People join Legacy Solar Co-op for different reasons, and we’re happy to welcome everyone, from those who just want to be a member to those who join so they can buy bonds, support a particular project or actively participate in some other way. We really love it when our members are so excited about our mission here at Legacy that they come up with their own ideas about how to help.
For example, when John Stolzenberg joined LSC, right away he had an idea he wanted to try. John attends the First United Methodist Church in Madison, and every year they have an alternative gift fair each December weekend before Christmas. Read more
However you celebrate, we wish you well during this holiday season and year-end and we look forward to engaging with you next year!
And we also want to thank you. Whether you’ve recently become a member, purchased bonds or solar renewable energy credits (RECs) or are simply following our progress online, we thank you for your involvement! With our collective efforts, solar energy generates a green future for Wisconsin and pays back those who helped fund projects in the first place. If you’re interested in helping support the next round of projects, visit our projects update page, or contact us.
Legacy Solar Co-op’s solar bond program provides financing to help pay for up-front costs. The following projects are well on their way, but some still need your support to be completed.
A few ways to get involved:
Purchase solar bonds: Available in increments of $250, help support this project by purchasing bonds and earn up to 5% interest yearly. Only LSC members are eligible to buy bonds. Join today!
Become a tax sponsor: Provide the major sponsorship needed to make these projects happen. If you are interested or have questions, please reach out to us by contacting info@legacysolarcoop.org.
Some of our current projects:
Lakeview Lutheran Church (Madison) — A congregation serving Madison for over 150 years. We provided a solar assessment for this roughly 20-30 kW project.
Solon Springs School District (Solon Springs)— Located in Douglas County (northwest Wisconsin), this school district will soon benefit from a solar array with up to 100 kW capacity. Early winter delayed project completion into 2020, but we eagerly anticipation spring solar power for Solon Springs.Read more
The purpose of the co-op annual meeting is 3-fold:
Meeting is required by Chapter 185 governing Wisconsin Cooperatives (quorum is at least 10% of membership);
Find out what’s been up with your Co-op in 2019 and what is in store for 2020 (and join the discussion!);
Vote for Board Members and any other motions or resolutions from the business meeting.
The meeting took place at Madison Brassworks in the Bea Christensen Room (214 Waubesa Street, Madison) starting at 6:00 PM, food at 6:30 and business meeting at 7:00.
Thank you to everyone who attended! It was great to see so many friendly faces and to get a chance to talk with other members.
Blackhawk Church Fitchburg‘s system was switched on in September – Installation by H&H Electric.
Humane Society of Burnett County (HSBC) launched their new system with a ribbon cutting on September 29, the largest solar array in Burnett County! Installation by Carlson Electric. Read more.
Solon Springs School District is being installed in October. Installation by Carlson Electric.
St. John’s Lutheran Church in Oregon voted overwhelmingly to install within the next six months.
On June 20, Legacy Solar Co-op, member installer Full Spectrum Solar and Renew Wisconsin helped Oregon Ice Arena celebrate the completion of its rooftop solar array. For over a month, the arena has been generating about 25% of its energy from its rooftop solar array. The irony of it is that energy from the sun powers the heat pumps in the building, which help keep the ice as close to freezing as possible. The mere existence of the 560 panels means less sun exposure and helps the arena save dramatically on cooling costs during peak demand.
Spring is a time for action. To get out there and do something. More sunshine means we can tackle that list of projects we’ve avoided all winter, right?
Sorta.
Unfortunately the list of things we could do is far longer than the list of things we can do. And just like you, Legacy Solar Co-op has a project list that’s longer than our current resources allows us to tackle. It’s not that we don’t want to execute. Helping solar projects come to life is a beautiful thing we never tire of seeing. Our list is long because it’s filled with worthy projects that aren’t getting the love they deserve.
We have to act quickly to change that. Tax incentives and previously awarded grants have to be used before they sunset.
The Co-op is owned by some of the most committed and generous people we’ve ever met, and you all have helped us do some amazing things in the past. So what about 2019 and 2020?
When was the last time investing made you feel really good? Sure, investing in bonds is a smart thing to do with your money. It’s generally secure and often pays better, more consistent interest than other investments. But do you really know where your money is going? What it’s doing? Do you feel like you’re making a difference?
Investing in Legacy Solar Co-op’s Slice of Sun bond program is different. With LSC’s bonds you know exactly what your money is doing. All funds raised by the sale of Slice of Sun bonds finance Wisconsin-based solar, installed by local vendors and contractors, with local, primarily nonprofit clients, including city and county government institutions, service organizations and faith-based communities.
Contact us if you want to buy a slice of sun for your community.
This year investing in our co-op will help groups like these:
A very popular youth skills training non-profit is looking to secure financing for their 100 kilowatt (!!) project for their new location here in Madison.
Three Madison-area churches are vying for support for their solar projects this spring. We’ll give more details once we have tax sponsors lined up.
Three agricultural businesses through the Wisconsin Farmers Union are looking for support for their projects — you could earn up to 5% and help these businesses grow solar for their operations!
Two school districts up in northern Wisconsin are looking for material support through the Legacy Solar Co-op. We need to sell a lot of bonds to help them!
One housing development complex in northern Wisconsin is looking for a tax financing solution and considering LSC’s model for part of their development costs.
More than one other Wisconsin VFW has voiced interest in building on our success with the Truax-Longmire Post #8483 solar project by adopting projects of their own!
Legacy Solar Co-op’s solar bond program provides part of the financing to pay for up-front costs in the first year of the project’s development. The following projects are well on their way, but still need your support to be completed. Here are a few ways you can get involved:
Purchase solar bonds: Available in increments of $250, you can help support this project by purchasing bonds and earn between 4-6% interest yearly.
Become a tax sponsor: Provide the major sponsorship needed to make these projects come to fruition. If you are interested or have questions, please reach out to us by contacting info@legacysolarcoop.org.
Here are some project developments in January, 2019:Read more
At Renew Wisconsin’s Renewable Energy Summit on January 17, 2019, Legacy Solar Co-op was recognized, along with Dane County Executive Joe Parisi and Chequamegon Bay Renewables. See Kurt Reinhold accept the award on behalf of the co-op.
