NAPPANEE — Brian Burkholder's customers use solar energy to power everything from electric sports cars to buggy light batteries.
Burkholder is president of Solar Energy Systems in Nappanee, which started with off-grid installations and soon expanded into systems that tie into the power grid. An electrician by trade, he was drawn to solar power by curiosity and liked the results enough that he decided to go into business.
His nine full-time employees regularly service an area that stretches from Detroit to Indianapolis, though they've also done installations in five countries and 24 other states. Their customers include schools, churches, businesses, farms and homes, he said during an open house for his company Thursday.
"Not one of my customers has said they regret switching to solar," he said.
THE AMISH AND THE ENGLISH
Burkholder estimated that about a third of his customers are Amish, like himself, who often use solar power to replace or supplement gas-powered generators. He pointed out 12-volt refrigerators and freezers in his showroom that can run off solar panels, and noted there are washing machines available too.
About 200 of his customers in northern Indiana are completely self-sufficient, or nearly so, he said.