In the News
Projects funded by the Couillard Solar Foundation range from schools to churches to community organizations. But there’s one common thread between them all. They are all proud and excited to talk about their new solar array with their communities.
Here are some articles and videos that highlight the wide variety of projects and communities who have benefited by going solar.
Heckrodt Wetland Reserve Nature Center: Goes solar with grant from Solar for Good
October 26, 2018
WisBusiness, Menasha, WI
Eland Electric completed the installation of the 19.6 kilowatt (kW) system in August. The system has already offset over 5000 pounds of CO2 emissions or the equivalent of planting 126 trees! The solar system was a true community effort: several organizations provided grant financing and local businesses contributed labor and supplies.
Memorial United Church of Christ - Fitchburg
June 7, 2021
Faith in Solar Presentation by Dean Baugardner
A YouTube presentation on the project.
Milestones Marked at Community Homestead
August 21, 2019
The Sun, article by Kelly Holm, Osceola, WI
Installing renewable energy sources, Schmid says, was particularly difficult for nonprofits like Community Homestead as one of the financial incentives for it is a tax credit, and nonprofits are tax-exempt. Which is where Renew Wisconsin steps in — their Solar for Good initiative, which helps to fund solar power expansion for charitable and religious organizations, provided about a quarter of the array’s cost.
Madison VFW Post Goes Solar
May 25, 2019
NBC 15, Madison, WI
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8483 in Madison hosted a ribbon-cutting Saturday for its newly-constructed solar array.
The post’s commander, Carolyn Morgan, said this will help them not only lessen their environmental footprint, but save money to make necessary improvements to their building.
Helping Wisconsin Schools Go Solar
First aired 2/28/2021
Getting the word out about solar is so important. The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) Solar on Schools program, run by Amanda Scheinebeck, has a three-pronged approach. Working with the grant recipients, the schools and school districts who apply for a Solar on Schools grant, Solar on Schools creates interesting articles and offers interviews picked up by local and regional news outlets.
Each grant recipient must also promote their new array by having a ribbon cutting, presentation or other event once the project is complete. And finally, the Solar on Schools program creates a case study for each completed project. These case studies can be used to help inform and educate other school districts interested in going solar.
Check out the interview Amanda did with WSAW-TV in Wausau, to promote the Solar on Schools program.
Madison College's Fort Atkinson and Reedsburg campuses going solar
August 19, 2020
Madison College Newsroom
When crews finished installing more than 5,700 solar panels at Madison College’s Truax campus last year, it became the largest rooftop solar energy system in Wisconsin. Now the college is working on two new solar photovoltaic projects at its Fort Atkinson and Reedsburg campuses.
Solar installation up and running at humane society
June 22, 2020
The Daily Jefferson County Union
The Humane Society of Jefferson County’s new solar power system, referred to as “SUNPAWERED,” is the largest power-generating solar array at a shelter in Wisconsin. It includes 168 solar panels projected to generate more than 74,000 kilowatt-hours per year.
Couillard Business and Philanthropy Speeding Up Wisconsin's Clean Energy Transformation
April 1, 2020
Energy On Wisconsin, UW Madison Extension
Cal Couillard has a vision to make Wisconsin competitive with other states on solar rapidly and he’s actualizing it, between his business- Speed Solar and the Couillard Solar Foundation that he and his wife Laurie run in Deerfield. One part of his plan is to prepare youth for jobs in solar and to create an educated workforce in Wisconsin.
CAP Services’ Photovoltaics for Domestic Violence (PV/DV) Project reduces electricity costs at our Family Crisis Center (FCC)
March 2020
CAP Services Website
The PV/DV project reduces costs at our Family Crisis Center a 24-hour domestic violence and runaway youth shelter in Stevens Point, WI. This increases their financial stability and enables them to direct more resources to client services.
Non-profits can apply to get solar-powered boost
March 3, 2020
WOAW ABC News, Wausau WI, (video on site)
Nonprofit businesses can apply for the Spring round of Solar for Good grants.
Program Seeks 100 Schools to Do Solar
Jan 29, 2020
Urban Milwaukee
“We started getting schools contacting us, and we thought about it a lot, and said, ‘If we’re going to make this transformation over the next 10, 20, 30 years away from burning fossil fuels, we have to get the schools involved because it’s the children’s future that’s involved here.’” Cal Couillard
Ribbon cutting ceremony for new solar system
Oct 3, 2019
Burnett County Sentinel,
The Humane Society of Burnett County (HSBC) is now the proud owner of the largest solar array in Burnett County. Sunday afternoon, HSBC held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the solar system along with a volunteer reception to thank the volunteers.
Merton Community School District joining ranks of districts using solar power to reduce energy costs
Aug 19, 2019
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Merton Community School District is making an investment in solar power, in hopes of saving the district thousands of dollars in energy costs each year.
By using solar power, the district expects to save between $70,000 and $80,000 in annual energy costs over the next 10 years.
Heckrodt Wetland Reserve Nature Center: Goes solar with grant from Solar for Good
October 26, 2018
WisBusiness, Menasha, WI
Eland Electric completed the installation of the 19.6 kilowatt (kW) system in August. The system has already offset over 5000 pounds of CO2 emissions or the equivalent of planting 126 trees! The solar system was a true community effort: several organizations provided grant financing and local businesses contributed labor and supplies.
Memorial United Church of Christ - Fitchburg
June 7, 2021
Faith in Solar Presentation by Dean Baugardner
A YouTube presentation on the project.
Milestones Marked at Community Homestead
August 21, 2019
The Sun, article by Kelly Holm, Osceola, WI
Installing renewable energy sources, Schmid says, was particularly difficult for nonprofits like Community Homestead as one of the financial incentives for it is a tax credit, and nonprofits are tax-exempt. Which is where Renew Wisconsin steps in — their Solar for Good initiative, which helps to fund solar power expansion for charitable and religious organizations, provided about a quarter of the array’s cost.
Madison VFW Post Goes Solar
May 25, 2109
NBC 15, Madison, WI
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8483 in Madison hosted a ribbon-cutting Saturday for its newly-constructed solar array.
The post’s commander, Carolyn Morgan, said this will help them not only lessen their environmental footprint, but save money to make necessary improvements to their building.
Sinsinawa Mound celebrates new solar arrays
November 30, 2018
SW News 4U, Sinsinawa, WI
In carbon footprint 6,936 tons of carbon dioxide will be eliminated, driving reduced by 638,418 gallons of gas, recycling 21,918 tons of waste, displacing carbon dioxide emissions from annual electric use of 787 homes, 6,758,586, pounds of coal burned, and equivalent of planting 161,609 trees.
Veteran's Outreach of WI Powers Up Solar Array
January 28, 2019
Arch Electric Website
The nearly 20-kilowatt array will cut the organization’s electric use by 85% and will save the organization almost $4,000 in annual utility costs. The array has already produced over 2,600 kilowatt-hours of clean, renewable electricity and will continue to operate for another 25 to 30 years. Given the lifespan of the solar panels, Veterans Outreach will recoup virtually the entire cost of all 15 tiny homes in their total electric savings.
UW-Madison students helping Project Home go solar with Re-volv
March 15, 2018
UW Energy Institute, Madison, WI
For 46 years, Project Home’s mission has been to improve the quality and affordability of housing for low-to-moderate income residents in Dane and Green County, Wis. Project Home performs home repairs, accessibility modifications, and energy improvements to make homes healthier and safer, and to ease the financial burden of high energy bills for people who are struggling financially. Project Home’s solar array will save them 15% on their energy bills.
Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters Install Solar Panels with Help from Solar for Good and Focus on Energy
November 18, 2018
Dominican Life USA
Eagle Point Solar of Dubuque, IA completed the three solar installations this past October (2018). The three arrays will directly supply power to a waste-water treatment plant, a well house, and St. Dominic Villa, a skilled nursing facility. Each solar array will offset the congregation’s electric use by 30%, saving the organization over $35,000 in annual utility costs.
Escuela Verde Trains Students and Installs Solar Power with Help from Solar for Good
November 28, 2018
Urban Milwaukee, Milwaukee WI
“It was an honor to work on Escuela Verde’s solar project, because the impact goes far beyond a reduction in the school’s energy bills,” said Project Developer Catie Malcheski of SunVest. “This serves as a tangible opportunity for the students to learn about how energy works, why renewable energy is important, and how we can all have a positive impact on the environment through the decisions we make.”
Solar for Good's First Project
August 17, 2018
Door County Pulse, Bailey’s Harbor
A blue and sunny sky was welcome for the Aug. 13 ribbon cutting for the new 20kw solar system that will supply half of the power used during the 32 annual retreats at the Catholic Youth Expeditions (CYE) campus on Kangaroo Lake.
UW-Madison students helping Project Home go solar with Re-volv
March 15, 2018
UW Energy Institute, Madison, WI
For 46 years, Project Home’s mission has been to improve the quality and affordability of housing for low-to-moderate income residents in Dane and Green County, Wis. Project Home performs home repairs, accessibility modifications, and energy improvements to make homes healthier and safer, and to ease the financial burden of high energy bills for people who are struggling financially. Project Home’s solar array will save them 15% on their energy bills.
Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters Install Solar Panels with Help from Solar for Good and Focus on Energy
November 18, 2018
Dominican Life USA
Eagle Point Solar of Dubuque, IA completed the three solar installations this past October (2018). The three arrays will directly supply power to a waste-water treatment plant, a well house, and St. Dominic Villa, a skilled nursing facility. Each solar array will offset the congregation’s electric use by 30%, saving the organization over $35,000 in annual utility costs.
Spreading the Gospel of Solar
March 1, 2018
Urban Milwaukee article by Laura Thompson
This article introduces the Solar for Good program to Wisconsin.
Solar for Good's First Project
Oct 9, 2019
Energy on Wisconsin, UW Madison
The Beth Israel Center was the first project launched by Solar for Good in Wisconsin. It was a 62 kW rooftop solar array.
In a Wave of Solar Energy, Pilgrim United Church of Christ Goes Green
April 13, 2018
FDL Reporter, Fond du Lac
During the two year development process, Pilgrim UCC decided to install an array that would save them more than $40,000 over the life of the solar array. The project was financed through Legacy Solar Co-op.
Kevala Liberation Park Solar Array is Up and Running
May 2018
This and That at Kevala, newsletter
The Kevala solar array, ground mounted with 34 panels capable of producing 11.9 kW was up and running in May of 2018. The total cost of $33,977 was fully paid for without having to borrow. The objective was to produce or offset 90% of the camp’s energy needs.