“In my mind, solar is the future, but more importantly, our children are the future.”
Mykel Lundy, also known as “MegaWatt Myk” by many, has been energizing the Region by giving back through his occupation and through donations to local YMCAs, including the Portage, Valparaiso, and Crown Point locations.
“My experiences and solar power in general have changed my life, as well as the people around me,” Lundy said.
His interest in solar energy peaked when the Fowler Ridge Wind Farm was created in 2009. Lundy found the never-ending rows of windmills spanning from Lafayette to Indianapolis fascinating.
“I’ve always taken an interest in recycling and renewable energy, but I never really knew what direction to go with it,” Lundy said. “Luckily, I found my calling.”
Lundy works for POWERHOME SOLAR, a solar energy provider with offices in Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, and Chicago that reaches all the way up to Northwest Indiana. Through his work in solar power, he has had the opportunity to travel across the country with the goal of bringing his knowledge back home.
One of the most valuable lessons he has learned is that going green is key.
“Not only do people go green and save money, but we also give back to the community as well as the Earth,” Lundy said.
In the early years of his career, giving back to the environment was an indescribable feeling, but Lundy knew that he wanted to give back to the people in the communities that he was revolutionizing as well.
“I’ve traveled all the way from the west coast to the east coast waiting for an opportunity,” Lundy said.
While travelling for a job in Rhode Island, Lundy was prompted with the opportunity he had been waiting for. By working with Newport Bicycle, he was able to start his repayment project.
“In Rhode Island, there is a nonprofit organization – Newport Bicycle – that sells bikes made by children with disabilities, so I purchased one and rode it to each appointment,” Lundy said. “I rode it for every single shift, and whenever I sold a system out there, I bought another bike and gave it to someone in need.”
Now, back home in Portage, Lundy is keeping that same momentum going by partnering with the Portage, Valparaiso, and Crown Point YMCAs to provide for the children in the area.
“I’m trying to give back to the communities as much as possible with their programs and fundraising because I’ve gone to the YMCAs and so has my daughter,” Lundy said. “I love the programs they have for the children.”
Just like in Rhode Island, Lundy is helping those in Northwest Indiana in need. With each customer, he fundraises for YMCA’s children’s programs.
“When an outstanding customer goes solar, I make a donation and pay for a program at the YMCA, like the basketball games or summer camp,” Lundy said.
Lundy hopes to start a “green movement” in northern Indiana to share the importance of taking care of the Earth and, more specifically, Portage. As someone who was born in Portage, spent the entirety of his childhood in the area, and graduated from Portage High School in 2014,Lundy has a distinct passion for taking care of the community that raised him.
“I’m a Portage Indian all the way!” said Lundy.
Lundy’s involvement in the community and love for the environment doesn’t stop there. As a member of the Northwest Indiana Rugby Club, he and his teammates clean up nearby beaches after practice to continue to keep Northwest Indiana green.
His other interests include working out, adventuring, and meditating. Aside from his hobbies, he has found his true joy in other people, too.
“What makes me happy is making other people happy,” Lundy said.
Whether it's through solar energy or summer camps, Lundy says each solar energy customer in the Region benefits the community in which they live in a multitude of ways. The happiness extends beyond solar energy because Lundy wants customers to know how truly impactful their decisions for the community are.
“What I give people is power, and I want them to own their power,” Lundy said.