Mid-State among 11 Wisconsin schools to ‘Go Solar’

By Patrick Lynn

The Mid-State Stevens Point campus has gone solar, thanks to a new program from Midwest Renewable Energy Association’s (MREA) Solar on Schools initiative.

The college is among 11 schools to participate in the first year of the program, thanks in part to a grant from MREA. Other schools in Merton, Madison, Eau Claire, Oregon, Marshfield, Fort Atkinson, and Green Bay, also received the grant.

Collectively, the projects added 1,739.4 kW of solar capacity to Wisconsin’s electrical mix, creating enough electricity to power 274 homes, and will offset the equivalent of annual greenhouse gas emissions produced by 350 passenger vehicles.

Formed in partnership with the Couillard Solar Foundation in late 2019, Solar on Schools has a goal of installing solar power at 40 Wisconsin schools. The program includes an in-kind module donation grant valued up to $20,000, an online resource center, as well as case studies and solar school FAQs to help schools get started.

Interested schools can find out more about the program at www.midwestrenew.org/solar-on-schools. Grant applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

MREA’s Amanda Schienebeck serves as program manager for the Solar on Schools Initiative.

“Solar school installations like these represent high-impact, high-visibility projects that bring the community together to collectively learn about the process and benefits of going solar,” Schienebeck said. “By investing in solar, passing 100 percent renewable energy resolutions, integrating energy education into the curriculum, and cultivating the next generation to be leaders and have careers in the industry, schools can lead their communities into a clean energy future.”

The MREA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization. Founded in 1990, the MREA promotes renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living through education and demonstration. To learn more, call 715-592-6595 or visit www.midwestrenew.org.