Press Release received from RENEW Wisconsin:
Racine, WI– On Wednesday, February 6th, at 10:30 AM, Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin will celebrate the installation of a 19.8-kilowatt solar array at the SC Johnson Community Center. Contributing partners RENEW Wisconsin, Walden III High School, and installer Arch Electric will also share in the celebration. Veterans Outreach will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion and commissioning of the project.
Plymouth-based Arch Electric installed nearly 60 solar panels atop the Veterans’ Community Center in October. This building gives Veterans access to a full-sized kitchen with food pantry, a laundry room, restrooms with showering facilities, and a recreation area where the residents can socialize. In addition to providing the Community Center with electricity, the solar array also powers the 15 tiny-homes at the Veterans Village. These tiny-homes provide the Veterans with a television, a small storage space, and their own beds.
“It was an honor to be involved with the solar installation at the Veteran’s Outreach of Wisconsin,” said project manager Angie Domagalski of Arch Electric. “The tiny homes’ project addresses a very important need of our nation’s homeless veterans and is an innovative model that should be replicated nationally. Incorporating solar into this project ensures this program is fiscally and environmentally sustainable for decades to come.”
Veterans Outreach worked with multiple partners to complete the project, including Walden III High School, a local charter-school that focuses on the environment and sustainability. Walden III assisted the project with over $10,000through their own fundraising efforts.
The solar installation was also made possible by Solar for Good, an initiative from the renewable energy advocates at RENEW Wisconsin. Solar for Good is primarily funded by philanthropists Cal and Laurie Couillard of Deerfield, WI. Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin was awarded a $10,000 grant from Solar for Good in 2017 to assist in the funding of the solar arrays.
“In the 21stcentury, electricity is a basic need and these panels help fulfill that need for our homeless veterans,” said program manager Sam Dunaiski of RENEW Wisconsin. “By substantially reducing their utility bills, Veterans Outreach will be able to invest more money back into the fantastic programs that help our ex-service members. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
The nearly 20-kilowatt array will cut the organization’s electric use by 85% and will save the organization almost $4,000 in annual utility costs. The array has already produced over 2,600 kilowatt-hours of clean, renewable electricity and will continue to operate for another 25 to 30 years. Given the lifespan of the solar panels, Veterans Outreach will recoup virtually the entire cost of all 15 tiny homes in their total electric savings.
How to Apply
The Spring 2019 Solar for Good funding cycle will open on March 1, 2019. Applications are due by April 12, 2018. Winning grantees will be announced on or before May 1, 2019. To apply, visit https://www.renewwisconsin.org/solarforgood/.
About RENEW Wisconsin
RENEW Wisconsin is a nonprofit organization which promotes renewable energy in Wisconsin. We work on policies and programs that support solar power, wind power, biogas, local hydropower, and geothermal energy. More information on RENEW’s website: www.renewwisconsin.org.
