For 25 years, the family-owned W.S. Badger Company, or " Badger ," known for their Badger Balm and other organic care products, has grown steadily with a deep commitment to environmental responsibility. Their latest success is the completion of a 277-kilowatt solar array, which brings their total project size to a whopping 525-kilowatt solar energy system. This will provide a significant portion of their electricity, and save the company more than $3.5 million over the next 40 years while eliminating over 600,000 pounds of carbon pollution every year.
Badger began as a project of resilience - founder Bill Whyte was working as a carpenter and wanted to protect his hands during harsh winters - and now they are more resilient than ever with solar electricity insulating them from ever-rising utility rates.
Badger has gone solar at no upfront cost through a power purchase agreement (PPA) with ReVision, through which they will later have the opportunity to purchase the system outright for a much reduced cost, and then enjoy 25+ more years of clean energy.
This solar project is yet another milestone for a company that has taken many big steps. Founders Bill Whyte and Katie Schwerin grew the company to more than 100 products and 80+ employees, and then passed leadership on to their daughters Rebecca and Emily, who are now Badger's co-CEOs: Collaborative Executive Officers. With "kindness as their compass," Badger continually works hard to maintain a healthy community-minded business with ethical and charitable social principles. In 2011 they became a Certified B Corp to further the power of their business to that end.
