
Steve and Elizabeth Willey started
BACKWOODS SOLAR ELECTRIC SYSTEMS as a home based business in
1978,
after successfully pioneering the use of photovoltaics for their own mountain home, two
miles from utility lines. As of June 11th, 2004, Steve and Elizabeth have
retired but their current employees continue to operate the business for a new
owner who intends to maintain the Backwoods Solar that our customers know! As one of the major mail order renewable energy businesses,
Backwoods Solar Electric once operated from a remote mountain-top property. Both
home and business were 100% powered by the time tested equipment described in the
catalog: 85% by the sun, with wind and back-up generator covering the balance in
snowy winter months. As of mid-August 2004, Backwoods moved out of Steve and
Elizabeth's home and relocated to a facility just a couple of miles down the
road.
Each employee owns and
operates an off-grid home that is powered by the
products we sell. Scott and Tracey's post and beam
home is powered by a
Harris Hydro system with Xantrex and Morningstar products. John powers his
log cabin with Kyocera and Evergreen solar modules
plus Outback products. Shawn uses a Bergey wind
turbine and Kyocera solar modules as well as Outback
power components. Terry has an ES&D hydro turbine
plus Kyocera solar modules on a tracker with Xantrex
power products. And Tom utilizes Shell SQ175 modules
and Outback products for the home he built from the
lumber he milled from the trees on his property.
Backwoods Solar is a catalog
sales source specifically dedicated to serving homes so remote that access to utility lines is not
practical. We are an intentionally small business of
six solar electric
specialists offering personal attention to self-reliant home
owners who choose and install their own power systems. Scott, John,
Tracey, Shawn, Terry or Tom personally answer all letters, email, and calls during business hours, to
help with your questions and equipment needs.
You can browse our
full catalog available on this website, but it is
quite extensive. If you find this catalog suits your
needs, you may want to request a print copy for
easier reference, where you can make notes and more
easily compare items and refer to the educational
material. It is 185 page book size, usually $5, but
FREE to folks when utility lines are not possible to
your site. Just email, postal mail, phone, or fax
your request with your mailing address. We will send
the catalog, plus notify you of any new online
newsletters during the year.
Our mailing list is never given out nor sold,
so you won't be getting any unsolicited mailings
that way.
Your questions will get answered and Your needs will
be met. It is our earnest goal to leave you
completely satisfied.
|