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Solar Installation in Stevens Point, Plover and Portage County

Updated October 2026. Northwind Solar is a worker-owned solar company headquartered in Amherst, right here in Portage County. We have completed 389 projects in Portage County since 2008, more than in any other county. That includes 189 in Stevens Point, 61 in Amherst, 45 in Plover and 37 in Custer. We design, permit, install and service solar and battery systems for homes, farms, businesses and public buildings.

Because this is home base, our crews and service techs are usually a short drive from your house.

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Northwind Solar install crew working on a residential rooftop array
How battery backup works in Central Wisconsin: diagram

What does solar look like in Stevens Point and the rest of Portage County?

Most of our Portage County work is residential. Our 389 projects here total about 3,300 kW, so the typical system is home-sized. Here is how it breaks down by area:

  • Stevens Point. 189 projects. Older neighborhoods often have mature trees, so we model shade carefully before we recommend a layout.
  • Plover. 45 projects. Newer subdivisions often have open roofs with less shade, but we still check direction and pitch on every home.
  • Amherst, Custer and Almond. 61, 37 and 10 projects. Rural lots often have room for a ground mount, and homes on private wells often want backup power during outages.
  • Farms in the Central Sands. Irrigation, grain drying and cooling loads can be large. Roof space on sheds and barns is often the easiest place to start.

Public buildings, too. On the UW-Stevens Point campus, we designed and installed the Kirby Library and Student Resource Center system, a 46.56 kW array completed in 2023, with a second 166 kW phase scheduled for 2026. Across all counties, 84 of our projects are for nonprofits and tax-exempt groups such as schools, churches and local governments. See solar for tax-exempt organizations.

Want to see local work? Browse our project portfolio and customer reviews.

monitoring ap

Who is my electric utility in Stevens Point, Plover and Amherst?

Stevens Point and Plover are Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) territory; both are listed in WPS's electric tariff. Outside those two communities, Portage County is a patchwork. Depending on your address, your bill may come from WPS, Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative, Adams-Columbia Electric Cooperative or another utility. We work with all of them.

UtilityNorthwind projectsFocus on Energy rebate
WPS494Participating utility
Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative60Not on participating list (as of October 2026)
Adams-Columbia Electric Cooperative56Participating utility

Project counts are across all counties we serve, not just Portage.

Incentives in 2026: The federal homeowner solar credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. Focus on Energy now pays $600 per kW, up to $2,400, for qualifying home systems purchased and installed in 2026. WPS's tariff includes a net energy billing rider (PG-4), and the Public Service Commission is still reviewing net metering statewide. Read our net metering explainer and incentives page.

Sources: WPS municipalities served; WPS tariff index; Focus on Energy participating utilities; PSC rebate announcement; Congressional Research Service; RENEW Wisconsin.

Why Portage County neighbors choose Northwind

Northwind was founded in Amherst in 2007, and we have recorded 389 Portage County projects since 2008. Here is what that means for you.

Headquartered in Amherst

Northwind started here in 2007 and is owned by the people who work here. When you call about your system, you reach a local team that has worked on hundreds of Portage County homes, not a national call center. Our office number is 715-630-6451.

Battery backup that has been tested

143 of our projects include battery storage, including a Stevens Point home that rode out a 27-hour outage. We install Tesla Powerwall 3, FranklinWH and Enphase batteries, and can add one to a system you already have. In WPS territory, adding a battery can change your interconnection and net-metering terms, so we check that before you buy. See solar plus storage.

Schools, churches and local government

From the UW-Stevens Point Kirby Library array to smaller church and nonprofit roofs, we have built 84 projects for nonprofits and tax-exempt groups. We help boards and councils understand the options, the timeline and the paperwork before they vote. See tax-exempt solar.

EV charging at home or work

Pair your solar with a home or workplace EV charger so your car runs on power from your own roof. We handle the electrical work and can size the solar system with the charger in mind. Learn about EV charging.

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Going solar with a local installer: the steps

Step 1 – Ask for a free estimate

Fill out our estimate form or call 715-630-6451. We will ask for a recent electric bill.

Step 2 – Get a design built around your bill

We check roof condition, shade from mature trees and yard space, then lay out a system sized to the power you actually use.

Step 3 – We file the paperwork

Permits, the WPS or co-op interconnection application, and any Focus on Energy rebate reservation are handled for you.

Step 4 – Install and inspect

Our crew installs the system, the local inspector signs off, and your utility approves the connection.

Step 5 – Service from down the road

We monitor performance with you and come back for service, battery add-ons or expansions as your needs change.

Frequently Asked questions

Is Northwind Solar a local Stevens Point-area company?

Yes. Northwind Solar was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Amherst, about 20 minutes east of Stevens Point. It is a worker-owned cooperative. We have completed 389 projects in Portage County since 2008, including 189 in Stevens Point and 45 in Plover.

Does a home battery really help during a power outage?

Yes, if it is set up to back up your essential circuits. Kathy Weisbrod of Stevens Point wrote: "We are appreciating our solar panels and backup battery system! Our neighborhood has been without power for 27 hours so far. We have been comfortable because our essentials have kept running on the solar energy stored in our battery. The app says we could go another 3 days if we have to! Thank you Northwind!!"

What solar incentives are available in Portage County in 2026?

The federal homeowner credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. Focus on Energy pays $600 per kW, up to $2,400, for qualifying home systems purchased and installed in 2026, if your utility participates. WPS and Adams-Columbia participate; as of October 2026, Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative is not on the list. Businesses and nonprofits have separate rules.

Does WPS still offer net metering in Stevens Point?

WPS's current electric tariff includes a net energy billing rider (PG-4) for qualifying customer-owned systems. The Public Service Commission has an open investigation into net metering, so terms for future customers could change. We will show you the current WPS terms in your proposal and explain what they mean for your payback.

Can Northwind fix a solar system another company installed?

Yes. We service and repair systems that other companies installed, including ones whose installer has gone out of business. Common calls are inverter faults, monitoring that stopped reporting, and roof work that requires removing and reinstalling panels. Start with our service request form.

Does Northwind install solar for schools, churches and nonprofits?

Yes. 84 of our projects are for nonprofits and tax-exempt organizations. In Stevens Point, that includes the solar array on UW-Stevens Point's Kirby Library and Student Resource Center: a 46.56 kW array completed in 2023, with a second 166 kW phase scheduled for 2026. Our tax-exempt solar page covers funding paths and how we work with boards.

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