Along with sunnier days, a limited-time program kicks off to give people access to solar education and competitive prices for solar installations on residential and commercial properties through volume purchasing. Building on past successes a number of local municipalities are combining efforts to offer
Grow Solar Greater Milwaukee to residents throughout Milwaukee County.
Previously, similar programs in Milwaukee county helped a combined 217 households add solar to their homes or properties, with participants saving 9 to 15% off the typical purchase price thanks to the group buy programs. In total, the programs resulted in 873 kW of clean solar capacity valued at approximately $2.6 million.
Area homeowners and business owners can attend online, free one-hour solar Power Hours to learn about solar and the volume purchasing, and sign up for free quotes and site assessments. The Midwest Renewable Energy Association is again providing program assistance, with the launch taking place at 4:00 p.m. on Earth Day, April 22. People can register for the kick-off or other virtual Solar Power Hours as well as program alerts at
GreaterMilwaukee.GrowSolar.org.
In addition to the City of Milwaukee, primary partners for the program include the Bay View Neighborhood Association, the City of Glendale, and the Villages of Bayside, Fox Point, Shorewood, and Whitefish Bay and the Midwest Renewable Energy Association. The installer for the program, who was selected by a Community Advisory Committee through a competitive process, will be Arch Electric Inc.
The Midwest Renewable Energy Association has also partnered with Walnut Way Conservation Corps to provide training scholarships for Milwaukee residents to become solar installers. Students from this training program have been offered internships with Arch Electric to get hands on solar installation experience, getting them closer to earning a solar installation professional certification through the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners
Group purchase programs provide residents and businesses with the opportunity to invest in high-quality, renewable energy solar installations and realize savings, while also helping reach sustainability goals. Estimated first-year savings on utility bills have ranged from $690 to more than $1,000, depending on the size of the array.