Scott Antcliff, OPES Earth Founder, has long been involved in the renewable energy sector, water treatment, and clean air concerns.

His interest in solar began in 1980 when he was hired to manufacture and install solar water heating systems in the Arizona desert. The National Energy Act of 1978 had created a 40% tax credit for the purchase of renewable energy systems. In addition, Arizona offered their own 35% tax credit. Business was off the charts year after year and Scott personally installed approximately 500 systems and sold nearly as many units. Unfortunately, because of government inaction, the tax credits expired at the end of 1985 and nearly 100% of the solar companies were bankrupt within 6 months. The fledgling solar industry was killed.

When the solar industry fell on hard times, Scott moved on to water treatment. Growing up on a midwestern farm that had fantastic drinking water, he instantly became concerned about the low quality and horrible taste of chlorinated drinking water he encountered upon his move to Phoenix. He became an advocate and a leading salesman for the top water company in Phoenix with over a thousand system sales to his credit. Today, he still surveys the marketplace and finds the best cutting-edge technologies for businesses and homeowners. Water Is Life!

In 2011, an opportunity to move to Maui and return to the solar business arose and he took it. Working for the largest installer in the Hawaiian Islands, they installed ~1000 photovoltaic systems per year. Scott played a part in each system by building a monitoring system whereby each homeowner could monitor the performance of their solar system, be alerted when a malfunction had occurred, and keep them producing as much electricity as possible. It was extremely gratifying to help people eliminate their electric bills! Business was strong.

Hawaiian Electric supplies 95% of the electricity to the Hawaiian Islands. They were being hurt financially by the rapid growth of independent solar installers and sought to destroy them. Monopolies do not die easily, and this was never more apparent in Hawaii. Over a period of years, they were able to get rules and laws changed via the PUC (Public Utility Commission). Solar roadblocks were encountered everywhere. They made it harder for homeowners and solar installers to get permits, approvals, inspections, and finally, they eliminated the popular net metering program for buyers. Essentially this reversal made solar systems double in price overnight because homeowners were required to purchase expensive battery systems to store any excess electricity their system produced. This killed the solar industry in Hawaii. Layoffs occurred, companies went out of business, and once again we found ourselves at the mercy of a powerful corporation and their successful lobbying efforts.

It was apparent to Scott, We the People must take back control of our lives from ineffective governments, greedy corporations, and their lobbying efforts.

OPES Earth was launched to create awareness of these pressing problems and unite concerned citizens to make the changes necessary to insure a sustainable future. Mother Earth needs us to step up NOW!