By Kurt Reinhold, 7/8/18
Happy July to you all! I feel like the luckiest guy in all of Wisconsin to be working with such a forward leaning group of people in our Co-op. I want to thank all of you who decided to join our Co-op ($25/yr or $100/lifetime equity membership) in recent months.
Our membership has grown from 96 in December of 2017 to now over 115 by the end of June of 2018. We have provided over $800,000 in solar loans through our Slice-of-Sun bond program, and hope to double that by the end of the year.
That’s right, double.
Because of the success of our programs, we have as many as 15 new community institutions who are hoping to get solar projects funded by the end of the year. That means we need to grow our membership and our bondholders along with it.
So far in 2018, our Co-op has helped organize and develop nearly $1 million of solar in Wisconsin. We want to stay on this trajectory and develop (and help finance) another $1 million of solar projects in our fine state before year’s end.
Please join our Co-op today and consider our Slice-of-Sun program for your next community solar purchase. Stay tuned for updates on our many potential projects for the 2nd half of this year!
Solar Legacy Projects
/in Projects /by DandelionSolar 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 between 4% and 6% 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.
July Event: Learn about rooftop solar & opportunities to invest locally
/in Events /by Peter FialaJuly 18, 2018 – 6:30-8:30pm
Fitchburg Community Center
5510 Lacy Rd Fitchburg, WI 53711
RSVP at the Facebook event page
Quick Update from Kurt
/in News /by Peter FialaBy Kurt Reinhold, 7/8/18
Happy July to you all! I feel like the luckiest guy in all of Wisconsin to be working with such a forward leaning group of people in our Co-op. I want to thank all of you who decided to join our Co-op ($25/yr or $100/lifetime equity membership) in recent months.
Our membership has grown from 96 in December of 2017 to now over 115 by the end of June of 2018. We have provided over $800,000 in solar loans through our Slice-of-Sun bond program, and hope to double that by the end of the year.
That’s right, double.
Because of the success of our programs, we have as many as 15 new community institutions who are hoping to get solar projects funded by the end of the year. That means we need to grow our membership and our bondholders along with it.
So far in 2018, our Co-op has helped organize and develop nearly $1 million of solar in Wisconsin. We want to stay on this trajectory and develop (and help finance) another $1 million of solar projects in our fine state before year’s end.
Please join our Co-op today and consider our Slice-of-Sun program for your next community solar purchase. Stay tuned for updates on our many potential projects for the 2nd half of this year!
Shine on: Solar partnership yields energy, savings for farmers
/in Advice/Education /by Peter FialaPosted 7/8/18
By Danielle Endvick, Wisconsin Farmers Union Communications Director
(This article originally appeared in the June 2018 Newsletter of the Wisconsin Farmers Union. Reposted with permission.)
Ask any farmer who has considered solar energy on his or her farm what the biggest hesitation is, and you’ll likely get the same answer: cost.
But a new pilot program being launched by Wisconsin Farmers Union and key partners is aiming to turn the dream of on-farm solar energy into reality. Solar Powering Farms (SPF) is a financing program that seeks to make solar energy more attainable for Farmers Union members. The project has been made possible through a partnership with North Wind Renewable Energy and Legacy Solar Co-op.
“Certainly a lot of farmers have that inclination that they want to do something with solar, but for a lot of people the upfront cost is a concern,” said Rob Peck, solar design consultant for North Wind Renewable Energy, based in Stevens Point. Read more
SASY Neighborhood Solar Report – Trinity Lutheran Church
/in News, Uncategorized /by Peter FialaKurt Reinhold – 6/6/18
SASY Goes Solar, Solar Stories from the Schenk-Atwood-Starkweather-Yahara Neighborhood in Madison, Wisconsin (renewwisconsin.org)
Legacy Solar Co-op gets special mention in the SASY neighborhood solar report for our work helping provide LED retrofits and 20 kilowatts of PV on Trinity Lutheran Church, 1901 Winnebago Street in Madison. Our partners were Full Spectrum Solar and Burke and Mark O’Neal, owners of FSS. The project has been a huge success and has drawn visitors from other parishes around the state to learn more about how we accomplished this low cost option for houses of faith.
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Willow Creek Ranch
/in Projects /by Peter FialaSolar 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. Read more
The 29th Energy Fair (MREA): Community Solar in Wisconsin—Finance Large and Small Projects
/in Events /by Peter FialaJune 17, 2018 @ 12:00pm – The Red Flag Tent, 29th Energy Fair
Kurt Reinhold, Owner, Solar Connections, LLC, President, Legacy Solar Wisconsin Cooperative will present an in-depth discussion on the challenges of projects big and small and some help with overcoming those challenges.
More information at https://www.theenergyfair.org/workshop-2018/community-solar/
LSC will be tabling at the fair the whole weekend so please stop by!
Ken & Barb, Part III: The Secret’s Out
/in Case Studies /by Peter FialaNickolas Hein – 5/17/18
(See Part 1) (See Part 2)
It’s been a few months since Ken and Barb completed the solar PV installation on their rooftop and they’re visiting with Phil – an energy auditor – to check in on how well the system is working for them. They’ve inspected the panels on the rooftop to confirm that everything looks good. Aesthetically the panels blend in with the existing shingle pattern they had on their roof. Although roofs on older homes sometimes need reinforcing to hold the extra weight of the panels, theirs was given the OK without modification after a structural inspection (an optional, but recommended step). Since it is an older house and the roof has sagged a little, there was some minor expense for adjustable mounting feet to conform to the surface. Phil also points out the edge guards that were installed to keep out wildlife that could damage the panels and wiring.
Inside, they’ve looked at the electrical panel and inverter where the solar power comes into the house. The electrical service had been upgraded previously so they had an extra breaker slot to bring in the power. The inverter they chose is “battery-ready” meaning that in a year or two, when batteries are more available and have some reputation for dependability they can add storage without major modifications. There are simple displays on the inverter and meter to show how much electricity they are making, and when they are making more than they are using. At these times they are credited for excess production, so they can draw on it like a bank account. Through an app on their phone, they can check the numbers any time and make adjustments when necessary.
Now they’re having coffee at kitchen table and discussing their experience. Read more
Should You Add Batteries to Your Rooftop Solar Installation?
/in Advice/Education, News /by Peter FialaNickolas Hein – 4/23/18
In the past few years battery technology has advanced at a rapid rate, resulting in a rapid decrease in the cost of electric storage and the associated systems (Fig 1). Although this has been driven primarily by electric vehicle adoption, home battery systems have been direct beneficiaries. According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance “Lithium-ion battery packs are selling at an average price of $209 a kilowatt-hour, down 24 percent from a year ago and about a fifth of what it was in 2010, a Bloomberg New Energy Finance survey shows. The rate has further to fall — reaching below $100 a kilowatt-hour by 2025, according to a report by BNEF analyst James Frith. Developers of stationary storage systems — like the kind that back up rooftop solar panels — can expect to pay 51 percent more than automakers because of much lower order volumes.”
Recent Cost Reductions for Lithium Ion Batteries – Bloomberg
If you’re considering installing solar panels in the near future, you probably want to consider adding battery storage to your system. We’ve asked Ed Zinthefer, President of Arch Electric, to answer some of the common questions from the homeowners before they install a new system. Read more
Ken and Barb, Part II: Ken’s Secret
/in Case Studies /by Peter FialaNickolas Hein – 4/16/18
(See Part 1)
Ken is also thinking about the energy upgrades they did recently. This is the first night after the improvements had been made, and he’s a little uneasy about all the money they had to spend up front to make them happen. He realizes that there are paybacks in comfort, convenience and simplicity that they notice right away. Yet secretly he can’t shake the uneasy feeling that they put this was a lot of money to spend at one time, including some that came out of their retirement account. He feels right about the decision, but he doesn’t yet feel good about it. Now they are about to make decision about adding rooftop solar to their home to further reduce their dependence on the electric utility and fossil fuels.
They’ve gotten an assessment from Legacy Solar Co-op showing that they can offset their electric usage almost entirely with a modest-sized system of several kilowatts. The assessment included financial projections showing that the money they’ll have to spend up front will be paid back in only a few years. If they choose to finance it their electric bill will be nearly the same until the loan is paid back, and then will be lower by hundreds of dollars a year. If they take money out of their retirement account, they’ll avoid the interest costs and end up with a better return on their investment than any of their current accounts are giving – and it’s equivalent to a guaranteed rate of return. Since the panels and equipment are guaranteed for 25 years* (and are usable for up to 40) years. When they are retired, and their incomes are fixed this will mean their electric costs are fixed too. If anything does need to be upgraded after retirement, they may be able to deduct the expense (if current tax deductions for renewables continue). Read more
Spring Member Bond Drive: Get your Slice of Sun now!
/in Events, News /by Peter FialaSpring 2018
Anyone anywhere in Wisconsin can become a Member of Legacy Solar Co-op for as little as $25, and once a Member, you are eligible to buy Slice-of-Sun Solar Bonds at $250 apiece.
Why would anyone want to buy Slice-of-Sun Solar Bonds? Here’s why:
Member Bonds are sold by the Co-op in order to support solar projects all over Wisconsin. The Co-op pays up to 6% interest on your Slice-of-Sun bonds over 12 years. Members receive both principal and interest payments annually. The Co-op makes secured loans to qualified solar projects and uses the revenue from those loans to pay back bondholders over the same 12-year horizon.
Read more…
If you are ready to buy Co-op bonds, go to this page for the next step