The Construction-First Approach to Scaling Solar Operations
Captain Power is a Washington, D.C.–based solar EPC founded by Steven Stahl, a master electrician who spent over two decades in the electrical and construction industry. What began as a family-run business, with Steve working side-by-side with his father and cousin, has grown into one of the region’s most trusted solar installation partners.
Captain Power isn’t a tech company dabbling in solar. It’s a construction company that specializes in solar, built on the principles of honesty, craftsmanship, and reliability. That foundation has made it a preferred installer for third-party-owned systems like PPAs and leases across both commercial and residential projects. Driven by a simple mission — to save the world one solar panel at a time — Captain Power brings a craftsman’s mindset to every project it builds.
From Hands-On Experience to Strategic Growth
Steve’s deep, boots-on-the-ground experience shaped Captain Power’s identity and standards. Starting as an apprentice and later earning his master electrician’s license, he built the company with a commitment to quality and a clear understanding of what it takes to deliver on-site, every time.
As demand surged and the company expanded into residential EPCs, carports, and a growing O&M division, Captain Power reached a turning point: maintaining their high standards required not just skill in the field, but discipline and structure in operations.
“We’re builders at heart,” says Steve. “But to grow without compromising our reputation, we needed systems that could evolve with us — tools that everyone, from our electricians to our office team, could use every day.”
This realization led Captain Power to invest in a unified platform that could streamline data from sales partners, align teams, and maintain the operational precision that defines their brand.
The Challenge: Scaling Without Compromising Quality
Captain Power’s growth model relies on strong partnerships with external sales organizations. However, because each partner used different CRMs such as HubSpot or GoHighLevel, rising project volume led to inconsistent data that forced the internal team to manually re-enter and reconcile information — increasing the risk of errors.
These disconnected workflows resulted in:
- Inconsistent Partner Data: Each sales partner operated in its own system, leading to fragmented data, duplicate entries, and missed details at project kickoff.
- Operational Bottlenecks: Scheduling site surveys, managing inventory, and tracking installations required manual coordination, which slowed progress and led to errors.
- Financial Visibility Gaps: Incomplete syncs with QuickBooks’ Projects API led to discrepancies in milestone billing and delayed revenue recognition.
For a company known for reliability and precision, these inefficiencies posed a real risk to their reputation. It was time for a unified platform that could bring construction-level discipline to solar operations.
Why Captain Power Chose Scoop
Captain Power evaluated several platforms, ranging from CRMs to project management tools, but found that most lacked the solar- and construction-specific functionality they needed. CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce handled pipeline management but not field execution, while tools such as Monday.com or Asana offered task tracking but failed to enforce compliance or integrate with partner data.
They needed a platform that understood the complexity of solar construction: multi-phase projects, multiple stakeholders, strict documentation, and zero room for error. Scoop delivered exactly that — a purpose-built platform designed for solar and field service execution.
With Scoop, Captain Power gained:
- Construction-Grade Workflows: Pre-built, configurable workflows for site surveys, permitting, installation, and O&M that mirrored their real-world processes — no workarounds required.
- Error Prevention & Compliance: Dynamic checklists ensured every step met standards, reducing rework and costly go-backs.
- Partner-Friendly Collaboration: Automated updates with direct project links kept sales partners informed and reduced back-and-forth communication.
- Scalable Consistency: Scoop unified residential and commercial workflows under one system, allowing Captain Power to expand while maintaining its reputation for quality.
- Dedicated Support: Scoop’s onboarding and success teams helped build custom dashboards, metrics, and automations that supported Captain Power’s partner-driven model.
“Scoop didn’t just give us software,” says Ben Lessig, VP of Operations. “They helped us align our field and office operations so we could keep doing what we do best — building projects we’re proud of.”
Implementation and Onboarding
Working closely with Scoop’s customer success team, Captain Power implemented Scoop through a guided, collaborative process:
- Process Mapping: Existing field and office workflows were replicated and optimized in Scoop.
- Customized Training: Office and field teams received step-by-step, hands-on training sessions to ensure adoption.
- Partner Integration: Automated emails and permission controls were configured to give partners appropriate project visibility and confidence in shared data.
- Dashboard Visibility: Real-time analytics provided insights into project durations, bottlenecks, and billing performance.
The transition from manual spreadsheets to a digital operations hub was seamless, enabling Captain Power to continue executing projects without missing a beat.
Results: Reliable, Scalable Operations
By digitizing workflows and standardizing data across teams, Captain Power achieved reliable growth without sacrificing the quality that built their reputation.
Key outcomes include:
- Error-Free Processes: Dynamic checklists and automated workflows reduced repeat visits and eliminated data discrepancies.
- Faster Partner Payments: Real-time updates and linked project views allowed sales partners to get paid faster and with less friction.
- Consistent Customer Experience: Homeowners and businesses alike now receive clear, timely updates at every stage.
- Operational Visibility: Centralized dashboards allow leadership to monitor progress across all active projects.
- Sustainable Scaling: With Scoop, Captain Power can confidently take on more projects while maintaining their hands-on quality and construction-first discipline.
“Platforms like Scoop allow Captain Power to maintain competitive prices without making costly mistakes. Go-backs just aren’t going to work in 2026,” says Steve Stahl, Owner of Captain Power.
Powering What’s Next in Solar Construction
Captain Power is deliberately preparing for the next phase of solar growth. As the market becomes increasingly competitive, they’re proving that craftsmanship and technology can coexist and thrive when managed with intention.
With Scoop as its digital backbone, Captain Power continues to evolve as a construction-first solar company built to last. Whether it’s a home rooftop system or a multi-million-dollar commercial project, the result is the same: precision, consistency, and professionalism from the first wire pulled to the final inspection.
“Scoop has allowed us to scale while preserving the accuracy and professionalism our customers count on. Whether it’s a home system or a $1M commercial project, we can deliver the same stress-free experience,” says Ben.
