Bulk Purchase Program Continues to Help Milwaukee Area Businesses and Homeowners

Contact: Peter Murphy, Solar Program Manager, Midwest Renewable Energy Association

262-573-3089  |  peterm@midwestrenew.org

Milwaukee, WI – The Grow Solar Milwaukee group buy program is gaining momentum as it surpassed its second goal of 100 kilowatts (kW) when the 20th homeowner signed on to go solar. The City of Milwaukee’s solar program, Milwaukee Shines, and Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) launched this solar group buy program in May, and momentum continues to grow.

Tracy Staedter and Andy Bochman were the first residents to commit, and installation is complete on their home in Uptown Crossing. “Living in Uptown Crossing in the first house we’ve owned together, Tracy and I wanted to set an example and show, thanks to declining prices and continuing incentives, that you don’t have to be wealthy to realize the double benefits of solar: saving money on your electric bill for years to come, and playing your part in CO₂reduction efforts for the city, the state, and the world,” Bochman said.

“We’re psyched that we can still take advantage of the Focus on Energy rebate and the Federal Tax Credit, and help bring more solar to Milwaukee’s Uptown Crossing neighborhood,” said Staedter.

Milwaukee Shines and MREA are partnering with Milwaukee Public Library and Milwaukee Public Museum to host a number of free, public education sessions about solar called Solar Power Hours.

Grow Solar Milwaukee started Solar Power Hour informational sessions in late May. During these free, hour-long presentations, Grow Solar Milwaukee representatives give a brief explanation of the program, discuss the projected costs of installing solar and highlight the benefits of going solar. The final presentation is September 5th, and interested property owners have until September 30th to decide whether to participate in the program. A complete schedule of the Solar Power Hours can be found at growsolarmilwaukee.com.

“We’re trying to simplify the process of going solar,” said Peter Murphy, Solar Program Director for the MREA. “It can seem complicated, so we present clear information and answer folks’ questions at our Solar Power Hours and then they can determine for themselves whether solar is right for them.”

Part of making solar simple involves helping select a solar installer to work with. Through a competitive request for proposals process, representatives from MREA, Milwaukee Shines, and Milwaukee residents selected Arch Electric based in Plymouth, WI with additional offices in Milwaukee because of their diverse staff of trusted, licensed, NABCEP certified solar installers with over 100 years of combined experience.

Solar Power Hours are scheduled at the Milwaukee Public Museum and various Milwaukee Public Libraries through September 30, 2019, the program participation deadline; all are free and open to the public. The full list of Solar Power Hours is available at growsolarmilwaukee.com.

The MREA was incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit shortly after the first Energy Fair in 1990. MREA’s mission is to promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living through education and demonstration. To learn more, call 715-592-6595 or visitwww.midwestrenew.org.