The upfront costs of solar panels are sometimes too high for small organizations
(Reposted from the Yale Climate Connections article on 6/6/2022)
Many nonprofit organizations would like to install solar panels. But the upfront costs can be prohibitive for groups on tight budgets.
So an organization in Wisconsin has created a financing model to help community groups go solar.
Elise Couillard is with Legacy Solar Co-op. Through the group’s Slice of Sun solar bonds program, co-op members can invest in 12-year bonds that help cover the cost of solar arrays at nonprofits and community groups.
Bond holders earn interest while supporting a cause they believe in.
“Our members are some of the fiercest supporters of solar,” Couillard says.
In 2021, the program helped finance solar arrays at a chapter of the Humane Society, a Boys’ and Girls’ Club, an elementary school, a senior community, and several other organizations.
Couillard says the solar helps these groups lower their utility bills and direct more funds to their core missions.
“So any money that they’re not having to spend on their electrical bills can go towards a new staff member. It can go towards care for their residents,” she says. “We know that these nonprofits and these community organizations are doing such amazing work, and we can help accelerate that amazing work by freeing up more funds for them to do so.”
Annual Meeting 2022
/in EventsDate/Time: Wednesday, December 7th
Location: Goodman Community Center, 149 Waubesa Street, Madison, WI 53704 (Evjue & Merrill Lynch Rooms)
View Annual Meeting Recording
Regardless of your status as an Annual Member, a Lifetime Member, as a representative of an Institution Member, or even just curious about becoming a Member of our cooperative, you are invited to attend and participate in the review of our work in solar since our last member meeting in May and what lies ahead for us in 2023. Only one vote per member is allowed on any actionable motions that come up during the business meeting portion of the evening. This meeting will be broadcasted and recorded for anyone who cannot make it in person. Only members who receive a ballot before the meeting or who are in-person on the day of the meeting can cast votes. Read more
Switch-to-Solar offers a way to make your gifts green this holiday
/in Events, NewsLegacy Solar Co-op is inviting all solar champions to shop local and shop solar this Holiday Season.
Gift solar renewable energy certificates (sRECs) as stocking stuffers to family and friends (or for yourself) and be entered in a January prize drawing!
We have a goal to retire 250 sRECs this holiday season, help us get there!
Get more details or start gifting now!
What is a Carbon Footprint?
/in Advice/Education, sRECsI’m sure you’ve heard of Bigfoot…
But have you heard of a Big Carbon Footprint?
A carbon footprint is the cumulative carbon waste and emissions attached to any individual, household or business. This means all the carbon emissions associated with driving, flying, using electricity, and purchasing or consumption habits that use fossil fuels as part of their processing. Read more
Installer Member Feature: Midwest Solar Power
/in Member Installers, NewsInterview with Adam Schmidt, Project Resource Officer at Midwest Solar Power
Tell us more about Midwest Solar Power’s ‘origin story’…
Founded in 2009 by Rik Rosenlund and Tom Schlaefer who previously worked together in residential construction, the goal of MSP was to engage in more impactful prospects. They wanted to bring together their expertise in construction, project management and customer service and soon realized that solar was a field they believed in and were confident they could improve. Over the years, they became experts and built a happy customer base. MSP was also strengthened by the additions of Michael Reuter and Adam Schmidt. Michael Reuter brought his renewable energy and architectural technology training from Madison College along with a passion for green building and renewable energy to MSP to help grow the business and has grown into an ownership role over the last 5 years. Adam Schmidt joined in Feb 2021 with an engineering background and an eagerness to address climate change.
What do you customers appreciate most about your work?
Midwest Solar Power makes sure every installation gets full attention to assure each customer has a positive experience. They solicit feedback from customers after an installation. Customers appreciate that they take the time to answer questions in detail, even simple ones, and not brush off any of their concerns. One consistent thing customers say is that they feel their company is very kind and respects the customer’s home and family during the installation – especially if going inside. They appreciate that the install crew has a positive disposition and cleans up after themselves after the job is done. Read more
Legacy Solar Co-op Achieves 2022 Climate Champion (Catalyst) Status
/in In the News, NewsLegacy Solar Co-op achieved 2022 Climate Champion (Catalyst) status for increasing solar education and adoption of solar in Dane County. In 2020 and 2021, they educated hundreds of residents and supported 32 installations for a total of 245 kW of solar. Legacy Solar Co-op (LSC) is a statewide member owned cooperative that provides expert consulting and financing services to facilitate solar projects for communities and nonprofits in Wisconsin.
Find the full article here: Press Releases | Office of the County Executive (countyofdane.com)
A Story of Unexpected Benefits from Following a Home Energy Audit
/in Advice/EducationThe following story, of fictional Wisconsin homeowners Ken and Barb, illustrate the expected and unexpected benefits of following the recommendations of an energy audit. Read more
Dane County Exec Parisi: Recognizes more than 70 local organizations as 2022 Climate Champions for efforts to address climate change locally – WisPolitics
/in In the NewsLegacy Solar Co-op received a 2022 Climate Champion award in the Catalyst category from the Dane County Office of Energy & Climate Change at a ceremony on October 6, 2022. The Catalyst category is reserved for organizations or companies that help others take climate actions. We were proud to be recognized and celebrate along with other changemakers. Thank you to all of our members and others who make our work possible!
For more, see Dane County Exec Parisi: Recognizes more than 70 local organizations as 2022 Climate Champions for efforts to address climate change locally – WisPolitics
Installer Member Feature: Arch Electric
/in Member InstallersFor our latest Member Spotlight interview to interview Andrew Holmstrom from Arch Electric. Arch Electric is a family-owned solar installer operating out of Plymouth, Wisconsin. The company is run by Ed and Mindy Zinthefer and has been a LSC member since 2016.
Arch Electric’s ‘origin story’
Essentially, Ed and Mindy started the concept and outline of what is now Arch Electric off the back porch of their farmhouse. Ed’s electrical contracting services were taking off and the couple envisioned a solar company where they could add value to a burgeoning market. Hear more about Arch Electric’s story here.
Tell us about Arch Electric’s operations
There are four different business units to the Arch Electric model: Commercial and Utility scale solar, Residential solar, Operations and Maintenance (of solar systems) and the electrical team that covers battery storage and electric vehicle charging. Andrew Holmstrom (Commercial and Industrial team) likes that the work environment is positive, close-knit, and dedicated to training and education. Read more
Meet Peter Fiala, Co-op Vice President
/in NewsPeter Fiala started with the co-op in 2017, primarily as its Media Director, but soon after as board member and in 2020 as the co-op vice president. In 2021, he took to opportunity to work full time expanding and coordinating our solar group buy program in multiple areas of the state. This role allowed him to work one-on-one with homeowners to educate them on the basics of solar, including cost and placement of their system, and quote analysis if needed. Read more
Wisconsin bond program helps nonprofits afford solar
/in In the News, ProjectsThe upfront costs of solar panels are sometimes too high for small organizations
(Reposted from the Yale Climate Connections article on 6/6/2022)
Many nonprofit organizations would like to install solar panels. But the upfront costs can be prohibitive for groups on tight budgets.
So an organization in Wisconsin has created a financing model to help community groups go solar.
Elise Couillard is with Legacy Solar Co-op. Through the group’s Slice of Sun solar bonds program, co-op members can invest in 12-year bonds that help cover the cost of solar arrays at nonprofits and community groups.
Bond holders earn interest while supporting a cause they believe in.
“Our members are some of the fiercest supporters of solar,” Couillard says.
In 2021, the program helped finance solar arrays at a chapter of the Humane Society, a Boys’ and Girls’ Club, an elementary school, a senior community, and several other organizations.
Couillard says the solar helps these groups lower their utility bills and direct more funds to their core missions.
“So any money that they’re not having to spend on their electrical bills can go towards a new staff member. It can go towards care for their residents,” she says. “We know that these nonprofits and these community organizations are doing such amazing work, and we can help accelerate that amazing work by freeing up more funds for them to do so.”