Solar Power Hour coming to Kewaunee County

MILWAUKEE — May 19, 2015 — On Thursday, May 28, Kewaunee area residents have the opportunity to learn about solar powering their farm, home or business with a free Power Hour— a one-hour informational session that explores the benefits of solar. The Kewaunee Power Hour will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. in the 4-H Conference Room #142 of the Exhibition Hall at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds in Luxemburg. This Power Hour is made possible in partnership with the Rural Enterprise Network, the University of Wisconsin-Extension, and the Wisconsin Farmers Union.

The Power Hour is hosted by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA), a clean energy and sustainable living educational nonprofit, and will detail the components of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system, discuss market trends, review a list of vetted local solar installers and conclude with an MREA representative ready to answer questions.

“Solar is a complex industry,” said Peter Murphy, Market Development Coordinator at MREA. “It can be a confusing process for consumers to figure out who to work with and what advantages and disadvantages exist when considering a solar array. The Power Hour is a way for us to do a lot of up-front education for residents who may be interested but aren’t sure where to start.”

Financial incentives are available for solar PV through multiple channels, including the Federal Renewable Energy Tax Credit, which offers a 30% tax credit on solar PV installation. Visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) website at Dsireusa.org for additional policy information on the federal solar tax credit.

In addition, the USDA Renewable Energy for America Program (R.E.A.P.) provides funding for rural businesses and agricultural producers. You can find answers to frequently asked questions about R.E.A.P. at FarmEnergy.org.

For more information regarding the Power Pack program and its Power Hour sessions, visit the Grow Solar website at GrowSolar.org/power-pack. To learn more about the Kewaunee Power Hour partners, visit the Rural Enterprise Network on Facebook, the University of Wisconsin-Extension at uwex.edu and the Wisconsin Farmers Union at WisconsinFarmersUnion.com.

The Power Hour is part of the Grow Solar Power Pack program. The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) and Wisconsin Farmers Union are partnering on a number of Power Hours in Wisconsin. The Kewaunee Power Hour includes local partners the Rural Enterprise Network and the University of Wisconsin-Extension. It is made possible with support from the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative. To learn more about the MREA, call 715-592-6595 or visit www.midwestrenew.org.