Honolulu-based RevoluSun is continuing to expand its solar energy business outside the crowded Hawaii market, announcing Tuesday that it has opened its third location on the mainland.

The RevoluSun franchise in Nyack, N.Y., will include an initial staff of 15 sales, marketing and operations personnel focusing on a three-county area, company officials said. The office is about 25 miles outside of New York City.

RevoluSun already has a company-owned location in Newton, Mass., and a franchise in Burlington, Mass. The company also is gearing up for the soft launch of a franchise in Connecticut and is in talks with several potential franchise owners in California.

"We’re pleased to expand again, at a time when New York homeowners are just beginning to realize the value of solar energy," said Todd Georgopapadakos, RevoluSun principal, in a news release. "New York is a booming solar market and our system will allow our New York partners to grow quickly to meet the demand."

New York state is a prime candidate for solar energy development, with high electrical costs and generous state and federal tax subsidies, said Eric Carlson, head of marketing for RevoluSun. The average rate for electricity paid by New York residents in April was 17.8 cents a kilowatt-hour, third highest after Hawaii and Alaska, according to data available the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

In addition to franchise opportunities, RevoluSun’s growth strategy includes licensing its proprietary sales and back-end management software to existing mainland PV companies that want to tap into RevoluSun’s expertise, Carlson said.