On Friday, November 1, Cooperative Education Services Agency 10 (CESA 10) celebrated the completion of its new 124.2-kilowatt solar array during their ribbon-cutting ceremony. Member school districts, Solar Connection, the Green Team, Couillard Solar Foundation, and RENEW Wisconsin joined the event to celebrate this significant milestone. The organization’s commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability in education sets a strong example for school districts and surrounding communities on the benefits of renewable energy and how they can go solar too.

Solar Connection installed a ground-mount solar system consisting of 235 solar panels with 115 panels secured through the Solar for Good grant program. The solar system is set to offset the organization’s electrical consumption by approximately 75%. The successful installation of this project was made possible through dedicated support from the CESA 10 team and support from funding sources. Additionally, the team took advantage of federal and state incentives including the Inflation Reduction Act and Focus on Energy.

Serving 29 school districts and more than 36,000 students, CESA 10 plays a crucial role in offering educational programs and services, ranging from college readiness programs to educational technology and facilities management. Choosing to go solar reflects a key part of their mission in helping schools reduce operational costs so that greater resources can be allocated to enriching the educational experience of students. Its new solar array will not only reduce its own operational costs, but also demonstrate to educators, students, and the broader community the long-term benefits of clean renewable energy.

Going solar is the latest step in CESA 10’s broader sustainability initiatives, but their journey into greater energy efficiency began several years ago. In recent years, they have also undertaken several energy efficiency upgrades including adding LED lighting, improving installation, and replacing roofs of its facilities. Each efficiency upgrade adds up to have a significant positive impact, including lower operating costs and a smaller carbon footprint. With the solar panels recently commissioned, the organization consistently plans to work towards further energy improvements.

Through their efforts, CESA 10 is not only benefiting their own facility but also contributing to a future where solar energy plays a larger role in Wisconsin’s schools. As a leader in showcasing the tools accessible to educators, this project encourages others to consider how they can explore clean energy solutions to enhance their efforts in serving students and having a positive environmental impact.

On October 20, 2024, Sugar Creek Lutheran Church opened its doors to welcome congregation members, nonprofit leaders, and representatives from other houses of worship to explore its new solar system. The new 19.6-kilowatt solar system is set to exceed the church’s current electrical needs by 14%. These savings will allow Sugar Creek Lutheran Church to continue supporting its congregation, provide scholarships to students pursuing higher education, and provide additional community programming. 

The open house featured a tour of its new solar installation, a presentation provided by Solar Project Lead Ervin Schlepp, and materials that outline a step-by-step guide for how other community members and fellow nonprofits can switch to solar energy.  

Established in 1849, Sugar Creek Lutheran Church has been a leader and innovator for the Elkhorn community by providing various programs, including a ‘food in backpacks’ meal service program for two schools, and scholarships for students to further their education. The church’s mission “to witness Christ’s love, presence and acceptance with and for all people” is the foundation of the work they do to ensure a positive well-being for the Elkhorn community. 

As they approached their 175th anniversary, leadership of the church began to deeply consider how they could further impact the community while also excelling in care for the planet. The congregation’s strong connection to the rural land that the church is situated on drove the church’s desire to explore how Sugar Creek Lutheran Church could enhance its energy efficiency. The solar project team identified incentives including the Inflation Reduction Act 30% tax credit and Focus on Energy, which could help make the transition to solar energy a practical and feasible option. Grant programs further assisted Sugar Creek Lutheran Church in transitioning to solar by greatly reducing the upfront costs of installing the array.  

Sugar Creek Lutheran Church contracted a local solar installer company, Adam’s Electric, to install 36 panels. Generous donations from the congregation, in addition to significant grants from the Couillard Solar Foundation and Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation facilitated the development of this project. Through the Solar for Good initiative, Couillard Solar Foundation provided half of the panels needed for the project, and the Moonshot Solar Program funded by Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation contributed $25,000 in grants. By making this project possible through donations from the congregation, Couillard Solar Foundation, and Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation the church will operate on 100% clean energy. 

“In our 175th year of life as a congregation and because of the generosity of our congregation we have the opportunity to provide for the electrical needs of Sugar Creek until we celebrate our 200th anniversary,” said Pastor Dick Inglett. 

Sugar Creek Lutheran Church, and many other nonprofits across Wisconsin, lead by example within their communities by demonstrating how others can benefit through the power of solar by increasing savings and creating healthier communities. Well over 200 nonprofits across the state serve as ambassadors, encouraging communities to embrace clean and renewable energy through the Solar for Good grant program. Each organization reduces its own costs and inspires local residents to consider the positive impact of solar energy, creating a culture of sustainability and well-being in Wisconsin.

On Sunday, October 13, 2024, First Presbyterian Church hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate its new 139.86-kilowatt solar array. This solar project is the largest system in Marshfield, Wisconsin, and is anticipated to offset 71.8% of the church’s electrical needs. Commissioned in September, the array has already produced 18,000 kilowatt hours of electricity,  enough power to completely cover its electric bill for the month, and marks the first of many months to come where the church runs purely off of clean energy. 

First Presbyterian Church is part of a collaborative network, Winnebago Presbytery, and is one of 28 congregations throughout Northeastern, Wisconsin. The church’s mission is to welcome “everyone to our faith journey, denying no one, regardless of their human condition, participation in church life. We are a sanctuary where people are accepted, included, and cared for as they are. As a community based on God’s love, we strive to serve our neighbors and the world.”

First Presbyterian Church’s journey into switching to clean energy began 21 years ago when the congregation chose to incorporate geothermal energy into its facilities. This form of energy production extracts heat from the ground to warm the facilities in colder months or provide cooling during hotter months. To continue its goal of further use of clean energy, the church turned to solar to enhance its efforts. When numerous forms of energy enhancements are combined, the impact of any one form of electrical generation is exemplified. 

On Sunday, the congregation, Church leaders, Northwind Solar, the Couillard Solar Foundation, and RENEW Wisconsin joined for a breakfast celebration and to hear from keynote speakers who helped get this project completed. First Presbyterian Church’s Solar Lead Gilbert Nimm, explained how transitioning to clean energy not only impacts the immediate environment in Marshfield but is ubiquitous in creating positive change at a much larger scale. 

“It became clear that there were tons and tons of carbon that we could stop from going into the atmosphere that affects people around the world,” Gilbert Nimm said, “We are very proud, you should all be proud that there are no fossil fuels being used in this facility.”

This solar project was completed thanks to the generous donations of the congregation through the capital campaign, “Reach for the Sun: Harnessing God’s Gift of Light”, an anonymous donor, Focus on Energy, and Solar for Good. Northwind Solar installed 260 panels at the location, each panel generating 540 kilowatts. Of the 260 panels, 129 were granted by the Couillard Solar Foundation in partnership with RENEW Wisconsin through Solar for Good.  

First Presbyterian joins a community of nonprofits across the state of Wisconsin who are committed to taking on the challenge of actively working to conserve energy. Going solar through Solar for Good is a foundational step in becoming both more conscious of energy consumption and using clean energy to serve communities. The first month of energy production for First Presbyterian Church is just the start of a long road of reduced carbon emissions and savings that can be redistributed into programming that benefits the community.