Milwaukee's Urban Ecology Center Installs State's Largest Solar Energy System

[jpak]

http://www.earthtoys.com/news.php?section=view&id=2121

MILWAUKEE (February 12, 2007) – The Urban Ecology Center, a neighborhood based non-profit community center located in Milwaukee's historic Riverside Park, recently completed the installation of a 44.4 kilowatt (kW) grid-connected solar electric system. The completion of Wisconsin’s largest solar electric system is due in part to technical assistance and a $64,428 Cash-Back Reward from Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative. The center held a dedication ceremony on Saturday, February 10, 2007 to announce the completion and activation of the system, as well as to celebrate its endeavor toward energy independence.

Public Service Commission Chairman Daniel Ebert was on hand to lend support to the Urban Ecology Center’s initiative to help keep Wisconsin’s air and water clean for future generations, while at the same time contributing to the state’s economic growth through the use of renewable energy technologies.

“The Urban Ecology Center’s solar electric system is a wonderful example of how to meet Governor Doyle’s goal of increasing Wisconsin’s energy independence,” said Public Service Commission Chairperson Dan Ebert. “Not only will this system contribute to our state’s goal of producing ten percent of our electricity from renewable sources by 2010, it will reduce emissions released into our environment through traditional energy production.”

The Urban Ecology Center began its renewable energy journey in 2004 when H&H Solar Energy Services installed an eight kW solar electric system on its roof. The installation of this initial solar electric system was made possible with a $14,444 Cash-Back Reward from Focus on Energy. With the addition of the 44.4 kW system, installed by Kyocera, the 256 solar panels are expected to generate 55,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity each year – enough to prevent more than 53 tons of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere each year. In addition, the system is expected to meet 40 percent of the Urban Ecology Center’s electrical needs.

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[kestrel91316]

1. I have family in Milwaukee and visit every year. It's a lovely

old/new midwestern city............LOTS of parks and redeveloped old industrial buildings........

And we got the world's best free-range turkey for Christmas at The Milwaukee Public Market downtown, where they have lots of food kiosks selling local foods. Got a killer grass-fed beef tenderloin there, too!

It's not your stinky, old, stodgy, industrial Milwaukee anymore.