Brett Reinke: Operating the Largest Sunbrush Fleet in the USA

by   July 21, 2025 with No Comments

Cleaner Spotlilght – Brett Reinke: Operating the Largest Sunbrush Fleet in the USA

By Chris Vergin | Photos By Brett Reinke

Brett Reinke of CMG Solar Panel Cleaning in Fresno, California, brings decades of mechanical and business experience into the solar maintenance space. After working as a Ford mechanic for 15 years, Brett purchased a hydroseeding business in 1999, which he still operates with his son and daughter. But nine years ago, solar cleaning entered the picture—and changed everything.

What began with a single DI system on rooftops has evolved into one of the largest solar cleaning operations in the country. Today, Brett runs what he proudly calls “the largest fleet of Sunbrush machines in the USA,” with seven tractors cleaning utility-scale solar farms across California and beyond.

That journey started in 2024, when longtime friend Mike Griggs—who mows solar fields—suggested they each purchase a Sunbrush. One machine quickly turned into three. In the first year alone Brett Reinke, Mike Griggs, and Rick King cleaned 1.4 million panels.

As of July 2025, they’ve surpassed 5 million panels cleaned, and operations continue to expand. On a good day, the team can clean 8,000 to 12,000 panels per day per brush, depending on layout, soiling, and water access. That last point—water logistics—is Brett’s biggest challenge. With three trailers and two 4,000-gallon trucks, placing water correctly across a site is a constant juggling act.

Brett also emphasizes the importance of building relationships with Operations & Maintenance (O&M) staff, the key gatekeepers for solar farm contracts. His advice? Stay persistent.

As he says:

“The Sunbrush is a game changer.”

Follow Chris Vergin:

Chris Vergin is a seasoned professional in the solar panel cleaning industry with over a decade of hands-on experience spanning residential, commercial, and utility-scale sectors. As the founder of Solar Panel Cleaning Friends (SPCF) and SPCFonline.com, Chris has dedicated his career to empowering and educating fellow cleaners through real-world knowledge, practical expertise, and industry advocacy. Known for blending technical precision with a no-nonsense, boots-on-the-roof approach, Chris champions the importance of recognizing, analyzing, and resolving the unique challenges every job site presents — a method he proudly calls RAR. Chris is also the editor and driving force behind PV Maintenance Monthly Magazine, a publication committed to advancing professional standards and connecting cleaners across the industry. When he's not cleaning panels or writing about them, Chris can be found building bridges between the academic and professional worlds of solar maintenance, ensuring that the voice of the cleaner is heard loud and clear. If you’re looking for someone who believes solar panel cleaning isn’t just a job — it’s a craft — you’ve found him.