By Kim McDarison
Several groups — including the Fort Atkinson-based nonprofit organization the Heart of the City; the Custer, Wis.-based Midwest Renewable Energy Association, and the Waukesha County Green Team — have collaborated to create the Jefferson/Waukesha Grow Solar program.
The program, according to information suppled by the organizers, focuses on offering residents throughout Jefferson and Waukesha counties an opportunity to combine volume purchasing with community education to make solar energy more accessible and affordable for participating residential and commercial property owners.
Addressing the Fort Atkinson City Council July 20, Heart of the City President Frankie Fuller asked council members for their support in promoting the program.
During public comments, Fuller said: “This is the second time Heart of the City has sponsored this program with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, only this time we are also teaming up with the Waukesha County Green Team. The company we chose to work with (for project installations) is All Energy Solar, which has offices in Madison, Wis., Minnesota and Massachusetts.”
Fuller called Jefferson County a good fit for the group-buy collaborative, adding: “The solar farms that have been and are being built in the county and the issues related to the proposed liquid natural gas plant in Ixonia highlight the struggles and choices we have to make in the face of a changing climate and developing energy resources.”
She was referring to a We Energies liquid natural gas storage facility construction project undergoing an approval process in Ixonia.
Fuller said offering residents an opportunity to purchase a clean energy alternative at an affordable price would add value to their properties while contributing to making the air and community cleaner, which, she added, “includes the environment as well as the health of the people who live here.”
Pointing to educational seminars associated with the program, called “Educational Solar Power Hours,” Fuller said the free educational opportunity would provide those interested with information, including the availability of resources and programs offered through the government at both the state and federal levels, designed to help with installations.
Additionally, she said: “Fort Community Credit Union has agreed to be a co-sponsor of this program as they were for our last project, and have affordable loans to help people who need it.”
A participant in a similar opportunity offered about two years ago, Fuller said she and her husband found the program inspirational, adding that they have since built upon their initial investment by purchasing a new, more efficient gas furnace, getting an energy audit for their home to focus on energy, purchasing new, more energy-efficient doors for their home, and purchasing a new Toyota Prius hybrid vehicle. Most recently, Fuller said, the couple purchased an electric lawnmower.
“These have all been incremental steps, but when you add them up over the years, it becomes significant and it does make a difference,” she said.
Those interested in learning more about the program can visit the Grow Solar initiative at its website: JeffersonWaukesha.GrowSolar.org.
“Educational Solar Power Hours” are available at designated times throughout the month of August. The hours are available through Zoom.
To learn more about MREA: https://www.midwestrenew.org.
To learn more about All Energy Solar: https://www.allenergysolar.com.
To learn more about Heart of the City: https://heartofthecity.us.
To learn more about the Waukesha County Green Team: https://www.waukeshacountygreenteam.org.
The Jefferson/Waukesha Grow Solar program offers several opportunities in August for those interested in learning about solar power and opportunities for installation.
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