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Solar Installation in Appleton, Oshkosh and the Fox Valley

Updated October 2026. Yes, Northwind Solar installs and services solar in the Fox Valley. To be upfront, our track record here is modest: 21 projects in Outagamie County and 10 in Winnebago County since 2008, including 13 in Appleton, 5 in Oshkosh, 5 in New London and 4 in Hortonville. Founded in 2007, we have completed more than 1,000 projects statewide since 2008.

We are a worker-owned cooperative based in Amherst, about an hour west on Highway 10. In the Fox Valley we often help with battery backup and with service on systems another company installed.

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Solar panels on the roof of a brick home in Wisconsin
How battery backup works in Central Wisconsin: diagram

Why would a Fox Valley homeowner hire an installer from Amherst?

The Fox Valley has plenty of solar companies. Here is what we bring that may matter to you:

  • Experience across many utilities. Our more than 1,000 projects recorded since 2008 total about 15.7 MW. They span investor-owned utilities, city-owned utilities and electric co-ops, so the paperwork side is familiar to us.
  • Battery depth. 143 of our projects include battery storage. We install Tesla Powerwall 3, FranklinWH aPower S and aPower 2, and Enphase IQ Battery 10C.
  • Service for orphaned systems. Some Fox Valley homeowners bought systems from companies that have since closed. We repair and support systems another company installed.
  • A neighbor to the west. We have completed 100 projects in Waupaca County, next door to New London and Hortonville. That includes Waupaca City Hall, about 117 kW of solar with battery storage.

What we won't claim: that we are the biggest installer in Appleton or Oshkosh. See our reviews and portfolio.

monitoring ap

Which utility serves Appleton, Oshkosh, Neenah and Menasha?

The Fox Valley has more utilities than most areas, and your utility shapes your interconnection steps and solar credits.

AreaElectric utility
AppletonWe Energies
OshkoshWisconsin Public Service (WPS)
KaukaunaKaukauna Utilities (city-owned)
MenashaMenasha Utilities (city-owned)
New LondonNew London Utilities (city-owned)
Neenah and surrounding townsVaries by address; check your bill

We have connected 43 projects to We Energies and 494 to WPS across all the areas we serve. Kaukauna, Menasha and New London utilities, along with We Energies and WPS, are all Focus on Energy participating utilities. That means the 2026 home solar rebate of $600 per kW, up to $2,400, can apply to qualifying home systems purchased and installed in 2026.

The federal homeowner solar credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. The Public Service Commission is still reviewing net metering statewide. See our incentives page and net metering explainer.

Sources: WFRV (We Energies, Appleton); WPS municipalities served; American Public Power Association; Focus on Energy participating utilities; PSC rebate announcement; RENEW Wisconsin.

What Northwind brings to the Fox Valley

Four reasons Fox Valley homeowners and businesses call us, even with installers closer by.

Battery backup expertise

143 of our projects include batteries, from single Powerwalls to commercial storage. We size backup around what you need to keep running, such as a sump pump, furnace or medical equipment, and can add a battery to a solar system you already own. In WPS territory, adding a battery can change your interconnection and net-metering terms, so we check that before you buy.

Orphaned system service

If your installer closed or stopped answering, your system still needs care. We diagnose inverter faults, fix monitoring, handle remove-and-reinstall when you need a new roof, and help you sort out which manufacturer warranties still apply to your panels and inverter. Request service.

City-owned utility know-how

Kaukauna, Menasha and New London run their own electric utilities, each with its own interconnection forms and solar credit rules. We have worked through those steps with many Wisconsin utilities, from big investor-owned companies to small city utilities, and will explain your utility's terms before you sign.

Business and nonprofit solar

We have completed 112 commercial and 84 nonprofit or tax-exempt projects. In 2026, Focus on Energy's business rebate pays $600 per kW up to $2,400, then $50 per kW above that, up to $25,000 per project, for systems on a non-residential meter. See commercial solar.

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How a Fox Valley project works with Northwind

Step 1 – Request an estimate

Use our free estimate form or call 715-630-6451. Tell us your utility and send a recent bill.

Step 2 – Remote review, then site visit

We start with satellite imagery and your usage, then visit in person to confirm the roof, electrical panel and shade.

Step 3 – Utility and permit paperwork

We file with We Energies, WPS or your city-owned utility, and pull local permits.

Step 4 – Install and turn on

Our crew installs the system. Once the inspection and utility approval are done, you switch it on.

Frequently Asked questions

How many Fox Valley projects has Northwind Solar completed?

Since 2008, Northwind Solar has completed 21 projects in Outagamie County and 10 in Winnebago County. That includes 13 in Appleton, 5 in Oshkosh, 5 in New London and 4 in Hortonville. Northwind was founded in 2007, and statewide we have completed more than 1,000 projects since 2008, including 100 in neighboring Waupaca County.

My solar installer went out of business. Can Northwind help?

Yes. We service and repair solar systems that another company installed. We can troubleshoot inverters and monitoring, check wiring and roof attachments, remove and reinstall panels for roof replacement, and add battery backup. Equipment warranties often stay with the manufacturer even when the installer is gone, and we can help you check.

Does Northwind install home batteries in the Fox Valley?

Yes. We install Tesla Powerwall 3, FranklinWH aPower S and aPower 2, and Enphase IQ Battery 10C, and 143 of our projects include storage. Mark Visocky of New London wrote: "The Powerwall you installed last year came through this morning with a power outage. Thanks Northwind!"

Can Kaukauna, Menasha or New London utility customers get the Focus on Energy solar rebate?

Yes. Kaukauna Utilities, Menasha Utilities and New London Utilities are all on Focus on Energy's participating-utility list. For 2026, the home rebate is $600 per kW, up to $2,400, for qualifying home systems purchased and installed in 2026. Applications are due within 60 days of operation and no later than January 31, 2027.

Is the federal solar tax credit still available for Appleton homeowners?

No. The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit does not apply to home solar installed after December 31, 2025. Unused credit from a 2025 or earlier installation can still carry forward. Focus on Energy's 2026 rebate requires you to agree not to claim the federal homeowner credit for the same system.

Does Northwind do commercial solar in Appleton and Oshkosh?

Yes. We have completed 112 commercial projects and 84 nonprofit or tax-exempt projects across Wisconsin. Businesses can apply for Focus on Energy's 2026 non-residential rebate, which pays $600 per kW up to $2,400, then $50 per kW beyond that, up to $25,000. Federal business tax rules differ from homeowner rules, so ask us.

What Our Customers Are Saying

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