Andrew Holmstrom is Helping Turn Sunshine Into More Healthy Food for Families

By lowering energy costs through renewable energy, Andrew Holmstrom, Business Development Supervisor for Arch Solar, is helping Hunger Task Force invest more in providing healthy, nutritious food for local families and seniors.

As a 100 percent community-supported organization, Hunger Task Force takes pride in stewarding donor resources wisely. Earlier this summer, we completed phase two of a multi-year solar project at our West Milwaukee headquarters. Designed and installed by Arch Solar, the 265-kilowatt rooftop system has made our facility more energy-efficient, helping us lower operating costs and redirect funds to support our mission to end hunger in the community.

Andrew helped lead the project from start to finish. His work included designing and developing the scope of the system, conducting feasibility and cost analyses, navigating permits and incentives and collaborating with Hunger Task Force leadership to bring the solar array to life.

“Personally, this project means a lot to me,” Andrew shares. “Hunger Task Force does such great work making sure families in Milwaukee have the food they need and it feels good to support that in a meaningful way. I’ve always been proud to be from Milwaukee. Being able to help a local nonprofit lower their energy costs so they can focus more on helping people is the kind of work that reminds me why I got into this field in the first place.”

Hunger Task Force’s rooftop array now features 465 solar panels. Chosen for their efficiency and ability to capture more sunlight, the bifacial panels are tilted at an 18–20% angle to maximize exposure. These panels are designed to generate energy from both the front and back and harness reflected sunlight in addition to direct rays. The system generates more than 320,000 kilowatt-hours of clean, renewable energy each year covering nearly 65 percent of the facility’s total power use. With thousands of dollars in annual savings, the project is not just environmentally responsible, it’s a smart investment.

For Andrew, it is a win-win. He knows that when a nonprofit like Hunger Task Force can harness the sun to power its operations, it is not just reducing emissions but also is expanding impact.

Hunger Task Force has invested in other energy-efficient upgrades at its facility, including LED lighting, smart HVAC systems, variable frequency drive motors and Energy Star-rated refrigeration. These efforts highlight the organization’s commitment to sustainability and making the most efficient use of every resource.

Andrew is already looking ahead. With plenty of rooftop space still available, he sees even greater opportunity to expand the solar project and further support Hunger Task Force’s mission through clean energy.

“When we designed this installation, we made sure it was expandable and set up for future growth,” says Andrew. “There’s a lot of opportunity ahead to make an even bigger impact.”

At Hunger Task Force, we are grateful for the people who make our mission possible like Andrew Holmstrom. Thank you, Andrew, for being a true Friend of Free & Local.