Interview with Hartman Hoel, Project Development Manager at Sunpeak
Tell us more about how Sunpeak began.
In 2014, co-founders Chad Sorenson and Karl Huber saw a unique opportunity to start a commercial solar company in the Midwest focused on quality, customer education, and project efficiency. By blending Chad’s engineering and business expertise with the extensive finance and renewable energy development experience Karl had gained in more mature solar markets overseas (Germany and Japan), they created and honed SunPeak’s process-based approach to solar engineering, procurement, construction, and maintenance. Read more
LOCATION: Green Bay, Wisconsin | CAPACITY: 280 kW | COMPLETION DATE: January 2023
SOLARCONTRACTOR:
Curative Connections is a non-profit in Brown County, Wisconsin that helps seniors and adults with disabilities navigate options that support their goals for independence through a proactive approach to care and a clear focus on individual needs. Founded in 1948, they are a mission-driven and values-focused organization supporting a culture of gentleness.
We congratulate Emmanuel Community United Methodist Church in Menomonee Falls as one of our newest projects to go solar this year. Installed by member installer Arch Solar, the church invited us to help them advise them on their project in 2021. Their system is within weeks of commissioning by WE Energies, but they couldn’t wait to celebrate the solar savings they will soon realize! LSC staff attended their ribbon cutting on May 7th.
Racine County Food Bank, formed in 1983, serves as Racine County’s “United Way of Food” and distributes food, free of charge to food pantries, emergency shelters, community meal sites and social service agencies throughout Racine County.
Starting with several cases of donated food and a part-time coordinator, the agency has since grown to 4 staff members who, with hundreds of volunteers, manage the collection, warehousing and distribution of over 1,000,000 pounds of food each year.
LOCATION: Menominee Falls, Wisconsin | CAPACITY: 65.86 kW | COMPLETION DATE: May 2023
SOLARCONTRACTOR:
Emmanuel Community United Methodist Church serves Menomonee Falls and surrounding communities. They have many ministry groups including a very active mission outreach team and green team caring for God’s creation.
We worship in both a traditional sanctuary and large multi-purpose room. Our variety of ministry and study groups meet in different rooms throughout our building.
Interview with Woody Bolton, Solar Design & Sales / Member-Owner, Northwind Solar
Tell us about your ‘origin story’…
Northwind Solar was founded in 2007 by Josh Stolzenburg and grew into several areas of focus including solar electric, solar thermal, small wind, and energy efficiency. Like the rest of the solar industry Northwind rode the “solar coaster” with unfriendly changes to utility rate structures, uncertainty around incentives and equipment costs. Through all that Northwind learned a lot and built internal capacities. This led to the transition in 2017 from an LLC to a worker owned cooperative and an exclusive focus on solar electric systems. Over the last few years Northwind has added in energy storage systems, electric vehicle charging and smart home panels.
(Distributed through the Tech Council News Service, a project of the Wisconsin Technology Council.)
MADISON, Wis. – Legacy Solar Cooperative, which has more than 280 members across Wisconsin, is one of 25 similar organizations in the United States to win a Phase 1 “Community Power Accelerator Prize” through the federal Department of Energy.
Part of a three-stage competition, Phase 1 winners such as Legacy Solar Co-op are enrolled in a 10-week accelerator program that trains, develops and supports new and continuing solar developers focused on community solar.
Community solar is a form of solar energy generation that allows all community members to access the meaningful benefits of renewable energy, particularly those with low-to-moderate incomes, renters and those for whom traditional rooftop solar is unavailable. Read more
Legacy Solar Co-op is proud to announce the ribbon cutting ceremony for Curative Connections’ Solar Panel Project taking place Thursday April 20th from 3-4pm in Green Bay. Read more
General Beer Northeast, Inc.March 24, 2025 - 5:29 pm
Humane Society of Burnett CountyMarch 24, 2025 - 3:13 pm
Installer Member Feature: Sunpeak
/in Member InstallersInterview with Hartman Hoel, Project Development Manager at Sunpeak
Tell us more about how Sunpeak began.
In 2014, co-founders Chad Sorenson and Karl Huber saw a unique opportunity to start a commercial solar company in the Midwest focused on quality, customer education, and project efficiency. By blending Chad’s engineering and business expertise with the extensive finance and renewable energy development experience Karl had gained in more mature solar markets overseas (Germany and Japan), they created and honed SunPeak’s process-based approach to solar engineering, procurement, construction, and maintenance. Read more
Curative Connections
/in ProjectsLOCATION: Green Bay, Wisconsin | CAPACITY: 280 kW | COMPLETION DATE: January 2023
SOLAR CONTRACTOR:
Curative Connections is a non-profit in Brown County, Wisconsin that helps seniors and adults with disabilities navigate options that support their goals for independence through a proactive approach to care and a clear focus on individual needs. Founded in 1948, they are a mission-driven and values-focused organization supporting a culture of gentleness.
Read more
Congratulating Emmanuel Community United Methodist Church in Menomonee Falls
/in Events, Project UpdatesWe congratulate Emmanuel Community United Methodist Church in Menomonee Falls as one of our newest projects to go solar this year. Installed by member installer Arch Solar, the church invited us to help them advise them on their project in 2021. Their system is within weeks of commissioning by WE Energies, but they couldn’t wait to celebrate the solar savings they will soon realize! LSC staff attended their ribbon cutting on May 7th.
Racine County Food Bank
/in ProjectsLOCATION: Racine, Wisconsin | CAPACITY: 38 kW | COMPLETION DATE: May 2023
SOLAR CONTRACTOR:
Racine County Food Bank, formed in 1983, serves as Racine County’s “United Way of Food” and distributes food, free of charge to food pantries, emergency shelters, community meal sites and social service agencies throughout Racine County.
Starting with several cases of donated food and a part-time coordinator, the agency has since grown to 4 staff members who, with hundreds of volunteers, manage the collection, warehousing and distribution of over 1,000,000 pounds of food each year.
Read more
Emmanuel Community United Methodist Church
/in ProjectsLOCATION: Menominee Falls, Wisconsin | CAPACITY: 65.86 kW | COMPLETION DATE: May 2023
SOLAR CONTRACTOR:
Emmanuel Community United Methodist Church serves Menomonee Falls and surrounding communities. They have many ministry groups including a very active mission outreach team and green team caring for God’s creation.
We worship in both a traditional sanctuary and large multi-purpose room. Our variety of ministry and study groups meet in different rooms throughout our building.
Read more
Member Spotlight: Northwind Solar
/in Member InstallersInterview with Woody Bolton, Solar Design & Sales / Member-Owner, Northwind Solar
Tell us about your ‘origin story’…
Northwind Solar was founded in 2007 by Josh Stolzenburg and grew into several areas of focus including solar electric, solar thermal, small wind, and energy efficiency. Like the rest of the solar industry Northwind rode the “solar coaster” with unfriendly changes to utility rate structures, uncertainty around incentives and equipment costs. Through all that Northwind learned a lot and built internal capacities. This led to the transition in 2017 from an LLC to a worker owned cooperative and an exclusive focus on solar electric systems. Over the last few years Northwind has added in energy storage systems, electric vehicle charging and smart home panels.
Read more
Legacy Solar Cooperative Wins one of 25 prizes in U.S. energy competition
/in News(Distributed through the Tech Council News Service, a project of the Wisconsin Technology Council.)
MADISON, Wis. – Legacy Solar Cooperative, which has more than 280 members across Wisconsin, is one of 25 similar organizations in the United States to win a Phase 1 “Community Power Accelerator Prize” through the federal Department of Energy.
Part of a three-stage competition, Phase 1 winners such as Legacy Solar Co-op are enrolled in a 10-week accelerator program that trains, develops and supports new and continuing solar developers focused on community solar.
Community solar is a form of solar energy generation that allows all community members to access the meaningful benefits of renewable energy, particularly those with low-to-moderate incomes, renters and those for whom traditional rooftop solar is unavailable. Read more
Ribbon cutting ceremony for Curative Connections
/in Events, Project UpdatesLegacy Solar Co-op is proud to announce the ribbon cutting ceremony for Curative Connections’ Solar Panel Project taking place Thursday April 20th from 3-4pm in Green Bay. Read more
Sheboygan Senior Community Ribbon Cutting
/in EventsAnother LSC project online! Join us to celebrate Sheboygan Senior Community’s solar project.
Date/Time: Mar 21, 2023 4pm
Location: Sheboygan Senior Community, Sheboygan
Perennial Cooperative
/in ProjectsLOCATION: Madison, Wisconsin | CAPACITY: 14.4 kW | COMPLETION DATE: February 2023
SOLAR CONTRACTOR:
Perennial Co-op is an 11-member housing co-op that provides permanent affordable housing on Madison’s south-east side of town.
Read more