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.”
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
More than 70 Organizations Recognized as 2022 Climate Champions in Dane County
/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
Mt Zion Baptist Church
/in ProjectsLOCATION: Madison, Wisconsin | CAPACITY: 21.6 kW | COMPLETION DATE: August 2022
SOLAR CONTRACTOR:
Founded in 1911, Mt Zion Baptist is a Madison church dedicated to their core values: “to live our faith, love our family, and lift our community.”
Read more
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 NewsThe 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, Project UpdatesIn 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.
Read more
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. Read more
Earth Day Every Day: EV Car & Sustainability Show
/in EventsLegacy Solar Co-op attended the Earth Day Every Day: EV Car & Sustainability Show on Saturday April 23, 2022 from 10 am – 2 pm at the Middleton Community Church (645 Schewe Rd, Middleton, WI; off Old Sauk Rd). This family-friendly event was held outdoors with dozens of EVs parked in front of the church for attendees to engage with. LSC board members were inside manning the booth and talking sustainability with visitors. It was a lively event with free admission and free popcorn! Besides electric and hybrid cars, there were games for kids, an interactive solar panel display, and lots of tables and displays hosted by representatives from other clean energy and environmental organizations and businesses.