By Clay Waldron – Originally published in the 2012 Founder’s Review Magazine
Pat and Vince Biel of Belleview purchased Solar Trek in 1992 after Vince had worked there for 11 years. Vince had always been interested in solar energy and took a class at Central Florida Community College. The class was taught by an old hippie from California, and “I was the youngest person in the class,” said Vince.
Vince was working at a muffler shop when he started taking the class but wanted to work in the solar field. He went to US Solar Energy and started asking for a job. Eventually, they brought Vince on, and the company name soon changed to Solar Trek.
When the owner was ready to retire, he offered the business to Vince at a good price. Pat and Vince discussed the offer and decided, since their only daughter Tracey had left the nest, it was a good time and opportunity to buy Solar Trek. They took out a mortgage on their home and went into business for themselves. Pat ran the office, and Vince did the rest. Solar Trek started with one employee and one salesperson; now they have nine employees and three salespeople.
Over the last 30 years, there have not been many changes in the solar field. “It’s a proven technology. Some of the materials have changed and some things are smaller, more compact, and lightweight, but basically the same,” said Vince. Tax breaks for solar equipment are the biggest thing affecting the business. In 1986, the government ended a 40% tax break for solar energy, and 75% of the solar businesses went under. Now that the government has new tax breaks, it makes going solar easier for people. Heating water is the most common type of solar installation we do for homeowners. Pools and hot water tanks for the house save money and let you enjoy your pool more months out of the year, and it is the most efficient kind of solar system.
You can even cool your pool by running your pool heater at night to make it more refreshing during the middle of the summer. Solar electric has come down in price and is another great way to save money. It works by sending power back into the grid and actually turning the meter backward.
The Biel home is by far the most energy-efficient home in Belleview. In February, their electric bill was $38, and $19 of it was fees. They have solar electric panels, a solar hot water tank, a solar pool heater, a backup solar system that charges batteries, a solar outdoor shower, and a solar clothes dryer. “There is no downside to solar. It has no moving parts, and the second it is installed, you start saving money,” said Vince. The investment is the only drawback. If you pay interest on the system, it defeats the purpose.
Vince first came to Belleview in 1961 when he was in the 5th grade and went to school where Belleview City Hall is today. His family lived on 61st Ave. Vince’s first real job was working at Smith’s Food Store before he went across the street to Russell’s Thriftway. After graduating from Lake Weir in 1969, Vince moved to Detroit to make money working in a vehicle assembly building. When he left Belleview, he was making $1.60 per hour and started making $6.00 an hour in Detroit. Vince has family in the Detroit area, and through his family, he met Pat. After the autoworkers went on strike, Vince was ready to move back to Florida.
In 1975, Vince and Pat moved to Belleview, and soon after, he received his draft notice. His father was a sailor, so Vince joined the Navy. The couple was married when Vince was serving in the Navy. After they got married, they lived in Connecticut, where Vince was stationed, and their daughter Tracey was born.
Vince was in the Navy for four years as a submariner. He was stationed on a nuclear sub that patrolled the Mediterranean. Once the sub went down, it stayed underwater for 70 days at a time. “I have been all over the Mediterranean Sea but didn’t see any of it,” said Vince.
Their daughter Tracey and her husband Patrick Altier have been working at Solar Trek for the past five years and plan to continue operating the business after Pat and Vince retire. Vince still likes working on solar equipment, but he doesn’t like having to keep everyone busy.
“We were lucky that we were not too big when the building industry slowed down. Once the building stopped, we focused on pool heaters and worked closely with the pool builders.”
The couple has been very involved in Belleview over the years. Pat worked for the Belleview Library for 11 years and helped form the Friends of the Library. Things at the library have changed over the years. The new library is great, but it’s more business-like. The old library had more of a community feel. People would stop by and visit; it was a spot to gather.
Both Pat and Vince were active in the Park View Players. Vince built props, Pat helped backstage, and Tracey performed in the plays. The Belleview Jaycees was the club to be in the 80s, and Pat and Vince were right there helping build the famous haunted houses.
Solar Trek has been a member of the Belleview South Marion Chamber for the 20 years that the Biels have owned it. At this time, they are active in the Historical Society that meets in the historic Grange Building. Pat has also been the docent at the Appleton Museum for the last eight years.
