Solar installation proposed for Kaukauna utlity

In a media release about wind power from Wisconsin Public Power, Inc. (WPPI) mentions a proposed solar project for the Kaukauna utility:

Solar power is also a focus of WPPI’s renewable energy efforts, and WPPI is committed to funding community-based solar photovoltaic (PV) projects. In partnership with its member utilities, WPPI recently funded a number of solar PV projects to help power municipal buildings, schools and businesses in member communities. To date, WPPI has provided $87,000 in funding for projects and will spend another $217,000 for projects currently in progress. The projects are part of WPPI’s planned commitment to increase funding for energy efficiency and conservation. Over three years, program funding for energy efficiency conservation will increase by more than 300 percent, from $2.38 million in 2006 to $9 million in 2009.

Recently completed municipal solar energy projects include a PV installation at the high school maintenance garage in Lake Mills through a partnership between Lake Mills Light & Water and customer Crystal Farms; as well as the installation of PV solar panels at Lodi Utilities, River Falls Municipal Utilities, Stoughton Utilities and Waupun Utilities. Additional municipal projects are proposed for Kaukauna, Muscoda, Oconomowoc, Richland Center, Sturgeon Bay and Sun Prairie.

Solar PV systems collect energy from sunlight and convert it into electricity, providing renewable, emissions-free energy. These highly visible projects demonstrate the technology, while educating the community on their benefits, operation and performance.

From the WPPI Web site:

WPPI is a regional power company serving 49 customer-owned electric utilities. Through WPPI, these public power utilities share resources and own generation facilities to provide reliable, affordable electricity to more than 190,000 homes and businesses in Wisconsin, Upper Michigan and Iowa.

WPPI is the fifth-largest electric utility in Wisconsin with annual revenues of more than $306 million, assets totaling more than $542 million and a portfolio of valuable transmission and power supply contract rights.

WPPI supplies electricity to approximately 60 percent of the load served by municipal electric systems in Wisconsin, based on energy sales.