From an article by Pamela Powers in the Eau Claire Leader Telegram:
MENOMONIE – From photoelectric panes to its solar-powered hot water panels to its geothermal heating and cooling system, a duplex in Menomonie is being transformed into an energy efficient version of its old self.
The West Wisconsin Community Action Agency purchased the duplex on 550th Ave. and is using federal economic stimulus money to make the building not only nicer but more energy efficient.
From an article by in the Racine Journal Times:
RACINE – Workers spent Wednesday installing new solar panels at the Racine Montessori School, the latest move by the school to go green.
The school’s solar panel project has been in the works for about two years and is finally being completed this week with the installation of 84 panels on the roof of the school’s gymnasium, said Rita Lewis, administrator at the Racine Montessori School, 2317 Howe St.
The panels are being installed by Madison-based H&H Solar Energy Services. When installation is complete, the panels should generate about 40 percent of the energy the school needs. To show students when the panels are working, ceiling fans directly tied to the panels will be installed in the school’s hallways. The fans’ blades will rotate on sunny days when the panels are absorbing sunlight to convert to energy, Lewis said.
To mark the panels’ installation, the school’s elementary students had a “Solar Celebration” Wednesday where they spent time outside singing sun-themed songs like “You Are My Sunshine” and cooking s’mores in homemade aluminum foil solar ovens, Lewis said.
The solar panels and installation, which cost about $134,000 altogether, were paid for through two large grants from We Energies and two large donations from local families. Clifton and Gladys Peterson and Charles and Kathryn Heide each donated about $22,000 for the project. Gladys Peterson formerly taught at the school and the Heide family had grandchildren attend, Lewis said.
“They are the two families who really made it happen for us,” she said.
The solar panels are the latest green effort under way at the school, which this week was awarded a school Green Award from the Sierra Club of southeastern Wisconsin, according to Lewis.
Nick Matthes and Ed Stoll of Pieper Electric (who will be installing the PV), flank Rich Hinkelman of Solar Systems Inc (who build the racking for the system). All are MREA supporters and Energy Fair exhibitors!
From a post on Tom Content’s blog on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel site:
Leaders at Milwaukee Area Technical College kicked off the construction of the largest solar project in the state with a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon north of Capitol Drive.
The solar project — dubbed the Photovoltaic Educational Farm — will be developed on a former landfill along the Milwaukee River, underneath the television tower for MPTV, Milwaukee Public Television.
The project will feature nearly 2,600 solar panels from four different manufacturers, in eight different configurations. It’s scheduled to be completed in August.
The aim of the project is to showcase a variety of renewable energy technologies, as well as provide training in solar field to students at MATC as well as Milwaukee’s three engineering schools, said Brad Bateman of Johnson Controls.
“This will be a testing and training platform unlike any other in the country,” he said.
The project is projected to generate enough power to make the TV transmitter for MPTV the first of any public television station in the country to be powered with renewable energy. MPTV projects energy savings of at least $70,000 in its first year of operation.
The project will employ 150 people, said Sargent.
Johnson Controls Inc. is the technical college’s partner and general contractor on the project, which includes 14 other firms — 13 of them from Wisconsin.
A Community Solar Event
New Richmond WITC Campus
Edwin J. Cashman Conference Center, Burnett Room 105
1019 South Knowles Avenue
New Richomnd, WI 54017
Interested in finding more about Solar Electric Systems?? Find out how you can take control of your energy costs while making a positive impact on the environment! Craig Tarr, PE president of Hudson based Energy Concepts, Inc (ECI) will host an informative presentation on the benefits of solar electric systems, how they work and the available rebate and incentive programs.
Energy Concepts, the State of WI’s “Renewable Energy Market provider of the year – 2009” designs and installs solar electric, wind and solar hot water systems for residential and commercial applications.
Thursday, May 6, 2010 – 6:30 – 8:30 pm
6:30-7:00 Light Refreshments/Socialize
7:00 – 7:45 Solar Electric – The Basics
7:45 – 8:00 Q & A
8:00 – 8:30 SUNPOWER – “The planet’s most powerful solar” presentation
www.energyconcepts.us
Craig Tarr – 715 381 9977
From an article by Tim Damos in the Baraboo News Republic:
Green energy subsidies and new partnerships between manufacturers and contractors are making it easier for the average homeowner to utilize solar technology.
“I’m really excited about this,” said Craig Dittrich, general manager of Senger Lumber, Inc. of Baraboo. “I think it’s really going to catch on.”
Customers of Senger Lumber soon will have the option to build with metal roofing that comes with a solar-energy-trapping film already attached.
Dittrich’s supplier is McElroy Metal, a national firm that produces metal roofing, siding and substructural components, and operates a manufacturing plant in Mauston.
McElroy Metal has partnered with UNI-SOLAR, which produces thin, flexible solar laminates with an adhesive backing that allows them to be easily applied to smooth surfaces.
“It’s easy to apply so you don’t have to pay as much for the installation,” Dittrich said.
With a 30 percent federal tax credit and another 30 percent credit available from the state, Wisconsin home builders can purchase the portion of the roof that includes solar laminates at a 60 percent discount, Dittrich said.