Solar East Side Success – MREA Press Release
Solar East Side group buy program partners gather outside the historic home of participants Bonnie and Gary Halvorsen.
MILWAUKEE — October 20, 2015 — The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA), with its partners Milwaukee Shines, the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association, and Arch Electric, Inc., achieved 84 kW of solar installations through the Solar East Side group buy program. 84 kW of solar power is enough to produce 100,800 kW hours per year and offset 225,792 pounds of carbon dioxide produced from a coal-fired power plant. 26 homeowners participated to make this the fifth successful solar group buy.
Combined with previous group buys, which include the neighborhoods of Washington Heights, Layton Boulevard West, Bayview, and Riverwest, the ongoing program is responsible for 92 home and business owners installing a total of 322 kW. To announce the milestone, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett joined the group buy partners at a press event on October 12 at the historic home of Solar East Side participants Bonnie and Gary Halvorsen. The Halvorsens made the decision to install nine solar panels on their south-facing roof. “Milwaukee Shines is helping Milwaukee create jobs and be a national leader in environmental sustainability,” Barrett said.
Solar group buy programs are open to all residents of Southeast Wisconsin and reduce the cost of going solar through the power of volume purchasing. The MREA partnered with communities to host free Solar Power HoursSM throughout the region to educate communities about solar installation, financing options, and return on investment. These seminars are imperative to increase consumer knowledge not only about solar power, but also about existing energy policy.
To learn more about solar installation and considerations, visit GrowSolar.org/power-pack. Explore the Solar Power HourSM Guide and the numerous resources to discover if solar is the right clean energy source for you.
The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational organization. Founded in 1990, the MREA promotes renewable energy and sustainable living through education and demonstration. To learn more, call 715-592-6595 or visit www.midwestrenew.org.