Rural manufacturer expands competitive capacity with renewable energy grant

It is not a stretch to say that Adam Schaller, a hardworking business owner who operates Lakeshore Die Cast with his dad, is somewhat of a trendsetter in southwest Michigan’s quaint Village of Baroda. What began for Schaller a few years ago with a desire to mitigate a tax burden and reduce fixed costs has evolved into a solar-powered domino effect across the town of fewer than 1,000 residents.

After Schaller installed the first of two solar arrays at Lakeshore Die Cast, which manufactures zinc and aluminum die castings, a funeral home in nearby Bridgman and a nearby pet boarding facility known as Paws N Claws installed their own arrays, while Vail Rubber in nearby St. Joseph is in the process of installing one and Bridgeville Plastic is preparing to. All of that solar power that is being harnessed positively impacts the town’s collective bottom line in a state that isn’t exactly famous for its sunshine. In fact, there are entire months where parts of the state won’t experience a single sunny day. Even still, Schaller said his two solar installations, one of which was partially funded by a USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant, have paid off.

“I [offset] 100 percent of my costs,” he said. “I sell more power than I buy. So, I make money selling power in addition to displacing my costs.”

He asked around and found Harvest Solar, a company that had previously installed an array at Traverse City winery. They told him about USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant opportunity, helped him write it, and then installed the 500-panel array once it was approved, allowing Schaller to demonstrate to his fellow business owners in the process that opportunities were accessible at the local level.