A Business Model for Community Finance of Clean Energy (March 2010)

There are a number of emerging business models for the community finance of energy efficiency and/or renewable energy. The most well known of these models is the Berkeley Model, through which a municipality uses money from a municipal bond offering to make energy efficiency and/or renewable energy loans to homeowners and businesses who then pay the loans back via a “top off” on their property taxes.

Despite its elegance, the Berkeley Model and similar models face a number of challenges, including the inability of many smaller municipalities to issue municipal bonds. But there are other options available.

In this presentation, we discuss the various options for community/municipal financing of energy efficiency and renewable energy, looking at the benefits and challenges of each in turn. We also provide a broad outline of a community finance option that may be more appropriate for smaller municipalities unwilling or unable to tap the bond market.

Originally presented at the 2010 Green Energy Summit in Milwaukee, WI (March 2010).

Preparing Your Solar Business for an Uncertain Future (October 2009)

It is easy to argue that solar energy will play a vital role in solving our future energy problems. But it’s not as easy to determine what the solar energy industry will look like and what business models—both current and yet to be determined—will survive the ongoing energy evolution.

In this presentation, we discuss several ways in which the solar industry may evolve and the business models that have a strong chance of thriving. We also present a clear, step-by-step process that you can use to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of your own business model and prepare it for an uncertain future.

Originally presented at the Solar Decade Conference 2009 in Milwaukee, WI (October 2009).

Business Planning for Solar Installers (October 2009)

This presentation (and supporting reference guide) is part of a full-day business planning workshop designed to provide general information about business planning for solar energy installation businesses.

It presents a step-by-step process, prepared to guide a business owner or entrepreneur from the development of a general idea to the creation of a business plan. The workshop addresses the need for, and importance of, business planning and the basic components of the business planning process: Legal and Organization Planning, Financial Considerations, Strategic Planning, and Financial Analysis.

Regularly presented as part of the Midwest Renewable Energy Association’s continuing education program.

Wisconsin Solar Professional Survey 2009 (March 2009)

82 percent of solar energy professionals in Wisconsin expect the solar energy market in the United States to grow by more than 30 percent annually during the next 3 to 5 years, according to the Wisconsin Solar Professional Survey 2009. Respondents also expect strong growth in active business revenue, with 46 percent expecting growth to exceed 30 percent annually over the same period.

These and other results from the first installment of this annual survey indicate broad optimism among Wisconsin solar professionals, despite concerns about overall economic uncertainty. The survey also indicates a strong interest in business planning training and support to help solar business professionals meet their growth expectations.

These results are from the first annual survey in this series. The survey itself was conducted in January/February 2009.