Stanley Minnick is an H&H Solar project manager and salesperson for residential and commercial solar electric projects. He is also the founder of Clean Energy Fun - a company that sells books and games that are both fun and educational that feature clean energy.
In his own words, Stanley tells his story of how he came into the clean energy industry, what motivated him to start Clean Energy Fun and why he is offering 30% of December sales to support clean energy organizations including the Sierra Club-John Muir Chapter.
Stanley’s Background
At H&H Solar, I get to wear as many hats as I like, and in addition to performing site assessments, generating quotes and managing projects; I also spend time working on the website, managing the group-buy programs, and performing other tasks as needed. I don't think I've ever heard anyone here say "that's not my job," and I think that's fairly common in the solar industry.
Before deciding to go back to school to study clean energy I worked primarily in the restaurant industry. After my eldest son Elwood was born I moved to Madison. Financially times were more than a bit tight, and I knew I wanted a change. The final decision to pursue a green collar job was made driving back from my first Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) Energy Fair in Custer. Walking through the booths and exhibits, and sensing the enthusiasm and excitement present at that event provided the spark.
I took a lot of classes over the next few years, many through the MREA, some at Madison College, others online. I tried to keep my options as open as possible, learning about various forms of clean energy and working on skills I thought might apply anywhere. The first clean energy project I had a part in developing, during an early internship, was a solar hot water system at Glass Nickel Pizza, the same restaurant I had worked at when studying.
About a year later one of my first instructors at MATC mentioned a job opportunity working with him at H&H in the energy management division. I started in that division and after about 8 months moved over to solar. I have been fortunate to learn from some of the best and most experienced in the industry. H&H has installed over 1,000 solar energy systems and has been doing it as long as any installer in the state. We’ve been fortunate to work with the Sierra Club the last few years on the statewide group-buy program. It’s been a fantastic partnership that has helped homeowners save on the cost of solar while supporting the work of the Sierra Club at the same time.
The Importance of Clean Energy
I think the potential for economic empowerment through green collar jobs should be one of the central themes in any discussion about clean energy. Solar employs over 170,000 people in the US. The majority of the jobs are in installation, work that is not in danger of being outsourced. Careers in clean energy pay living wages and provide a source of pride and the promise of being part of something meaningful. When I help a family or a business install solar I can easily estimate the lifetime environmental impact of the installation, which serve as numeric validation.
I am proud of the work I am able to do, and the process of helping someone take control of their energy future is exhilarating. By working toward something I feel is extremely important I hope to encourage my children and others to do the same. Reducing the amount of fossil fuels shipped to and burned in Wisconsin is a rewarding experience.
Clean Energy Fun
I volunteered to lead Clean Energy Club at Elwood's school a few years ago, and have continued to do so each year. In the process of preparing for the club I came up with the idea of creating a clean energy card game. Educating anyone about clean energy is a blast, and for kids even more so. I feel the best way to teach these subjects is to relate them to things that mattered to the kids. I also focus on having fun. Activities like solar bristlebots serve as excellent introductions to renewable energy.
I worked on Clean Energy Empire the card game for almost a year, creating prototypes and testing them, working on content and creating the website. Last november I ran a Kickstarter campaign in order to produce and distribute copies of the game around the country in time for the holidays. In June 2015 I improved the box, added some variety to the photos, and released the second edition.
This summer the idea for Susie the Solar Salamander came up while on the way back from a family vacation on Rock Island in Door County. I worked with an illustrator and created the first book, Solar on the Farm this fall. Eventually I plan on producing more books as well as hardcover versions. Once the decision was made to create a second project, the idea of the Clean Energy Fun LLC became practical. I have other ideas for additional products and variations/adaptations, and hope to release one or two a year.
My wife Megan provided a ton of help improving the text, as did my co-worker Eric Udelhofen. Many of the solar photos were taken by my co-worker Chris Collins. The illustrations were done by an illustrator in India named Tanya Gupta. I found her work online and thought the style would really suit Susie the Solar Salamander.
In addition to the game and book I also distribute educational resources free of charge on the website. I plan to increase the amount of educational resources on the website gradually as I prepare for the upcoming Clean Energy Club. Currently there are a couple activities designed for the classroom or home.
The 30% for 30 Offer: Clean Energy Fun and The Sierra Club
I've been impacted by the work of the Sierra Club, RENEW and the MREA for years. Rather than offering a large discount this holiday season I thought it'd be better to work with these groups and to support their missions. Whether it’s fighting for fair rooftop solar policy,training the next generation of solar professionals, or organizing statewide for conservation efforts, these three groups will always be leading the charge in our state, as we slowly but certainly make our way towards a clean energy future.
Supporting these organizations should come naturally for anyone who:
Works in or plans to work in the renewable energy or efficiency fields.
Has a solar energy or other renewable energy system.
Enjoys the natural beauty that the great state of Wisconsin is known for.
Continuing to Improve
I love suggestions for future improvements and product ideas. If you’ve played Clean Energy Empire or read Susie the Solar Salamander and have suggestions on content or execution I’d love to hear them via email. I try to improve something about the products each time I go to press.