Eric Heineman
CEO, Windfree Solar | NABCEP Certified Solar Professional | Chicago, IL
Eric Heineman is the CEO of Windfree Solar, one of Illinois’ leading solar installation companies. Since taking the helm in 2018, Eric has led Windfree through a period of significant growth — expanding the company’s portfolio to more than 600 certified installations and over 25 megawatts of solar deployed across residential, commercial, and municipal properties throughout Illinois and the Midwest.
Eric holds a NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) certification, the solar industry’s most respected professional credential, and brings deep expertise in solar design, energy policy, and project development.
Before joining Windfree, Eric served as Sustainability Director for the State of Illinois under Governor Pat Quinn — a role in which he helped shape statewide energy policy and champion clean energy initiatives. That experience gave him a first-hand understanding of how government, business, and community intersect around renewable energy.
Eric earned his MBA from the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois, where he was part of the iMBA program. He credits the program with sharpening his approach to running and scaling a mission-driven company.
Under Eric’s leadership, Windfree Solar has installed solar systems on schools, breweries, municipal buildings, and hundreds of homes across Chicagoland — including a ground-mounted system at the Governor’s Mansion. Windfree is a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and an Equity Eligible Contractor (EEC), reflecting Eric’s commitment to making clean energy accessible to all communities.
Credentials
- NABCEP Certified Solar Professional
- MBA, Gies College of Business, University of Illinois
- Former Sustainability Director, State of Illinois (under Gov. Pat Quinn)
- CEO, Windfree Solar (2018–present)