For the City Times
CENTRAL WISCONSIN – Grow Solar Central Wisconsin – an education and bulk purchasing program helping property owners in Lincoln, Marathon, Portage, Wood, and Waushara counties take advantage of competitive prices for solar installations – is approaching its participation deadline. There is still time for business and homeowners to get involved before the Nov. 15 cutoff.

“We’re trying to simplify the process of going solar,” said Peter Murphy, MREA Solar Program Director. “It can seem complicated, so we present clear information and answer folks’ questions at our

Solar Power Hours and then they can determine for themselves whether solar is right for them.”

Grow Solar, an initiative of the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA), also helps make navigating the solar industry more affordable for individuals with its limited-time group buy discount program. The program, which currently has 11 households signed up, has passed its first participation benchmark triggering a price break for all participants. With the number of proposals still out, the program team expects to surpass its next benchmark soon, triggering additional rebates.

Solar Power Hours are free one-hour educational sessions. Homeowners, farmers, and business owners can attend the presentations to learn about solar energy and the benefits of volume pricing.

These presentations provide the opportunity to sign up for free cost estimates. People can register for a power hour as well as sign up for program updates at www.CW.GrowSolar.org.

Grow Solar Central Wisconsin’s program has resulted in over 1 megawatt of solar installed on 168 properties, valued at over $3.6 million in local investment. Solar group buy programs like Grow Solar

Central Wisconsin strengthen local economies and create local jobs by empowering community members to keep their energy dollars at home through an investment in solar energy. The program is built on the belief that communities are stronger when they’re composed of informed citizens and that it’s important for each individual to have a strong foundation of understanding about the technologies available to them in order to make decisions about their energy future.

“The economic benefit of solar mirrors the economic benefit of owning one’s home,” said Murphy.

“With solar, you own the means of producing your electricity. Without solar, you’re essentially renting your electricity.”

The MREA started these community group buy programs back in 2013 in Milwaukee. So far, they have facilitated over 42 programs in 5 Midwestern states to date, educating over 10,000 people about solar and solar opportunities, and generating over 14 Megawatts of clean, renewable solar energy.

To learn more about the program or to sign up for updates, visit: www.CW.GrowSolar.org.