Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Janette Freeman.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was raised in Bountiful, Utah, and left in my early 20s to live in CA. I married, eventually divorced, and then raised three kids as a single mother, always trying to provide for them and improve our lives.
After years of study, along with working full time to raise my kids, I got a Doctorate Degree in Consciousness Studies and became a New Thought founding senior minister for nearly 20 years, and an author of three books. This was the passion work of my heart until life changes happened again, and this time Covid was the instigator that brought me a new opportunity. Now 40 years after leaving Utah, I am in a brand new career in the renewable energy industry and loving it, and serving the area!
I am proud of where my journey has taken me and am excited for the new contributions I have the opportunity to participate in. I work in our family company, Fabtech Solar Solutions and we provide end-of-life services for used solar panels. My mission is to divert them from the landfills and provide recycling services if they are broken or if they can be reused, get them into the secondary marketplace. Our other company, SanTan Solar sells used solar panels direct to the consumer, providing solar panels for every budget!
We have recycling centers throughout the country, including one in Salt Lake City. Our refurbishing facility and solar sales outlet are in Gilbert, AZ.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I find that looking back, the biggest challenges provided the greatest opportunities. Of course, in the middle of it, it is not easy to swim through those rough waters, but when we persevere we always get to the other side! My favorite saying when going through tough times is to say, “This, too, will pass.”
I would say that raising my three kids alone as a single parent was the most difficult of all my challenges, but with the most rewards, as we had a lot of love and are still so close today. Unfortunately, in 2021, I lost my oldest daughter to covid complications and that has been the most heart-wrenching of all. I’m grateful for the beautiful time I did have with that wonderful soul.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Sometimes called, “The solar panel recycling evangelist,” I am passionate about saving the landfill from the millions of solar panels which will be coming to end-of-life in the years ahead.
Solar is the fastest growing energy solution and over 70,000 solar panels are being installed every hour around the world. This rapid deployment is expected to grow every year and, as it does, so will the volume of end-of-life modules. On the one hand, it’s terrific to watch clean energy become more efficient and available to everyone and observe the world economy slowly become less reliant on fossil fuels. So many possibilities come to fruition as we switch to greener and cleaner energy.
However, because of solar energy’s many good qualities, it can be easy to forget about a growing concern in the solar industry, one that will have a global effect: solar panel end-of-life.
A deliberate and regulated plan to ensure that this material is repurposed and recycled properly is necessary to encourage a circular economy and guarantee that the sustainability strides of our industry are not erased through the destructive scrapping of materials.
I am the Director of Business Development and we do solar panel refurbishing and recycling; giving panels a second life or a proper cremation, With a repair and refurbishing facility in AZ and recycling facilities throughout the country, we help larger-scale solar corporations and utility companies find solutions outside of landfilling for their used/broken solar panels.
The exciting part is when these panels get into the hands of the consumer, providing the opportunity for DIY solar projects and affordable solar for all.
What makes you happy?
I’ve been a meditator for over 30 years and I would say I’ve trained myself to relax and be calm and find that place of inner happiness. I like to choose happiness regardless of what happens in life.
In addition, I am most happy when I am making a difference and contributing to life.
Of course, there’s my 13-year-old granddaughter- I’m always happy when I get to spend time with her!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fabtech.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fabtechent/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Janettemfreeman/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janette-freeman/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/drjanettemariefreeman
- Other: www.santansolar.com
