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Milwaukee, WI
October 8, 2009: Milwaukee receives Recovery Act funding for Solar America Cities Special Projects.
The City of Milwaukee builds on existing efforts to promote solar energy through the new “Milwaukee Shines” initiative (the name of Milwaukee’s Solar America Cities project). The Milwaukee Shines team will work to reduce the informational, economic, and procedural barriers to solar energy proliferation in the region. Milwaukee will leverage the experience and expertise of its sister city, Madison, as a 2007 Solar America Cities grant recipient, and of its strategic project partners in this endeavor.
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10 kW solar array on the Cooper School
Kindergartners at the Cooper School learn about solar energy.
44.4 kW solar array on the Urban Ecology Center
The 10 kW thin film solar array at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center in Bayside, WI, supplies 10 to 20 percent of the building’s electricity.
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Activities
Milwaukee will promote solar thermal and solar-electric technologies by developing:- A robust local workforce and industry
- Innovative financing options
- Consumer outreach campaigns
- Increase the number of local solar installers through assistance in training and preparation for the certification process
- Support solar manufacturing businesses by working with existing manufacturers and by encouraging new businesses to locate in the city
- Examine market segments to determine which are most viable for various incentive-based business models
- Incorporate non-financial benefits, such as accelerated project permitting, reduced permit fees, and feebates into solar projects.
Partners
- City of Milwaukee (Project Lead)
- Focus on Energy
- Johnson Controls, Inc.
- Midwest Renewable Energy Association
- Milwaukee Area Technical College
- University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
- We Energies
Solar Hot Water Business CouncilThe City will create a Council to educate and enable local water technology manufacturers to shift into the growing solar industry, leading to the creation of a solar manufacturing cluster in the region.
Solar Water Heating Demonstration Projects and Best Practices ManualThe City will install large-scale commercial as well as smaller-scale residential solar water heating demonstration projects, and will develop a best practices manual for solar water heating in northern climates.
Property Assessed Clean Energy FinancingFollowing Wisconsin's passage of authorizing legislation for property assessed clean energy financing, the City will establish a long term financing mechanism such as a revolving loan fund to help consumers offset the high initial cost of solar installation.
Solar School SwapThe City will facilitate a learning competition between two rival high schools involving installation of a PV and solar water heating system on each school. The project will train students in assessing, financing, and installing solar systems, as well as educate the broader community.
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