SolarShare WI Cooperative

11/05/2025

Junior Ellie Crosby of the Chippewa Falls High School Green Team is helping lead solar energy projects funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. She knows her generation will face the impact of today’s energy choices.

10/24/2025

Thank you Resource Rural for sharing our story and the amazing work that was supported by these grants. We are working hard to democratize solar energy investment in order to build a brighter future or ALL in Wisconsin.

Larry and Diane Marquardt's farmland is gaining new life as a solar farm, developed by an innovative investing co-op called SolarShare Wisconsin. The five-megawatt solar field in Hallie, Wis., is being seeded with prairie plants, and a U.S. Department of Energy prize is helping seed a curriculum so....

09/17/2025

Join us September 21st for a national celebration of solar as we celebrate SUN DAY. We will be offering tours of two of our solar projects from 10am-12pm.

At this event, guests will receive a guided tour around inside of a working solar farm, learning about how solar projects are constructed, their functional equipment and the ecological impact of pollinator planting within the project.

All visitors are required to wear closed toed shoes, will be given PPE to wear and will need to sign a waiver to participate in the tours.

For directions to Chippewa Sun click this link:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ptq3rNkUgK72q8J36
For directions to Lemonweir Solar click this link:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ciZWvL33xCwaG38U9

For more information about Sun Day Events visit sunday.earth/events

09/09/2025

Join us September 21st for a national celebration of solar as we celebrate SUN DAY. We will be offering tours of two of our three solar projects from 10am-12pm.

At this event, you will receive a guided tour around inside of a solar farm, learning about how solar projects are constructed, their functional equipment and the ecological impact of pollinator planting within the project.

If you are interested in attending the tours at Chippewa Sun visit this link : https://uweauclaire.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2aBbdqXG105mpOC

If you are interested in touring Lemonweir Solar: Please visit this link :

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wqd_hwAX9K1zRlfc8F-qrVIO5LeUQBofr_VKf4rBNsE/edit

All visitors are required to wear PPE and sign a waiver to participate in the tours.

07/01/2025

Check out our June Newsletter!

https://mailchi.mp/solarshare/june-newsletter-solar-itc-removal-threatens-industry-agrivoltaics-program-begins-work

06/02/2025

Check out our May Newsletter!

The RENEW Wisconsin Energy Fund hosted a forum on Community Solar Innovation in Wisconsin. SolarShare’s Executive Director was there to talk with industry leaders, policy experts, investors, landowners, project developers, and local and state-level elected officials about our cooperative model for...

05/22/2025

Wisconsin’s clean energy future is at a crossroads. With political uncertainty threatening to stall progress, we cannot afford to backtrack on renewable energy—we must accelerate it. Solar power isn’t just an environmental imperative; it’s an economic opportunity, a jobs creator, and a critical step toward energy independence.

That’s why we’re launching the Two Birds, One Seed Initiative—a bold new approach to funding solar projects while directly supporting climate-focused nonprofits across the state. This isn’t just about keeping momentum; it’s about multiplying it.

Will you join us?

Do you know a 501(c)(3) fighting for climate action? Partner with us to amplify their impact.

Are you a donor ready to invest in Wisconsin’s solar future? Your support today will help build a cleaner, more resilient tomorrow.

The time to act is now. Let’s ensure Wisconsin doesn’t just keep pace—but leads the way. Who’s with us?

05/20/2025

Resource Rural provides storytelling and communications support services to organizations that are working to build a brighter future for rural communities. We appreciate their work to create an article on our newest project, Chippewa Sun, which was designed and developed by member contractor OneEnergy Renewables in rural Hallie, Wisconsin.

This 5MW project serves three large customers, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Pablo Group Properties and City of Eau Claire - Government providing reliable supply of clean energy from their local utility Xcel Energy Wisconsin.

Larry and Diane Marquardt's farmland is gaining new life as a solar farm, developed by an innovative investing co-op called SolarShare Wisconsin. The five-megawatt solar field in Hallie, Wis., is being seeded with prairie plants, and a U.S. Department of Energy prize is helping seed a curriculum so....

05/08/2025

We've got some big news to share! SolarShare Wisconsin Cooperative is opening a 💵 $2 Million Dollar 💵 share raise, which is our largest share raise to date. Our goal is to use these funds to purchase an equity stake in one or more solar projects in the state.

SolarShare provides financial support for Wisconsin-based solar projects. In our first few years we've invested in three solar projects. We have over 200 members from Wisconsin that have invested nearly $1.3M in community-scale solar projects powering clean energy and financial returns right here in the Dairy State.

🌟 We've recently raised our max investment threshold to $500K to allow Wisconsin-based community foundations to participate in impact investing in their local community. 🌟 If you serve on the board of a Wisconsin-based community foundation focused on impact investing in Wisconsin, please contact our Executive Director Cory Neeley if you'd like to learn more about membership and our commitment to local Wisconsin investors. 🌟

04/22/2025

Earth Day is a special day, and one we celebrate wholeheartedly at SolarShare alongside our members and project partners. Last week, along with Xcel Energy Wisconsin, we were able to provide a tour of the Chippewa Sun Solar Project to students from Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District and the Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce.

We talked with the students about this five megawatt project and explained that this project was an example of collaboration, which is the essence of Earth Day. We explained that the project was designed and developed by OneEnergy Renewables, built by Hunt Electric and owned by Standard Solar and providing clean, renewable energy for Pablo Group Properties, the City of Eau Claire - Government and University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

What a great way to show the next generation that together, we can build a brighter future for ALL in Wisconsin!

03/20/2025

Chippewa Sun is operational and providing clean, carbon free power to three local businesses served by Xcel Energy Wisconsin. This project is located on approximately 33 acres of land purchased by SolarShare in 2023 from members Larry and Diane Marquardt. We are very excited to be a part of this amazing project designed and developed by Member Contractor One Energy Renewables and built by Hunt Electric.

The Chippewa Sun solar array is located in the Town of Hallie.

03/03/2025

This past weekend, our Executive Director, Cory Neeley, had the honor of serving as a judge at Wisconsin’s KidWind Competition, hosted by the Wisconsin Energy Institute. As one of three judges for the solar competition, Cory evaluated the creative and innovative projects presented by elementary and middle school teams from across the state.

It was incredible to see these young minds tackle real-world energy challenges with such enthusiasm and ingenuity. From designing efficient solar solutions to thinking critically about sustainability, these students are proof that the future of is in great hands.

The future of in the Dairy State has never looked brighter. With such talented and passionate students leading the way, we’re excited to see how their ideas will shape the energy landscape of tomorrow.

A huge thank you to the Wisconsin Energy Institute for organizing this inspiring event and to all the students, teachers, and volunteers who made it possible. Let’s keep empowering the next generation of energy leaders!