Our Efforts

Based on a 2008 study by URS that evaluates over 3,000 owner occupied non-residential and city owned building rooftops, over 35 million square feet of rooftop space in Milwaukee falls into the “ideal” category for solar energy production. If this vast area were covered by solar panels, over 3,500 average homes or 7,000 energy efficient houses could be powered by solar each year. Even though Milwaukee is not located in the “sunbelt” we have what is considered to be a “good” solar resource. Germany is the highest consumer of solar energy in the world, yet, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Germany has an inferior solar resource to Wisconsin. The point is, Milwaukee has terrific potential for increasing its solar energy resource and, according to recent climate change reports, NOW is the time to start looking at ways to collectively reduce our environmental impact.

One of the primary goals of the Solar America Cities program is to increase solar energy capacity. Since March 2008, Milwaukee Shines has been working toward increasing the number of solar installations in Milwaukee. Although we have a long way to go before we can consider Milwaukee to be truly sustainable, we are slowly making the switch toward renewable energy and energy efficient technologies. Check out our interactive solar map of over 70 solar energy installations in the Milwaukee metro area. The featured installations do not account for all the solar in the area, but it proves that we are getting ever closer to meeting our goal of 1 MW of solar capacity by 2012 and making solar more mainstream.

Additionally, Milwaukee Shines is interested in increasing the number of installers and site assessors in Milwaukee. The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) has teamed up with Milwaukee Shines to provide more training opportunities to Milwaukee based installers and site assessors. Click here to find out about MREA’s upcoming solar workshops in Milwaukee. Milwaukee Shines will also help less experienced installers gain the experience they need to win bids by encouraging their participation on city solar installations. In November 2009 the historical City Library will be going on line with a 30 kW solar electric system as well as a green roof. They needed to have their roof replaced and took advantage of an opportunity to simultaneously showcase and educate others on two sustainable technologies.

Furthermore, Milwaukee Shines has been working to promote solar education in schools. One effort has been to work with We Energies to develop an exhibit called “Solar in the City” which is a new, interactive educational exhibit on solar electric and solar hot water technologies. Developed by the We Energies Renewable Energy Education Program in partnership with the Betty Brinn Children's Museum, this exhibit teaches K-12 students about locally produced solar energy. Click here for a photo of the “Solar in the City” exhibit. To host “Solar in the City” at your school, contact Milwaukee Shines for details. Another effort has been to work with Milwaukee James Madison Public High School on developing a solar curriculum that will eventually lead to students designing and installing both a solar hot water and solar electric array for their school.

Finally, in July 2009 Milwaukee Shines received a report from CH2MHill that analyzes Milwaukee’s potential to be a solar products manufacturing hub. For the Full Solar Products Manufacturing Report click here. For a PowerPoint on the manufacturing report click here.