Couillard Canopies

Blending solar power with elegant design, the canopies are modular (suitable for residential, commercial or public spaces) and easy to install. All net proceeds from the sale of our solar canopies go to support the Solar for Good and Solar on Schools grant programs.

ANNOUNCEMENT

Here at the Couillard Solar Foundation (CSF), we must share the bittersweet news of our transition. In mid-November, the board voted to dissolve the Foundation. This process will take place gradually with the wind-down taking place over the next year to two years.

Our programs will transition to other organizations, and we are actively in talks to ensure this process goes smoothly. All our current grantees will receive the awards they have been presented, and we will also fill all our current canopy orders.

Our canopy sales will continue for the time being, with the proceeds continuing to be allocated toward Solar for Good and Solar on Schools programming – or to the future iteration of those programs. 

CSF launched in 2018 with a large donation from Laurie and Cal Couillard. Since then, that initial gift has been supplemented by selling solar panels and the canopy that Cal and his business partner, Amer Arafat, designed. Unfortunately, over the last eight years, the rate of CSF giving has exceeded income.
 
What began with our Solar for Good program to help Wisconsin nonprofits forge ahead with producing their own power was expanded in 2019 when we added the Solar on Schools initiative. Since opening our doors, we have seen 258 projects come to fruition, with more than 46 additional arrays in the works. That amounts to more than 18 MW of power generated through our catalyzing grant process.   

It has been our privilege to work with groups that reflect the vast breadth of experience and backgrounds Wisconsinites embody as they have forged new paths towards energy independence through solar power. Over the past eight years, we are proud that our efforts have bolstered projects in 69 of the state’s 72 counties. As the foundation enters this transition, the Couillard family remains committed to the idea that renewable energy offers a sustainable future for all of us, and that we must work together to build that future. It is our collective responsibility to continue to share the message of the benefits of renewable energy.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the foundation’s Executive Director, Jackie Harrison-Jewell, at Director@couillardsolarfoundation.org.

Our Impact

At Couillard Solar Foundation, we’re proud to be driving meaningful change in the renewable energy landscape. Through our dedicated efforts, we’ve successfully funded and supported more than 250 solar projects throughout Wisconsin, marking significant strides towards a cleaner, more sustainable future. Our commitment is reflected in the substantial more than $3,000,000 in grants we’ve distributed, enabling communities, institutions, and individuals to harness the power of the sun.