*Commercial LSC Member
LOCATION: Kaukauna, Wisconsin
CAPACITY: 298.8 kW
COMPLETION DATE: October 2017
SOLAR CONTRACTOR:
General Beverage Companies (GB) is one of the largest wholesale distributors of wine, distilled spirits, beer and non-alcoholic beverages in Wisconsin.
General Beer Northeast is consolidating operations in Northeastern WI with a focus on sustainability and efficiency. A new 300kW solar array on its Fox Cities office will offset nearly 50% of its electricity use, reducing costs and supporting peak demand management. The system, covering the warehouse roof in Kaukauna, WI, will help preserve unpasteurized beverages while cutting energy expenses.
The company prioritizes fair wages, union contracts, and responsible construction practices, distinguishing itself as the only Wisconsin beverage wholesaler honoring union agreements. With Focus on Energy assistance, the payback period for the solar project is expected to drop from 11 to 7.5 years. Despite financial challenges, including eminent domain impacts, General Beer remains committed to long-term sustainability and operational savings.
The 298.9 kW solar installation will operate for 25+ years, using 100% of its energy on-site. No facility changes are needed, and efficiency upgrades will further reduce demand. Generating over 350,000 kWh annually, it will save the company $21,000+ per year.
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General Beverage Northeast, Inc. Solar Array (Photo Credit: Google Earth)
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General Beverage Northeast, Inc. Solar Array (Photo Credit: Google Earth)
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General Beverage Northeast, Inc. Solar Array (Photo Credit: Google Earth)
General Beer Northeast, Inc.March 24, 2025 - 5:29 pm
Humane Society of Burnett CountyMarch 24, 2025 - 3:13 pm
General Beer Northeast, Inc.
/in Projects*Commercial LSC Member
LOCATION: Kaukauna, Wisconsin
CAPACITY: 298.8 kW
COMPLETION DATE: October 2017
SOLAR CONTRACTOR:
General Beverage Companies (GB) is one of the largest wholesale distributors of wine, distilled spirits, beer and non-alcoholic beverages in Wisconsin.
General Beer Northeast is consolidating operations in Northeastern WI with a focus on sustainability and efficiency. A new 300kW solar array on its Fox Cities office will offset nearly 50% of its electricity use, reducing costs and supporting peak demand management. The system, covering the warehouse roof in Kaukauna, WI, will help preserve unpasteurized beverages while cutting energy expenses.
The company prioritizes fair wages, union contracts, and responsible construction practices, distinguishing itself as the only Wisconsin beverage wholesaler honoring union agreements. With Focus on Energy assistance, the payback period for the solar project is expected to drop from 11 to 7.5 years. Despite financial challenges, including eminent domain impacts, General Beer remains committed to long-term sustainability and operational savings.
The 298.9 kW solar installation will operate for 25+ years, using 100% of its energy on-site. No facility changes are needed, and efficiency upgrades will further reduce demand. Generating over 350,000 kWh annually, it will save the company $21,000+ per year.
Humane Society of Burnett County
/in ProjectsLOCATION: Webster, Wisconsin | CAPACITY: 19.72 kW | COMPLETED: November 2018
SOLAR CONTRACTOR:
Since 2000, the Humane Society of Burnett County(HSBC)’s mission has been to “provide a safe haven for stray or unwanted animals, to foster the human-animal bond, to promote responsible pet ownership and to end pet overpopulation through spay/neuter” in Burnett County. With the help of an $8,000 grant through Renew Wisconsin (secured by Legacy Solar Co-op), they installed a 19-kilowatt solar array at their new shelter and education center, offsetting over 50% of their electricity costs and saving an average of $5,600 annually.
Member Spotlight: InWave Renewables
/in Member Installers, NewsBased in Illinois, InWave Renewables is dedicated to making sustainable energy accessible to all. Its co-founders, Asfandyar “AK” Khan and Mohammad Najjar, have a diverse history in power and construction prior to starting InWave. This is an interview with Mohammad Najjar.
Tell us a little about your company and how it began. What were the motivations to start your company?
Growing up in places where energy was often unreliable — or entirely inaccessible — sustainable power was more than a challenge; it felt like a distant dream. […] Over the years, as we’ve worked in the renewable energy and construction sectors, one truth became undeniable: Energy is far more than just a resource, it is the foundation for resilience, opportunity, and growth. InWave was born out of this realization with a vision to make sustainable energy accessible to all.
What do you customers appreciate most about your current and past work?
One of our core values is to stay objective and prioritize the client’s vision. We approach every project through this lens, carefully considering each aspect to help our clients achieve their goals. This commitment is reflected in our work and is often what our clients appreciate most.
What has been your experience with supply chain issues over the past year or few years?
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2024 LSC Annual Meeting
/in EventsDate/Time: Thursday, December 12th, 2024
Location: Goodman Center, 149 Waubesa Street (Ironworks Building), Madison, WI 53704, Evjue Room
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 this past December and what lies ahead for us in 2025.
View our 2024 Annual Report and a copy of the Annual Meeting Slides.
Read more
Member Spotlight: All Sky Energy
/in Member Installers, NewsBased in Baraboo, WI, All Sky Energy has over 20 years of experience in residential and commercial solar sectors, offering the grid-connected, off-grid and battery back-up systems. They joined the co-op in 2019.
We interviewed Lisa Kahlow, who, together with her husband, Keith Kahlow, owns All Sky Energy, to get an in-depth look at their dedication to renewable energy and their customers in the communities they serve.
Tell us a little about your company and how it began. What were the motivations to start your company?
Keith has worked in the electrical field, both in residential and commercial settings, since high school for small shops and also for the union for many years. Keith has over 30 years of experience, has been a Master Electrician for 15 years and continues to stay up to date on the ever-changing codes and industry. In 2010 he made the decision to go out on his own and we started All Sky Energy together. He saw an emerging industry and wanted to have firsthand experience with his clients and seeing projects from start to finish. I worked for my parents and decided in 2013 that I needed to go full time with our solar business. Read more
Member Spotlight: Eco Resource Consulting
/in Advice/Education, Member InstallersEco-Resource Consulting (ERC) is based in Stoughton, WI and provides science-based ecological consulting and sustainable restoration. ERC plans, implements, maintains, and monitors sustainable native plant communities within ground based solar installations. They joined the co-op in 2023.
Each ground mount solar installation has the challenge of what to do to manage the vegetation underneath it. Many options exist, including a weed barrier and crushed rock, simply planting grass, or planting native vegetation that will manage itself over time (with some help) and save time in the process.
We asked Kyle Duquaine from Eco Resource Consulting, how this is done….
Read more
The Easy Button for Funding Your Solar Project
/in Advice/Education, Case Studies, Commercial, Financing Solar, NewsListen to the podcast
Batteries for the Grid: Why Chemistry Matters
/in Advice/Education, EventsOn Friday, March 29 at 12:00pm we invited Patrick Sullivan of Flux XII (one of our newest members), to talk about battery chemistry, what materials are being used in batteries today and frameworks to assess their societal impacts, such as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In this webinar, Patrick walked through which battery asset features the chemistry impacts (spoiler, it’s almost everything!), shared some challenges for developing more sustainable grid-scale batteries, and how they are tackling those challenges for long-term global benefits.
See webinar recording.
Read more
2023 LSC Annual Meeting
/in EventsDate/Time: Wednesday, December 6th
Location: Lau Christensen Room, Brassworks Building, Goodman Center, 214 Waubesa Street, Madison, WI 53704
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 this past December and what lies ahead for us in 2024.
See 2023 Annual Report and 2023 Annual Meeting Presentation.
Read more
Couillard Solar Foundation Solar Pergolas
/in CommercialThe Couillard Solar Foundation, has not only supported dozens and dozens of nonprofit projects through the Solar for Good and Solar on Schools programs, but over the years it has been continually refining its solar pergola design. Most recently, it installed the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA)’s latest addition to its renewable repertoire, their 5-bay solar pavilion that delivers 48.6KW, designed to capture reflected sunlight far more effectively in winter months through the albedo effect while being eligible for IRA tax credits. CSF has installed almost a dozen pergolas in the past several years, including at its headquarters, the Deerfield Fire Department and a variety of locations across the state. Read more