is community solar. The community solar frameworks in states like New York and Illinois have been really effective at lowering energy costs for solar subscribers. I think we’ll see several additional markets open up in the next couple years. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see more interest in larger behind-the-meter projects and microgrids as customers try to reduce their exposure to utility rates.
It’s a big moment for entire power & utilities industry. The needs are great, but so are the opportunities. As a supply chain partner, we’re setting ourselves up to move more goods faster and faster so that things go smoothly when all the financing and permitting is done and it’s time to build.
What others trends do you see emerging in the solar industry?
Russell: The solar industry is moving at breakneck speed. The pressure is on to deliver projects quickly, accurately, efficiently, and safely. We’re seeing a lot of momentum in the DG space as demand grows and grid constraints tighten. Supply chain challenges are still in play.
Customers need reliable partners who bring expertise and value to their growing portfolios and project pipelines. We collaborate constantly with our customers and mitigate risks through our design capability, manufacturer partnerships, stocking and logistics strategies, and fulfillment operations. Customers want expertise, not just materials, so we help them de-risk projects through better planning, better design, and better execution to stay ahead of the curve.
What’s next for Ampacity?
Russell: We’ve already talked about some big growth areas for us. Electrical distribution and services to the installed base will continue to be focus areas for the foreseeable future. There’s also constant evolution in our base business with new tracker products, changing trends, and new players in the space. Our customers rely on us to stay right on the cutting edge of the tracker market, and we do the work that it takes to stay there.
Finally, there’s always more we can do to improve our customers’ experience with us. I’m excited about some of the software projects we have underway to drive customers’ success in the field. At the end of the day, all of our success comes down to passion for creating a better way.
MONTEREY, CALIF. July 26, 2018 – RP Construction Services, Inc. (RPCS) is pleased to announce their new partnership with solar balance of systems leader Shoals Technologies and CAB Solar, launching their latest turnkey product offering, the Plug-N-Play Tracker system.
This union will bring an even more streamlined approach to RPCS’s solar tracker installations, providing custom designed wiring solutions for projects using the Array Technologies, Inc., DuraTrack™ HZ V3 solar tracker.
The Plug-and-Play Tracker features the Array Technologies DuraTrack™ HZ v3 single-axis tracker, Shoals Technologies’ electric balance of systems wiring solutions, and the Cambria County Association for the Blind and Handicapped (CAB Solar) above ground, messenger wire cable management system.
Considered the next evolution in their recognized turnkey solution, RPCS is combining best-in-class American-made products from the industry’s top manufacturers to optimize cost, labor, and installation for tracker projects nationwide.
This exciting new partnership is aimed at simplifying tracker project install by reducing trenching by 50%, utilizing less specialized labor, and requiring less time—all resulting in faster time to completion and CAPex savings. Shoal’s patented wiring systems come pre-labeled and pre-tested, demonstrating their unmatched efficiency and robust construction. Coupled with RPCS’s established reputation for turnkey success, this new system will eliminate the need for trenching within the array, reduce risk and complications associated with cost, lessen environmental influence, and improve trade coordination, creating faster, simpler installations. The Plug-N-Play Tracker approach also allows for more solar panels per string and fewer combiner boxes per site, cutting cost and solar electrical complications.
Founded in 1996, Shoals Technologies revolutionized solar installations. With solutions second to none in the marketplace, Shoals’ solar PV electrical balance of systems products are installed in some of the largest solar fields around the world.
Through innovation and diversification, Shoals has grown exponentially since its founding, and currently holds the largest market share of electric balance of systems, maintaining a diverse portfolio of PV balance of systems products manufactured in Tennessee. Shoals Technologies’ unmet reliability and performance is backed by their extensive in-house testing and rigorous quality controls, making them an ideal partner for RPCS’s next in line turnkey solution.
“We’re really excited to be working with Shoals on our projects,” says Alex Smith, RPCS Chief Sales Officer. “RPCS is constantly striving to make project management easier and to allow our customers to win more projects and trust that the RPCS portion will be executed cleanly. Shoals wiring allows us to do that, as do Array trackers. We can provide a faster installation, a better price, and completely reliable products and project schedules that make executing tracker projects as easy or easier than fixed tilt.”
CAB Solar, the Cambria County Association for the Blind and Handicapped’s solar products division, pioneered the use of above ground cable management in grid-scale solar plants and has continually provided innovative designs and systems to meet customers’ needs. The newly released Integrated Grounding Cable Management System uses a copper composite messenger wire and specialized hardware for grounding and is safety listed by Intertek to UL 2703. For over 85 years, their various products routinely exceed the most stringent quality standards demanded by respected national and international customers.
“CAB systems integrate well with both Array and Shoals, and RPCS is very knowledgeable in how to maximize CAB’s benefits. We are excited about the potential,” says Tim Wedding, CAB Solar Project Manager.
Array Technologies, Inc. is the leading solar tracking solutions and services provider for utility-scale projects. With efficient installation and terrain flexibility coupled with high reliability, durability, and performance, Array delivers the best project returns in the industry. As the chosen tracker for more than 25 GW years of energy production, Array’s products have been optimized through unparalleled experience garnered over nearly three decades.
RP Construction Services designs and builds ground mount solar projects using the industry’s gold standard for quality, the Array Technologies DuraTrack® HZ v3 single-axis tracker. With over 400 MW and over 225 projects completed throughout the United States, RPCS provides full turnkey service and support for the industry’s most bankable and reliable tracker. The team at RPCS provides reliable support at every step of the project, delivering a level of quality and efficiency that parallels Array’s market reputation.
“We are excited to partner with RPCS and are glad to support the highly optimized approach to solar construction that RPCS is taking by integrating a great family of products,” says Kent Miller, Shoals Technologies Senior Vice President of Sales, of the Plug-N-Play Tracker. “Combining above-ground wire management from CAB Solar Products, the Array Technologies tracker, and the Shoals wire management system is going to help developers and EPCs by providing a schedule-friendly and easier-to-maintain system.”
“As an electrical guy at the core, there is nothing better than a wireway that is accessible. RPCS’s installation, in combination with the Shoals wiring system, Array’s solar trackers, and the CAB Solar hangars, the installation process is smooth and keeps wires away from unknown underground conditions,” says Adam Larner, RPCS’s Vice President of Projects.
Through this latest offering, RPCS will be a single point of contact for design, engineering, installation, and procurement. From factory floor to field installation, RPCS makes tracker projects even simpler with the Plug-N-Play Tracker.
Together, RPCS, Shoals, and CAB provide customers the next evolution in solar tracker systems, making solar energy a more affordable, lower risk source of clean power for future generations.
RP Construction Services, Inc. designs and builds ground mount solar projects using the industry’s gold standard for quality, the Array Technologies DuraTrack® HZ v3 Single-Axis Tracker. With over 300 MW and over 180 projects completed or under construction throughout the United States, RPCS provides full turnkey service and support for the industry’s most bankable and reliable tracker. RPCS’s expert knowledge of Array Technologies’ trackers ensures world class turnkey project assistance including site layout optimization, ancillary engineering services, tracker and foundation procurement, and complete mechanical installation. The team at RPCS provides reliable support at every step of the project, delivering a level of quality and efficiency that parallels Array’s market reputation. For more information about RPCS, please visit rpcs.com or call us at 831.620.2188.
Shoals Technologies Groupis a leading manufacturer of balance of systems solutions. Consistently providing customers with innovative designs and superior quality products has contributed to the company’s exponential growth since its founding in 1996. With over 25 GW of BOS products deployed globally, Shoals maintains a diverse portfolio of solar balance of systems products, including, combiner/re-combiner boxes, disconnecting combiner boxes, custom harnessing solutions, junction boxes, wire, in-line fuses, racking and monitoring solutions. Learn more at www.shoals.com.
Array Technologies, Inc. is the leading solar tracking solutions and services provider for utility-scale projects. With efficient installation and terrain flexibility coupled with high reliability, durability, and performance, Array delivers the best project returns in the industry. As the chosen tracker for more than 25 GW years of energy production, Array’s products have been optimized through unparalleled experience garnered over nearly three decades. Array Technologies is headquartered in the United States with offices in Europe, Central and South America, the Middle East, and Australia. For more information, please visit arraytechinc.com.
Cambria County Association for the Blind & Handicappedis the manufacturer of CAB Solar Cable Management Systems. CAB Solar pioneered the use of above ground cable management in grid-scale utility plants and has continually provided innovative designs and systems to meet customers’ needs. CCABH unites vocational training and a manufacturing business producing quality products that offers employment for persons with disabilities while ensuring worldwide customer satisfaction. For over 85 years, their various products routinely exceed the most stringent quality standards demanded by respected national and international customers. From mops and rugs to cable hangers, hooks, and reflective safety garments, through the years the Cambria County Association for the Blind and Handicapped has manufactured a wide range of useful items. Learn more at www.cabproducts.com.
Front and center in the third floor lobby of the Moscone Center in San Francisco, Calif.
This year’s InterSolar North America trade show, which was the 11th InterSolar North America exhibition, saw both new and industry leading innovators and their products and services, and a myriad of key solar and storage players. There were many exciting and engaging conversations happening at the Array Technologies’ booth, which dominated the third floor exhibit hall lobby at the Moscone Center in the heart of San Francisco.
As Array’s trusted partner, RPCS showed their support in the booth, where there was an in-depth demo of the DuraTrack HZ v3 solar tracker, topped with both bifacial modules and First Solar Series 6 modules. RPCS shared their year’s many successes, including reaching a recent milestone: 225 projects and 450MW completed.
Reflecting on the show, RPCS founder and president, Eb Russell, comments, “For us, this year’s InterSolar wasn’t closed door meetings about braggawatts, but more of a support group session with friends, colleagues, and competitors sharing openly about the challenging past several months—and a sigh of relief about the recent return to normalcy.” He continues, “We left reinvigorated because of the amazing individuals that make up our industry and that share the vision of a clean, solar energy future for our planet. Thanks everyone for all the good chats and cheer!”
We’re already looking forward to next year’s InterSolar show, and RPCS’s growth.
The Plug-N-Play Solar Tracker
The Array Technologies booth was abuzz with visitors and engaging conversations.
On Tuesday at the start of the show, RPCS announced their new partnership with solar balance of systems leader Shoals Technologies and CAB Solar, launching their latest turnkey solution offering, the Plug-N-Play Solar Tracker system. This union will bring an even more streamlined approach to RPCS’s solar tracker installations, providing custom designed wiring solutions for projects using the Array Technologies, Inc., DuraTrack™ HZ V3 solar tracker.
“We had a great showing at Intersolar this year; 2018 has been another great year for RPCS and our Array and Shoals partnership announcement makes our offer to the DG market so much stronger,” says RPCS Chief Sales Officer, Alex Smith. “We’re really proud of the number of projects we’ve done the past couple years, but also know that the real work is ahead of us. It’s also really fun to see our RPCS team growing and interacting with all of our customers and partners during the show.”
Together, RPCS, Shoals, and CAB provide customers the next evolution in solar tracker systems, providing simpler installations and making solar energy a more affordable, lower risk source of clean power for future generations.
Russell Pacific Announces East Coast Expansion with Baltimore Distribution Warehouse
Monterey, California (October 11, 2017) — Russell Pacific, a wholesale distributor of solar electrical products, announces the opening of their first East Coast distribution center located in Baltimore, Maryland. The Baltimore warehouse marks Russell Pacific’s expansion into the East Coast market; providing solar contractors and integrators throughout the Mid-Atlantic region with fast regional shipping, next-day local deliveries, and same day will-call product pickup.
Founded in 2009 by industry veterans, Russell Pacific is a wholesale distributor of solar modules, inverters and balance of systems (BOS) products for solar installers and integrators. By choosing only to focus on the solar industry’s premier brands from trusted manufacturers, the company maintains a small, manageable product line, providing the best products at the best prices and fastest lead times.
Following their East Coast expansion, Russell Pacific is now stocking the Baltimore distribution center with a full line of North American Made Silfab Solar Modules, SolarEdge, SMA & HiQ Inverter Products, SnapNrack Solar Mounting Solutions and LG RESU10H Batteries. Array Technologies’ single-axis tracker systems are also available through their sister company, RPCS (RP Construction Services Inc.). Russell Pacific is dedicated to providing their customers with the highest level of sales and service, and is pleased to announce steady stock and fast turnaround for the solar industry’s Mid-Atlantic customer base. East coast sales are being managed by solar industry veteran, Chris May. Chris joined Russell Pacific after successful tenures at Maryland based PV developer / EPC, Standard Solar, and California based solar distributor, AEE Solar (a Sunrun company), said Eb Russell, Founder and CEO.
With multiple distribution warehouses located throughout California, Utah, Oregon and now Maryland, Russell Pacific (www.russellpacific.com) supports solar installers and integrators throughout the United States. Deep product knowledge and manufacturer relationships enable us to pass on product confidence and empower our customers to stand behind their projects. When your name is on the line, you can trust Russell Pacific to supply quality products, on-time and on budget, every time. For more information, please contact East Coast Sales Director, Chris May at 301.832.7010 or chris@russellpacific.com.
RPCS is now Ampacity
Momentum is everything in clean energy. And we’re accelerating the transition with expanded capabilities and new possibilities. So we’re excited to announce a new name and a new look. We’re still the same company you know and love, but better positioned to expedite clean energy—and your impact. Meet Ampacity. Let’s put your project in motion.
Why change the company name from RP Construction Services?
This exciting new partnership is aimed at simplifying tracker project install by reducing trenching by 50%, utilizing less specialized labor, and requiring less time—all resulting in faster time to completion and CAPex savings. Shoal’s patented wiring systems come pre-labeled and pre-tested, demonstrating their unmatched efficiency and robust construction. Coupled with RPCS’s established reputation for turnkey success, this new system will eliminate the need for trenching within the array, reduce risk and complications associated with cost, lessen environmental influence, and improve trade coordination, creating faster, simpler installations. The Plug-N-Play Tracker approach also allows for more solar panels per string and fewer combiner boxes per site, cutting cost and solar electrical complications.
Through innovation and diversification, Shoals has grown exponentially since its founding, and currently holds the largest market share of electric balance of systems, maintaining a diverse portfolio of PV balance of systems products manufactured in Tennessee. Shoals Technologies’ unmet reliability and performance is backed by their extensive in-house testing and rigorous quality controls, making them an ideal partner for RPCS’s next in line turnkey solution.
RP Construction Services designs and builds ground mount solar projects using the industry’s gold standard for quality, the Array Technologies DuraTrack® HZ v3 single-axis tracker. With over 400 MW and over 225 projects completed throughout the United States, RPCS provides full turnkey service and support for the industry’s most bankable and reliable tracker. The team at RPCS provides reliable support at every step of the project, delivering a level of quality and efficiency that parallels Array’s market reputation.
Monterey, California (October 11, 2017) — Russell Pacific, a wholesale distributor of solar electrical products, announces the opening of their first East Coast distribution center located in Baltimore, Maryland. The Baltimore warehouse marks Russell Pacific’s expansion into the East Coast market; providing solar contractors and integrators throughout the Mid-Atlantic region with fast regional shipping, next-day local deliveries, and same day will-call product pickup.