SOLAR CENTRAL WISCONSIN

Home and business owners in Central Wisconsin are energized as the Central Wisconsin Solar Group Purchase Program began July 25 with a special presentation at the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA).

The Solar Central Wisconsin program allows individual home and commercial property owners to access lower prices for solar installations through the power of volume purchasing. This program builds on the success of 2017’s Solar Central Wisconsin program, which led to 308 kW of solar on 46 properties, offsetting approximately 405,264 lbs of carbon dioxide in the first year alone.

With leadership from the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) and support from Mid-State Technical College (MSTC), the City of Wisconsin Rapids, the City of Stevens Point, and the City of Wausau, the program will run from July 25th to October 13th, 2018.

During this time, instructors from the MREA and MSTC will provide free, public one-hour long educational sessions called Solar Power Hours for prospective participants to learn how solar energy works, define the potential of solar energy on their properties, and answer questions.

All ‘Solar Power Hours’ are free and open to the public, with a special kickoff on July 25 at MREA in Custer. Home and business owners in Portage, Wood, Marathon, and Waupaca counties are encouraged to participate.

Interested parties will have the opportunity to secure discounted pricing for solar electric systems from the program’s partnering contractor. The program advisory group just completed a competitive bid for a partnering contractor and has selected Stevens Point-based firm, North Wind Renewable Energy Cooperative.

“We are excited to bring this program back to Central Wisconsin,” said Nick Hylla, Executive Director of the MREA. “This is the second time that North Wind won the competitive bid.

Their pricing is very competitive and their project portfolio is impressive. Forty-six homes and businesses purchased solar electric systems through last year’s program. We are expecting even greater interest this year.”

The MREA is a local non-profit organization that has successfully managed similar programs for communities in Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Learn more about MREA at MidwestRenew.org.

The program’s website, CWsolar.org, includes program details and the full Solar Power Hour schedule.

HERE IS THE AUGUST SCHEDULE:

8/2/18 – Thursday – 6:30 PM T-Dubs Pub (Snug Room) 111 Cooper St, Waupaca

8/7/18 – Tuesday – 4:30 PM Bull’s Eye Country Club (Private bar area) 2800 Ridgewood Trail, Wisconsin Rapids

8/10/18 – Friday – 6:30 PM Bull Falls Brewery 901 E Thomas St, Wausau

8/13/18 – Monday – 6:30 PM Blue Heron BrewPub (Parkin Room) 108 W 9th St, Marshfield

8/16/18 – Thursday – 6:30 PM Downtown Grocery (Loft area) 607 Third Street, Wausau

8/20/18 – Monday – 6:30 PM Plover Village Hall (Activity Room) 2400 Post Rd, Plover

8/25/18 – Saturday – 1:45 PM Central Waters Brewing Company 351 Allen St, Amherst

8/29/18 – Wednesday – 6:30 PM McMillan Memorial Library (All Purpose Room) 490 E Grand Ave, Wisconsin Rapids