In this Episode of The Solar Power Hour, William Grant sits down with:

John Morris - President & CEO, Peoria Riverfront Museum

Renae Kerrigan - Curator of Science and Planetarium Director

Anne Marie Miller - Vice President of Development

Together, they dive into:

🌍 How the Dome Planetarium represents the Sun in a to-scale model stretching across Central Illinois.

🧠 The museum’s mission to make science, art, and astronomy accessible to everyone.

🚀 How curiosity and education inspire the next generation of explorers.

💛 The power of community partnerships and philanthropy in driving cultural growth.

This episode of The Solar Power Hour takes viewers behind the scenes of the Peoria Riverfront Museum — home to the biggest solar system model on Earth. It’s a conversation that connects the stars above with the people who make science shine here on Earth.

Find out more info:

https://www.peoriariverfrontmuseum.org/

https://www.america250illinois.org/

In this episode, host William Grant sits down with Joey Olson and Zak Edmonds of Country Financial to talk about one of the most important — and misunderstood — parts of homeownership: insurance. The conversation dives into how rising costs, storm damage, and inflation are reshaping premiums across Illinois, and why trusted, local relationships still matter more than ever.

Listeners will learn how to properly insure solar systems, what’s driving rate increases, how deductibles really work, and why both industries — solar and insurance — are rooted in education, transparency, and community.

Highlights:

• Why premiums and payouts are rising nationwide
• How local agents protect homeowners from being “nickel-and-dimed”
• The right way to insure solar and roofing systems after hail or storm damage
• The importance of reviewing policies every 3–5 years
• How Sun Collectors and Country Financial share a “local first” philosophy
• Community connection: Peoria families, farms, and small businesses helping each other thrive

👉 Subscribe for more local solar stories & energy insights: youtube.com/@suncollectors #SunCollectors #SolarPowerHour #GoSolar

Connect with our guests:

• Joey Olson: agents.countryfinancial.com/usa/il/peoria/joey-olson
• Facebook: facebook.com/JoeyOlsonCOUNTRY
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joey-olson-a7646756

The Solar Power Hour Podcast is produced by Sun Collectors, a veteran-owned solar company based in Peoria, Illinois, helping local families, farms, and businesses achieve energy independence through education and community engagement.

In this episode of the Solar Power Hour, William Grant sits down with Ben Wilson, owner of Wilson Services, to talk about what it really takes to build and sustain a business in Central Illinois. Together they dive into:

☀️ The realities of entrepreneurship — from mowing lawns at age nine to leading a 44-employee company.

☀️ How community involvement and long-term customer relationships fuel growth more than advertising ever could.

☀️ The business challenges facing service companies today — from labor shortages and employment gaps to skyrocketing material costs.

☀️ The process of business acquisitions, seller financing, and what it means to keep Peoria’s legacy companies local.

☀️ How strong community partnerships and people-first culture can future-proof any business.

This episode of Solar Power Hour blends business wisdom with local pride as William Grant and Ben Wilson unpack the intersection of entrepreneurship, community, and integrity.

It’s a grounded, eye-opening conversation about building teams, navigating costs, fighting misinformation, and keeping business in the hands of those who care about their community.

Connect with our Guest:

• https://wilsonservicesil.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/wilsonservicesil/
• https://www.facebook.com/wilsonservicesil