MADISON, MILWAUKEE – Governor Jim Doyle announced today that Wisconsin is receiving $4.3 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to support solar energy technologies, accelerate the adoption of solar energy, and develop a solar workforce. Governor Doyle made the announcement at a pair of events in Milwaukee and Madison where he was joined by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, and Midwest Renewable Energy Association Executive Director Tehri Parker.
“Wisconsin has been a leader in renewable technology, and this important funding from the U.S. DOE will help move us forward in our efforts to secure a clean energy future for Wisconsin residents,” Governor Doyle said. “We have the trained workers, experience and infrastructure to take the lead in this emerging industry, while also protecting our citizens.”
Wisconsin’s funding is broken up between three recipients: the City of Milwaukee, the City of Madison, and Midwest Renewable Energy Association. U.S. DOE recognized Milwaukee and Madison as Solar America Cities, two of only 25 in the country, making Wisconsin one of only four states with multiple communities. The Midwest Renewable Energy Association received a grant for solar installation training.
Details of the three awards are below:
- The City of Milwaukee is receiving $650,000 to build on existing efforts to promote solar energy through the “Milwaukee Shines” initiative. The Milwaukee Shines team will continue to reduce the informational, economic, and procedural barriers to solar energy proliferation in the region. Milwaukee will leverage the experience of its sister city, Madison, and of its strategic project partners in this endeavor. The project’s goal is to increase the number of local solar installers, engage the business community, install over100 solar-electric and 50 solar thermal systems, with a total capacity of 1 MW by 2012, and, ultimately, reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions.
“Given our past success with creating green jobs and incorporating renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies city-wide, we are pleased to be the recipient of the Solar America Cities special projects award,” Mayor Barrett said. “With this award, Milwaukee will further embrace green jobs and continue to enhance our infrastructure for making solar energy a more practical energy source.”
- The City of Madison is receiving $370,000 for its “MadiSUN” project to coordinate and galvanize substantial local and state resources with a motivated population to showcase how a U.S. Midwest city can dramatically increase the use of solar energy. The projects goals are to double the use of solar energy in Madison over a two-year period, reduce greenhouse gases by 25 percent by 2011, and install 200 solar hot water systems by 2010.
“Solar energy is a clean and renewable power source that holds great potential for reducing our energy costs, and reducing our contribution to global warming,” said Mayor Dave Cieslewicz. “This continuing partnership will help Madison as well as the entire state, continue to be on the forefront of using clean energy.”
- The Midwest Renewable Energy Association is receiving $3.3 million for solar installation training. To meet the demand for professional training in the installation of residential and commercial photovoltaic and solar heating and cooling systems, MREA is working with six regional training partners to increase capacity for quality solar instruction in training centers throughout the Midwest. Through the partnership, the MREA will provide instructor development opportunities and organize a network of instructors, installers, engineers, administrators, and other industry stakeholders to create, review, pilot, and share instructional resources.
“The MREA is proud to be a part of this Wisconsin team that is leading the nation in clean energy production and green job creation,” said Tehri Parker, executive director of MREA. “These DOE awards attest to the commitment of our Governor, and local leaders, to build the legislative foundation for projects of this type to thrive.”
Wisconsin’s funding is part of $87 million that U.S. DOE has made available to help address technical challenges, ensure reliable connectivity with the electrical grid, and train a new generation of solar workers to install and maintain solar energy systems. Of this funding, $50 million comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The selected projects will help accelerate the commercialization of solar technologies in an effort to achieve cost-competitive solar electricity by 2015, in addition to developing advanced solar technologies for the future. Projects focus on both technology improvements and the elimination of market barriers to help make solar electricity accessible to a wide variety of consumers.
Governor Doyle has worked hard to make Wisconsin a leader in renewable energy. In 2008, he launched his Clean Energy Wisconsin platform to spur energy independence. Since then, Wisconsin has made significant progress towards meeting his goals of generation 25 percent of our electricity and transportation fuels from renewable fuels by 2025; securing 10 percent of the market share for the Wisconsin-based production of renewable energy and bioproducts; and achieving national leadership in groundbreaking research that makes alternative energies more affordable and available, and turning those discoveries into new, high-paying jobs.
