Innovative solar energy program unveiled

We are turning sunshine into solar power on numerous School District of New Berlin (SDNB) buildings and vacant land. This partnership with SDNB is the first project as part of our innovative Solar Now program. Construction kicked off this week in New Berlin, with other solar projects set to begin in the coming months.

The Solar Now program will create 35 megawatts (MW) of clean, renewable energy that will benefit all of our customers.

“The Solar Now program is an important part of our generation reshaping for a clean energy future,” said Kevin Fletcher — president and CEO of WEC Energy Group, our parent corporation. “We are committed to cutting greenhouse gases and investing in cost-effective, zero-carbon, renewable generation.”

Fletcher formally unveiled the program at New Berlin Eisenhower Middle/High School. He  was joined by Representative Mike Kuglitsch (R – New Berlin), Senator David Craig (R – Big Bend), Superintendent Joe Garza of the School District of New Berlin and Matt Neumann Founder/CEO of SunVest, the Wisconsin-based company we contracted to construct Solar Now.

Nearly 8,000 solar panels are going up this summer at New Berlin Eisenhower Middle/High School, New Berlin West Middle/High School and Ronald Reagan Elementary. The panels will generate more than 2 MW of clean, renewable energy and provide a unique educational opportunity for students.

“We are proud to be the first participant in this innovative renewable energy program,” said Superintendent Garza. “Along with playing a role in the advancement of renewable energy, our students will have the unique opportunity to gain ‘real life’ knowledge about the production of solar energy for years to come.”

Through the Solar Now program, we will pay commercial, industrial, government and nonprofit customers like the School District of New Berlin to host solar panels on their roofs and property.

While the program is aimed at large commercial and government host customers, all of our customers will benefit. The solar energy that is produced will help reduce fuel costs to all customers while also maintaining fuel diversity and reducing carbon emissions.

“I applaud We Energies for this innovative program and community partnership. I’m proud my district will be home to the first panels and look forward to seeing Solar Now shine in other communities across the state,” said Rep. Kuglitsch.

Solar Now is a pilot program approved by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. Despite only being a few months old, the program is already extremely popular. We have received interest from customers from across the state.

Outside of the benefits for customers, the Solar Now pilot will provide us with valuable insight into operating distributed solar generation; experience that can be used in the future on other projects.

Solar Now is part of a We Energies and WEC Energy Group plan to create a clean energy future. Working with industry partners, environmental groups and state leaders, WEC Energy Group has set a goal to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions 80% by 2050.