Renewables Program Promotes Energy Independence

Focus on Energy’s Renewable Energy Program has helped more than 380 Wisconsin businesses and homeowners become more energy independent. By providing financial assistance toward the installation of renewable energy systems, Focus on Energy allowed them to harness energy from the sun, the wind and organic materials. Together, these systems will generate more than 46 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) and over 900,000 therms of energy--equivalent to the electricity consumed by 5,361 average Wisconsin homes and the natural gas used by 972 average Wisconsin homes.
Focus on Energy’s Renewable Energy Program strives to make renewable energy a simple option in Wisconsin by encouraging Wisconsin’s residents and businesses to investigate and take advantage of renewable energy sources. The program educates residents and business leaders about renewable energy choices, provides training and financing, promotes technical assistance and supports the installation of renewable energy technologies across Wisconsin, earthtoys.com said.
“We don’t have the coal mines, natural gas reserves or oil fields needed to generate our own electricity,“ said Don Wichert, program director for Focus on Energy’s Renewable Energy Program. “We do have an abundant supply of renewable energy sources. By helping Wisconsin residents tap those resources, we’re helping ensure state residents and businesses have reliable access to the energy they need. We’re also fostering economic growth by reducing the amount of money that leaves the state to purchase fuel and keeping that money in Wisconsin’s economy.“
Renewable energy also helps keep Wisconsin’s air and water clean for future generations. The more than 380 projects supported by Focus on Energy will prevent the burning of 23,449 tons of coal per year to generate electricity. As a result, they will prevent almost 123 million pounds of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere per year.

Success Stories
As fossil fuel prices continue to rise, Wisconsin residents are taking advantage of the opportunity to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and reduce pollution. The following Wisconsin residents and businesses, with the help of Focus on Energy, have installed a renewable energy system that has helped them become more energy independent:
Tom Leitschuh of TDL Electronics in Franksville, Wisconsin installed an 11 kilowatt (kW) grid-connected solar electric system to cut energy consumption and gain energy independence. The system, installed by Lake Michigan Wind and Sun of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, is expected to generate 13,511 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity each year. TDL Electronics was able to install the solar electric system with technical assistance as well as the help of a $20,267 Cash-Back Reward from Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy Renewable Energy Program.
The Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee is meeting some of its electricity needs by using an eight kilowatt (kW) grid-connected solar electric system. The system, installed by H&H Electric of Madison, Wisconsin, is expected to generate 9,629 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity each year. The Urban Ecology Center was able to install the solar electric system with technical assistance as well as the help of a $14,444 Cash-Back Reward from Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy Renewable Energy Program.
Marvin Ecker of Chilton, Wisconsin installed a 35 kilowatt (kW) wind turbine on his farm with the aid of a $25,900 grant from Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy Renewable Energy Program. The system, installed by Seventh Generation Energy Systems of Belleville, Wisconsin, is estimated to generate 78,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per year.