by Peter Fiala, Vice President
For our latest Member Spotlight interview, we chose Drews Solar, a family-run solar installer located in Madison, Wisconsin. The company is run by Michael and Maria Drews and has been a LSC member since 2017.
How did Drews Solar get started?
When Michael graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering in 2005, he knew wanted to get into renewables. He started working with a small local company in Madison, then moved to Los Angeles to manage the Los Angeles branch of Solar City, a quickly-growing residential solar installer. California’s appetite for solar and electric vehicle charging kept Michael and his branch’s 60 employees very busy.
In 2016, Michael moved back to Wisconsin and decided to start his own solar installation company. Michael worked alone his first year, installing six projects. Maria joined Drews Solar for the 3rd installation season, and they added an installer to work beside Michael, helping grow the capacity of the company. Although they have been growing significantly, Maria and Michael don’t have the intention to grow their business beyond one installation crew. They prefer to keep a happy medium that balances work for their team with the ability to deliver excellent customer service and ongoing support. “I like the personal touch of dealing with the customers directly. Staying small allows me to give each project my attention and to make sure all of our projects are done to our high standards,” says Michael.
Describe your company. How does it work?
There are two full-time and two part-time installers during the solar season, in addition to Michael as lead installer and project coordinator and Maria as office and intake coordinator. Maria handles solar estimates and the initial back and forth with the client, answering questions prior to a site assessment. If the client is interested in moving forward, Michael completes a site visit with a formal quote. If the client wants to continue they sign on and the project begins.
What types of systems do you install?
Drews Solar specializes in a streamlined approach, incorporating system designs and equipment they know they can rely upon in residential or family farm settings. Their systems utilize string inverters and optimizers from Solar Edge to maximize solar production. Additionally, the racking system and choice of solar panel brand remains mostly the same throughout each season. This allows them to buy larger amounts of standard equipment which is efficient and keeps costs down for customers.
There are a lot of people that want to go solar and they know that they can help the most people if the installation team can move through residential projects fast, with precision and skill. As part of their streamlined approach, Drews Solar sticks to standard rooftop solar arrays and leaves flat roofs, ground mounts, and commercial projects to larger installers.
Making an impact
Drews Solar has demonstrated a commitment to giving back and has partnered with notable non-profits in the area. In 2021, Drews Solar partnered with a Habitat for Humanity family to provide a solar system with no labor costs. The family was passionate about going solar, but couldn’t afford the investment of the system upfront, which is a barrier for many lower-income families. Drews Solar partners with causes like this because they feel strongly about helping the people who need solar the most. “Everyone needs to switch to renewable energy,” says Maria, “but lower-income families benefit the most from the reduced electricity bills. We wanted to do our part to help this family make their dream of going solar a reality.”
Working with Drews Solar
If you are in Dane County or the surrounding area and are looking for a standard rooftop solar array, Drews Solar would be a great choice. Drews Solar is already full for 2022, but will be booking 2023 installs starting in September. Feel free to contact Maria Drews at mdrews@drewssolar.com with initial questions about your future system.
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 NewsAmong his strengths are listening to the aspirations of individuals, business-owners and nonprofits, filling the gaps to their understanding of solar and determining and giving them the information needed for them to make an informed decision. As you know, Legacy Solar Co-op often goes the extra mile to build relationships with and meet the needs of its members and customers, something Peter is very at home doing.
In addition to project management, Peter is also in charge of monitoring all of the Co-op’s solar projects, including the City of Monona’s 4 sites from 2013 and all other since. Projects may also involve a solar loan through the co-op, either to the tax sponsor or directly to the host site.
Thank you, as always, for your dedication to solar in Wisconsin as a Legacy Solar Co-op member. If you haven’t met the rest of us, stop by our Meet the Team page and introduce yourself. Questions about any of the roles of the co-op? Drop us a line.
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.”
Project Comes Full Circle: Willy Street Co-op
/in News, ProjectsIn 2016, the Willy Street Co-op partnered with Legacy to install 212 LED lamps and 90 solar panels at their east location. They provided the roof-top; Legacy provided the technical assistance and tax financing; Full Spectrum Solar installed the panels. This energy efficiency and renewable energy project has saved over 200,000 kilowatt-hours and over 120 metric tons of carbon emissions so far. And, this month the Willy Street Co-op purchased the 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.
Watch for a case study on 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.
Congratulations to Willy Street Co-op on taking full ownership of their solar array!
LSC Member Spotlight with Drews Solar
/in Member Installersby Peter Fiala, Vice President
For our latest Member Spotlight interview, we chose Drews Solar, a family-run solar installer located in Madison, Wisconsin. The company is run by Michael and Maria Drews and has been a LSC member since 2017.
How did Drews Solar get started?
When Michael graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering in 2005, he knew wanted to get into renewables. He started working with a small local company in Madison, then moved to Los Angeles to manage the Los Angeles branch of Solar City, a quickly-growing residential solar installer. California’s appetite for solar and electric vehicle charging kept Michael and his branch’s 60 employees very busy.
In 2016, Michael moved back to Wisconsin and decided to start his own solar installation company. Michael worked alone his first year, installing six projects. Maria joined Drews Solar for the 3rd installation season, and they added an installer to work beside Michael, helping grow the capacity of the company. Although they have been growing significantly, Maria and Michael don’t have the intention to grow their business beyond one installation crew. They prefer to keep a happy medium that balances work for their team with the ability to deliver excellent customer service and ongoing support. “I like the personal touch of dealing with the customers directly. Staying small allows me to give each project my attention and to make sure all of our projects are done to our high standards,” says Michael.
Describe your company. How does it work?
There are two full-time and two part-time installers during the solar season, in addition to Michael as lead installer and project coordinator and Maria as office and intake coordinator. Maria handles solar estimates and the initial back and forth with the client, answering questions prior to a site assessment. If the client is interested in moving forward, Michael completes a site visit with a formal quote. If the client wants to continue they sign on and the project begins.
What types of systems do you install?
Drews Solar specializes in a streamlined approach, incorporating system designs and equipment they know they can rely upon in residential or family farm settings. Their systems utilize string inverters and optimizers from Solar Edge to maximize solar production. Additionally, the racking system and choice of solar panel brand remains mostly the same throughout each season. This allows them to buy larger amounts of standard equipment which is efficient and keeps costs down for customers.
There are a lot of people that want to go solar and they know that they can help the most people if the installation team can move through residential projects fast, with precision and skill. As part of their streamlined approach, Drews Solar sticks to standard rooftop solar arrays and leaves flat roofs, ground mounts, and commercial projects to larger installers.
Making an impact
Drews Solar has demonstrated a commitment to giving back and has partnered with notable non-profits in the area. In 2021, Drews Solar partnered with a Habitat for Humanity family to provide a solar system with no labor costs. The family was passionate about going solar, but couldn’t afford the investment of the system upfront, which is a barrier for many lower-income families. Drews Solar partners with causes like this because they feel strongly about helping the people who need solar the most. “Everyone needs to switch to renewable energy,” says Maria, “but lower-income families benefit the most from the reduced electricity bills. We wanted to do our part to help this family make their dream of going solar a reality.”
Working with Drews Solar
If you are in Dane County or the surrounding area and are looking for a standard rooftop solar array, Drews Solar would be a great choice. Drews Solar is already full for 2022, but will be booking 2023 installs starting in September. Feel free to contact Maria Drews at mdrews@drewssolar.com with initial questions about your future system.
Annual Meeting 2022
/in Events, NewsDate/Time: Thursday, May 26th
Location: Couillard Solar Foundation, 10 Liberty Street, Deerfield, WI 53531 (we will meet behind the building near CSF’s solar pergola weather permitting)
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 December and what lies ahead for us in 2022. 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.
* As part of the agenda, we will be voting to approve continuing directors. We will notify all members with any actionable decisions that are known before the start of the meeting.
In-person attendees are expected to observe any Dane County mask mandate and sign-in upon arrival to signify membership status for LSC and vaccination status for COVID.
RSVP by May 24th
(10% of the membership is needed to establish quorum)
Annual Meeting 2021
/in EventsDate/Time: Thursday, December 2nd
Location: Evjue and Merrill Lynch Rooms, Goodman Community Center Ironworks Building (149 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 year’s work in solar. 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.
* Currently, we do not have any ballot measures or new directors to vote on or approve, but perhaps something will develop between now and then and we will notify all members with any actionable decisions that are known before the start of the meeting.
In-person attendees are expected to observe any Dane County mask mandate and sign-in upon arrival to signify membership status for LSC and vaccination status for COVID.
RSVP by 12/1
(10% of the membership is needed to establish quorum)
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 credits (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!
Neshkoro Fire District
/in ProjectsLOCATION: Neshkoro, Wisconsin | CAPACITY: 14.8 kW | COMPLETION DATE: November 2021
SOLAR CONTRACTOR:
The Neshkoro Fire District serves the Village of Neshkoro, the Town of Neshkoro, the Town of Crystal Lake (all in Marquette County), and a portion of the Town of Marion in Waushara County. They provide fire suppression, emergency first response, and SCUBA dive team support to this area along with mutual aid to neighboring areas.
Read more
Kurt Reinhold Wins 2021 Sustainable Leadership Award
/in NewsWe are excited to announce that Legacy Solar Co-op’s Kurt Reinhold, President & CEO, received the Sustainable Leadership award from the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council (WSBC)!
WSBC helps businesses in Wisconsin transform by integrating sustainable principles and putting them into practice. The Sustainable Business Awards recognize businesses and individuals who prioritize sustainability and are making strides towards impactful change in Wisconsin.
Kurt was awarded in the category of Sustainability Champion. The WSBC outlines that the Sustainability Champion award goes to an individual who:
Kurt will accept his award at the 2021 WSBC Conference on December 15th at the Ingleside Hotel in Pewaukee, WI.
After learning of his award, Kurt was interviewed online by Jessy Servi Ortiz, Managing Director of WSBC.
Watch the interview