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
Member Breitenmoser Family Farm, located in Merrill, is owned and operated by Hans Jr. and Katie Breitenmoser and has been in operation for the last two generations. The Breitenmosers are strong supporters of renewable agriculture in family run farms and rural communities, this not being their first solar installation. They also supported the TB Scott Library project as bondholders and are members of the Wisconsin Farmers Union.
“As we work to influence policy regarding distributed generation in the State of WI, we have to find creative ways to fund solar. Legacy Solar Co-op helps fill that need and provides a means by which more people can enjoy the benefits of a renewable future.”
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
“This solar energy project will enable us to lessen our energy consumption and to invest in our care of the Earth. It is very much in keeping with the way that our province is living out our Congregational Direction by joining with others to raise a common voice for the good of all creation.”
The School Sisters of St. Francis of St. Joseph Convent is an international community of Catholic sisters who unite with others to build a just and peaceful world. Founded in 1874, the organization has more than 1,000 sisters, associates, staff, donors and volunteers actively working to address the needs of those who are poor and marginalized by society. Their sites are located in the United States, Europe, Latin America and India. The School Sisters of St. Francis in Milwaukee is one of nine sponsored or co-sponsored sites in the U.S. Read more
The T.B. Scott Free 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
Housing Initiatives is a Madison nonprofit organization that has been providing peace, hope, and shelter for Madison area men, women, and veterans for over 20 years. Read more
LOCATION: Madison, WI | CAPACITY: 20 kW | COMPLETION DATE: July 2016 SOLAR CONTRACTOR:
April 2022 Update: This month the Willy Street Co-op purchased their solar array outright from the tax sponsor and bondholders. Not one LED lamp has needed replacing yet, and there are still 19 years of warranty on the solar panels. It has already been a good investment and proves to get even better as time goes on. We will include a case study here describing this project, Legacy’s first project involving tax equity financing, coming full circle. As more projects are purchased by their hosts, we can really amplifying celebrate the benefits of tax equity financing!
In 2016, LSC helped Willy Street Grocery Co-op add 20 kilowatts of solar to the roof of their east side store (on Willy Street), as well as 214 LED lamps to replace the fluorescents, which operate at 15 hours a day.
Between the LED retro-fits and the solar, Willy Street saves over 40,000 kilowatt-hours per year in MGE-supplied power.
This will result in over 33 metric tons of carbon-dioxide avoided emissions per year, and over 25 years roughly 20 million gallons of water conserved!
“Sustainability is a central tenet of our organization’s mission and desired impact, best expressed by our mandate to nourish and enrich our environment. Through the installation and use of a solar array, we not only produce clean, renewable energy but reduce our dependence on less sustainable energy sources that contribute to climate change. As a cooperative, we are proud to meet the needs of our ownership, our community, and our planet, and going solar is a great opportunity to do that.”
Solar Legacy Projects are solar energy installations built on community institutions like schools, libraries, or churches. They have been designed and built by local stakeholders. We call them “legacy” projects because solar generates pollution-free electricity for the community and future generations long after it’s installed –– often 30 years or more.
You too can help support these projects through our Slice of Sun Solar Bonds program. Any member can earn up to interest on their bonds purchased through the co-op. Your contribution by purchasing solar bonds allows us to help finance these community projects. You can choose to keep your interest or donate it to a non-profit of your choosing, or event donate the entire bond to a non-profit. Or, you can include your bond in your estate planning. Lots of ways to go green, to earn green, and to help community organizations!
So even if you live in the shade you can actively help grow solar energy in Wisconsin!Learn more about the Slice of Sun Solar Bonds program.
Union Cab of Madison Cooperative is worker owned and operated. They added solar to their mechanics shop in 2012, and talked about expanding from 5 to 25 kilowatts, adding power their operations on their main administration building, at 2458 Pennsylvania Avenue, on the east side of Madison.
Zion Lutheran Church is located on the east side of Madison in the Atwood-Starkweather creek neighborhood, near Schenks corners. The solar and energy efficiency project was completed in January of 2015 by Solar Connections and Sustainable Solar’s Lincoln Tice. The Legacy Solar Co-op helped provide technical support and set up project financing for the church.Read more
