In 2021, American International Energy, a solar installation company, partnered with Fortress Marine, a floating dock manufacturer, to create a unique solution for solar panels on retention ponds. Using Fortress Marine’s proprietary dock floats, they developed a floating cradle system to support solar panels. To simplify the permitting process, Fortress Marine took it a step further by obtaining U.S. Coast Guard certification, classifying the floating array as a vessel rather than a building. This innovation allows installations to proceed without the usual permits, making the process as simple as setting up a portable generator. The collaboration between these two companies led to the creation of FloatSolar.