City and Partners to Give Away a Free Solar PV Array

City and Partners to Give Away a Free Solar PV Array

Madison, WI - Helios USA , Ingeteam, Pivot Point, RSTC Enterprises, EverGreen Sustainable Products, Johnson Controls, MG&E, IBEW Local 159 and Focus On Energy have teamed up with the City of Madison to select one local business to receive a free solar energy system. The system valued at over $25,000 will be built in part from Wisconsin-made products and services contributed by the project partners. These partners represent a growing number of Wisconsin-based businesses that participate in the solar manufacturing, supply and distribution chain in Wisconsin. In the most recent National Solar Job Census compiled by the Solar Foundation, Wisconsin ranked 5th in total solar jobs just behind California, Pennsylvania, Texas and Michigan. The state should be adding more to that total with the announcement in January that W Solar, a thin-film PV module manufacturer, will establish a manufacturing facility in Wisconsin. So far, over 90 solar PV systems have been installed throughout Dane County alone and the systems keep getting larger and larger. Epic Systems just completed the installation of 1300 solar panel array, Badger Cab an 88 panel, 20 kW array and Promega Corporation has an array large enough to power eight to ten homes. With electricity rates averaging a 5.8% per year increase over the past ten years and the pricing of solar coming down, more companies are choosing solar to help stabilize their building's long-term operating expenses. Several limited incentives due to expire in 2011 or shortly thereafter also contribute to the recent interest in solar energy by area businesses. The effort is part of the city's solar program, MadiSUN, supported through its participation in the Department of Energy's Solar America Cities program. All Madison businesses are currently eligible to receive a free solar site assessment from MadiSUN. In a site assessment, businesses receive a detailed financial report highlighting the return on investment they could typically see from a solar installation on their building. Businesses interested in entering to win the free solar array should visit the MadiSUN Solar Program website (www.madisun.org) to download and complete an entry form by July 31st. Area companies that have demonstrated a sustained commitment to energy efficiency have the best chance to win. Only businesses in the city of Madison are eligible to apply.

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