Three teens wandered the halls of South Fork High School, dreaming of futures that lead them to different paths. At least initially. Because Humboldt, as usual, had other plans. Daniel and Matty Tittmann grew up off-grid near Salmon Creek. Noah Battles grew up in the Garberville area. All three knew the challenges of maintaining reliable power in an incredible landscape full of tall trees, few electric lines and a population steeped in self-sufficiency.
The Tittmann brothers grew up with a contractor/homesteader father who had “all of us building houses and decks, all kinds of different stuff including design.” But to get industry knowledge, they turned to local solar mentors. After earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz, Daniel worked under the legendary Solar Roger in Arcata, starting the future Greenwired team on the path of enlightenment. They soon absorbed all they could from business mentor David Katz of Alternative Energy Engineering (now with Arcata’s Tamarack Solar Racking). They sought out many technical mentors, including Derik Veenhuis of Hi Power Hydro, Jay Peltz (Peltz Power and SEI) and Bob Schear. It was a solid network of knowledge.
Daniel became a licensed California solar contractor in 2005 and founded Greenwired in 2006. Matty earned his bachelor’s degree at University of California, Berkeley, quickly putting it to good use with his own business designing landscapes before joining Daniel in 2007 to install solar systems (energy, not celestial). The power trio reached full strength in 2009 when Humboldt State University graduate Noah added his expertise to the Greenwired team as they opened up a retail location in Redway. The successful business expanded into a Eureka location in 2015, moving to a larger Arcata site in 2023.
And a true team it is. Matty and Noah, along with their wives Eva Maria Tittmann and Mandi Battles, boost their 19 employees. Both business owners made sure to mention GT operations manager Jesse Allen, who grew up in Ferndale and Salmon Creek, HR coordinator Alexis Huber and store manager/CTO Andrew Perkins, who is also an alum of South Fork High School.
“We have so many valuable crew members,” Matty said. “Josh Miller leads our HVAC crews both residential and commercial.” Miller joined Greenwired in 2022, adding a new branch of expertise to help those with traditional heating and cooling make the transition to renewable energy, lowering energy costs and helping the planet at the same time.
Both Matty and Noah love working with Humboldt’s residents to increase energy independence. “We just completed an exciting collaboration with the Yurok tribe installing systems in 27 homes, partially funded by USDA,” said Matty.
“There are both challenges and joys working with off-grid customers,” Matty said. “No two scenarios are the same. Every job I go to is completely different. Each house and business will be different.” A county with the world’s second tallest trees presents particular obstacles for solar power in the form of shade. But in each case, the most appropriate solution, he said, must also take lifestyle needs into consideration. Kitchen appliances need the right power source that can handle high-demand cycles, for example.
Although Daniel built Greenwired’s business foundation, he has stepped into the roles of active board member and technical advisor. He now lives with his wife, Heidi Klingel, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the trees do not cast such tall shadows, leaving his brother and friend Noah as the active owners here in Humboldt.
Over the past 20 years, the Greenwired team has loved to help their community in every way they can. They support the things that keep Humboldtians (of all ages) having fun like the Fortuna Rodeo, Hops in Humboldt, Humboldt Youth Soccer League teams, Humboldt Crabs baseball and Par Infinity Humboldt County Disc Golf. Look for residential and commercial sales team leader Caleb Gribi hyzer-ing a disc down the fairway. They also support organizations that make life in Humboldt healthier including Southern Humboldt Hospice, Planned Parenthood Northern California and the SoHum Health Foundation. Greenwired donated a system that helps the Karuna Animal Rescue and Sanctuary care for its permanent residents. Greenwired not only keeps your energy lines humming, but it also helps maintain the delicate lines of local news through sponsorship of KMUD and the Redheaded Blackbelt.
My Humboldt life is: “extremely fortunate,” said Matty. “I’m running my own business, serving the community by delivering renewable power solutions.”
Noah answered, “extremely fortunate,” too. He went on to acknowledge the challenges of remote living while celebrating Humboldt’s beauty. “It’s not easy for everyone to be here. You have to want to be here. … It’s a great place to live. Growing up in this area and traveling all around its extensive network of dirt roads. Lots of beautiful landscape. It’s why we live here.”
Daniel and Matty Tittmann and Noah Battles built their business around helping people live here, too, which gives them great satisfaction. “We provide people with power that would not be available through utility or anyone else. People get comfortable doing without. Then they finally get something after not having it for a while. We are lucky to see their first time generating electricity, or pumping water without generators,” Noah says. “It’s a good feeling job!”
Greenwired Solar
1150 Evergreen Rd # 1, Redway
(707) 923-2001
Website: greenwired.com
Facebook: greenwiredRE
Instagram: greenwired_re
This article appears in My Humboldt Life May 2026.