Solar Contractor: 

Willow Creek Ranch, a certified organic farm run by the Ofte family for the past four generations that provides free-range beef, poultry and pork products. Located in Coon Valley in Wisconsin’s Driftless Region, animals on the farm are raised by natural ranching, a way to give animals as free a range as possible. The ranch also offers eco-vacations, a way to get the true farm experience.

The Challenge

 

Solar Solution

This is a 29.4 kW pitched standing seam metal roof array.

Funding

This project was financed in part through the “Solar Powered Farms” initiative with Wisconsin Farmers Union and Farmers Union Enterprises. North Wind Renewable Energy Cooperative is the principal solar contractor for the initiative. Legacy Solar Co-op provided project consulting and finance assistance which allowed the owner of Willow Creek Ranch to invest roughly 60% into his own project, with financing to complete the project costs.

Progress

Financing was completed by March 2018, and installation started mid-April 2018.  This exciting project was commissioned the week of May 14, 2018.

The Legacy

 

Slice of Sun Solar Bonds

Legacy Solar Co-op sells Slice-of-Sun Solar Bonds to any member who would like to support a Solar Legacy project and earn between 4% and 6% interest on their bonds purchased through the co-op.

These bond subscriptions help secure the solar project, generate earnings for member bondholder, or can be donated at any time as a tax-deductible donation to a participating non-profit host site for a solar project. For example, a local church is currently enjoying a portion of the energy savings (over $3,000 a year), but the more bonds the Church owns, the more energy savings they get to keep for their own parish’s budget. Everybody saves and earns and benefits from the good that is being done thanks to the solar project.You can buy Slice-of-Sun Solar Bonds that earn interest for as little as $250. Or you can sponsor as many full solar panels as you’d like for $500 each. Sponsorship can be direct donations to a participating non-profit or through the purchase of bonds that are then gifted to the non-profit of your choosing.

Ready to get started?

You will find more information and instructions.  If you have any questions at all, please contact us.

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Solar Contractor:

The City of Fitchburg is committed to renewable energy, having installed solar panels on the roofs of their buildings starting in 2009. LSC provided site assessments, City staff support, financial cost and benefit projections, RFP support, and public meeting testimony for the solar project that led to adding almost 1,000 panels (362 kW) to the West Fire Station, City Hall, Public Works Maintenance Facility and the Fitchburg Public Library. The project added about 452,000 kWh of renewable electricity. Read more

Solar Contractor:

General Beverage Companies (GB) is one of the largest wholesale distributors of wine, distilled spirits, beer and non-alcoholic beverages in Wisconsin, servicing over 11,400 licensed beverage retailers throughout Wisconsin. The company is headquartered in Fitchburg and also has locations in Barron, Chippewa Falls, La Crosse, Little Chute, Milwaukee, Oshkosh, and Stevens Point. LSC worked with GB to start generating 18-20% of their power from solar. Read more

* LSC Member

Solar Contractor:

The T.B. Free Scott Library serves the Merrill area through traditional and innovative services, connecting people to their community and the world. It promotes reading, supports lifelong learning, ensures free and open access to ideas, and provides opportunities for recreation.

The Library has employed both high and low tech ways to save energy for many years, so going solar is just another step in becoming more environmentally friendly and making taxpayer dollars stretch further. Read more