About Us.

We put power in the hands of people, promoting sustainable growth & individual energy independence. ​

Born and Raised Local

Lightspring, LLC launches reliable and efficient solar farms, as well as commercial and residential solar installations across North Dakota and Minnesota.

We have a central office in Bismarck but our team of installers and energy auditors are stationed across the state of North Dakota. 

Our Goal

We believe humanity's greatest power is cooperation, where each person plays a part and shares a reward.
​
We design solutions that draw on the wisdom of the human network to power a better tomorrow.

Our Team

Ryan Warner
Co-Founder

Ryan Warner is a native North Dakotan. Raised in Bismarck, he graduated Bismarck High in 1996 and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and Religion from the University of North Dakota. After living on the East Coast for almost a decade, he moved back in 2014 with his wife and young daughter to be closer to family. Since college, Ryan has been interested in renewable energy technology, community-led entrepreneurship, supporting "local" businesses and horizontal organizational structures. 

After working in the insurance industry in Bismarck, Ryan reconnected with an old college friend - James Kambeitz - to co-found a solar-based business. Buoyed by the strength of their convictions to help develop the ND Solar Industry from the ground up, both gave up their current jobs to pursue this new solar-based venture - Lightspring, LLC - in January 2018. 

Over the last 2 years, Lightspring has installed nearly 100kw of solar PV and battery storage. Led by a cooperative and collaborative spirit, Lightspring seeks out win-win scenarios that create solutions that are greater than the sum of their parts. Instead of simply putting up as much solar as possible, Lightspring strives to understand a client’s needs and current power consumption profile in order to make the best recommendation for each client. Unlike some solar developers, Lightspring stresses the vital importance of investing in energy efficiency/conservation measures along with energy production/storage.

Ryan views each collaboration as an opportunity to both learn something new as well as freely share what he has already learned. To these ends, he has led solar installer training sessions to create a local workforce, and works with local Indigenous-led organizations to help bring about energy awareness, sovereignty and self-sufficiency. At Lightspring, Ryan focuses on energy policy, regulatory issues, grant writing opportunities, utility relations, and new market development. 

James Kambeitz
​​Co-Founder

James Kambeitz was born and raised in Bismarck, North Dakota. He is the Co-Founder of Lightspring, LLC, a solar energy technology company that designs and installs solar and battery storage systems here in ND. James has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of North Dakota. After graduating from college he traveled the world extensively, studying social systems, infrastructure, urban and rural environmental design and planning, with special attention to electricity and thermal energy systems.

Returning to his home roughly a decade ago, James has been envisioning the new renewable energy community here in ND wherein solar photovoltaic and thermal energy systems are integral components. This energy industry is one driven by ND ingenuity, hard work and cooperative values. James believes that we can hire and train local NDakotans to create this rapidly developing solar energy industry right here in our home state.

In addition to James’s solar experience, he has experience in leadership roles, such as teaching for approximately 13 years and serving as production manager for 8 years before co-founding Lightspring.  James's well-rounded work experience from computer editing to construction and roofing has uniquely prepared him to succeed in the solar technology field. Beyond his technical skills, he believes his integrity and hard work are his best assets. As his grandparents always told him, “do what you say - your word is the most important thing you have.” With that spirit he has always followed through on his promises and accomplished much.