National Efforts Go Local: Federal Grants from Inflation Reduction Act Continue Supporting Michiganders to Go Solar

Local Stories Showcase National Solar Boom Trend Helped by Biden-Era Law

Michigan – After the recent news that federal grants reached a new milestone for supporting solar in communities across the country, with $1 billion in grants allocated through the rural energy program alone, Solar United Neighbors is celebrating the success stories in Michigan where grants made a difference for businesses, homeowners and rural communities alike. 

For example, the Presbyterian Church of Okemos installed a 40-kilowatt ground-mounted solar array in 2023 thanks to IRA-established Direct Pay. In west Michigan, the fully integrated coffee company Aldea Coffee installed a 20-kilowatt array on their roastery in 2023 thanks to help from IRA and the investment tax credit (ITC). In Ann Arbor, EV-owner Louis Daher now powers his home—and car—on solar. In Fairgrove, the boat- and ATV-dealer Lindy’s Sales now runs on solar energy thanks to a 22-kilowatt array installed in August 2024 with help from REAP and ITC. The owner of that company, Lisa Valentine, also went solar on her Tuscola County home in 2022 with help from IRA.

These success stories mirror the broader national movement, where communities from Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota to Virginia, West Virginia, Florida, and beyond are reaping the rewards of going solar with federal support. Read more about them below. 

All participants are available for interviews, as are solar experts with the nonprofit Solar United Neighbors (SUN). 

Presbyterian Church of Okemos Brings Solar to Faith Communities

Revered Lisa Schrott became Pastor at the Presbyterian Church of Okemos in Okemos, Michigan, in 2021. Upon joining the church, she was quickly introduced to the congregation’s Green Team, who shared their desire to install a solar array. Lisa not only supported the idea but was thrilled to hear the project was already in motion. “Our main reason for doing this was that we are called to be good stewards of God's creation,” shared Lisa Schrott. By producing their own renewable energy, they would be living into that call. In addition to stewardship, the financial benefits would support their operations and enable them to have a greater impact in their community. 

To meet its energy needs, the ch urch would need to install a 40 - kilowatt solar array. The 100 - panel system had a total cost of $86,800, prompting them to launch a capital campaign that successfully raised $21,000. To cover the remaining expenses, they planned to take a loan from a bequest left to the church and establish a Limited Liability Company (LLC). 

In 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) eliminated the church’s need to pursue this avenue through its Direct Pay provision. Now tax - exempt entities can receive the equivalent amount of the 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) as a direct payment from the federal government. 

With an additional $25,980 in financial support through Direct Pay, the church installed a ground-mounted array in March 2023. The panels will save the church $6,000 per year in electricity costs, helping them to pay back the cost in about seven years. “From then on it will be free and clear — Just all free clean energy,” said Jeff Arbour, chair of the church’s Green Team.

Presbyterian Church contacts Lisa Schrott and Jeff Arbour are available for interviews by request. 

Aldea Coffee Roasts with Sunshine

Aldea Coffee manages every aspect of its supply chain, from its partner farms in La Union, Honduras, to its roastery in Muskegon, Michigan. As a fully integrated coffee company, it maintains control of its product from seed to cup, ensuring the entire operation is aligned with its wider mission of sustainability. In 2024, Aldea’s leadership applied this ethos to its energy consumption and installed a 20 - kilowatt solar array on its roastery. 

“We knew we wanted solar to be on our building at some point. As the conversations were coming up, we came across the REAP grant and decided to go for it right away,” shared Brittany Goode, Aldea’s Sustainability Manager. The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) awarded Aldea a $20,000 grant to offset the upfront costs of going solar. The business will secure additional savings through the 30% solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). Together, these federal incentives funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) lowered the company’s cost to go solar by $44,000.

For Aldea Coffee, going solar was a natural extension of its mission. Federal incentives eased financial barriers, accelerating the transition and enabling the m to begin reaping the benefits of distributed renewable energy. The company hopes to be an example of how sustainable business practices can support long - term financial success.

Brittany Goode is available for interviews by request.

An ATV Dealer Goes Solar in Business and At Home

Lisa Valentine’s family has run Lindy’s Sales, a boat and ATV dealership, for over 50 years. Lisa first went solar at home, installing panels on the roof of her house on the shores of Lake Huron in Tuscola, County in 2022. This is the year the IRA extended and increased the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which was due to sunset. Through the ITC homeowners can save up to 30 percent on the cost of a residential solar system. Aided by this incentive, Lisa installed a 14.4 - kilowatt roof - mounted array on her home. She applied the tax credit over two years to secure the maximum benefit — about $12,000 in savings. 

Encouraged, she decided to bring the benefits of solar to her business. Learning they were eligible for grant funding through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) made the idea a reality. Supported by REAP and the solar investment tax credit (ITC) they installed a 22 - kilowatt array in August 2024. 

Lisa knew how solar stood to benefit her business, but the incentives were crucial to moving forward with the project. “Without that $31,000 grant, I wouldn't have done it.” “My number one motivation was to reduce my [monthly] bill,” she said. Establishing the business’s financial security took priority, but the environmental benefits of producing clean energy were also important. “I want to be a good steward of the environment. I want to protect our natural resources for my kids and grandkids in the future.” The savings she secured on the upfront costs made both goals possible. 

Lisa Valentine is available for interviews by request. 

Ann Arbor Homeowner Louis Daher Goes Solar For His EV Needs

Louis Daher is a solar homeowner from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Personal concerns about the impact of his higher-than-average energy demand—largely due to his electronic appliances and electric vehicle—led him to purchase renewable energy from his local utility provider at a premium for years. The savings offered by the Inflation Reduction Act’s investment in solar enabled Louis to install an array of his own and receive the full benefit of powering his home with renewable energy. 

“I was still on the fence until the Biden administration passed the solar incentives,” shared Louis. In 2022 the federal government passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which crucially increased and extended the solar investment tax credit (ITC) to 30 percent, among other renewable energy investments. The opportunity to save on the cost via the tax credit put solar within reach. Supported by these federal and local incentives, Louis installed a 12-kilowatt system in December 2023. Knowing he would need to apply the tax credit over two years to secure the maximum benefit — about $8,000 — Louis’ installer expedited the installation to fall within the 2023 tax year. The new system is saving Louis an average of $100 per month on electricity.

Louis Daher is available for interviews by request. 

A Nationwide Movement of Solar Success Stories

Solar power is rapidly expanding across the U.S., with a record 32.4 GW of new capacity added in 2023, including 22.5 GW of utility-scale installations. This represents a 51% increase from the previous year and a 37% jump over the prior record set in 2021. The country’s total solar capacity now stands at 177 GW, and with continued support from federal policies like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), deployment is projected to quadruple in the next decade. The IRA has also fueled an 89% growth in U.S. solar module manufacturing in 2023, making solar more affordable, reliable, and accessible than ever before.

Michigan's solar success is part of this broader national trend. With federal support through the IRA, communities across the U.S. are adopting solar energy to reduce energy costs, enhance sustainability, and empower local economies. For example:

• Elsewhere in Michigan, Brian Hayden from Ann Arbor installed solar on his home through a local Solarize campaign, offsetting his household’s energy use with a 7.5-kilowatt system. Meanwhile, Adam Schaller of Lakeshore Die Cast in Baroda integrated solar into his manufacturing operations, allowing his business to offset 100% of its energy costs and sell excess power back to the grid.

• In Georgia, veteran and former EPA employee Jay Bassett went solar through the Solarize Gwinnett program. His system powers two-thirds of his household energy needs, while he organized his community to donate Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to local nonprofits, furthering sustainability efforts in the area.

• In Wisconsin, Tony Schultz of Stoney Acres Farm has used solar to cover 75% of his electricity needs, while Paul Huber of Troy Farm achieved net-zero energy costs. Both are examples of how solar energy can sustain small, family-owned farms in rural areas.

• In Minnesota, dairy farmer Art Thicke of Enchanted Meadows and berry farmer Stuart Lavalier of Grand Rapids have achieved complete energy independence through solar. Both farms now generate more power than they need, selling the excess back to the grid.

• In Virginia, Janet Aardema of Broadfork Farm transitioned her agricultural operations to solar, reducing her energy bills significantly and reinvesting in sustainable farming practices.

• In West Virginia, East West Printing and Still Hollow Spirits have integrated solar into their operations, cutting costs and aligning their businesses with environmentally conscious practices.

• In Florida, businesses like John Kocol’s Island Hammock Pet Hospital and Nick Wishnatzki’s Wish Farms have adopted solar, enhancing their operations while reducing environmental impacts.

• And more!

Supporting Michigan Solar Transition

Michigan residents and businesses interested in learning more about going solar and how incentives can benefit them can download SUN’s Go Solar guide:https://act.solarunitedneighbors.org/a/go-solar-guide

Or contact SUN’s Solar Help Desk, which takes the complexity out of solar so individuals can make informed decisions: https://solarunitedneighbors.org/help-desk/.

About Solar United Neighbors
Solar United Neighbors is a nonprofit organization that works in Michigan and nationwide to represent the needs and interests of solar owners and supporters. Solar United Neighbors holds events and education programs to help people become informed solar consumers, maximize the value of their solar investment, and advocate for fair solar policies.