For Hub City Times

CENTRAL WISCONSIN – The “Grow Solar Central Wisconsin” group buy program has collectively reached its second milestone – 100 kilowatts (kW) of solar. All participants will now receive $.10 per/watt rebate on their systems, in addition to the already lower than average negotiated price.

The program is hosted by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) with the goal of helping home and business owners in Portage, Wood, Lincoln, and Marathon counties use their collective buying power to save on the total cost of going solar. The program uses educational outreach paired with a competitive contractor bid process and group purchasing power to maximize cost savings and streamline the solar process for participants.

In 2018, the program helped 40 homes and businesses go solar, and the 2019 effort is expected to surpass those numbers. The program sets benchmarks along the way, and once those benchmarks are met, rebates are triggered for participants, making the cost per system even more affordable. In addition to lower system prices through the bulk purchasing model, participants investing in solar can take advantage of the full federal solar Investment Tax Credit which starts reducing after the end of this year.

Interested attendees can register for a free, no obligation site assessment from the competitively-selected solar installer, North Wind Renewable Energy Cooperative. North Wind was the selected as the program’s installer for both the 2017 and 2018 program based on their history of quality workmanship.

MREA and its partners are hosting a series of free ‘Solar Power Hour’ information sessions to provide resources and answer questions. Attendees will learn the basics of solar, its financial implications, and how the Solar Central Wisconsin Group Buy Program works.

A session is scheduled for Marshfield on Sept. 14, noon – 1 p.m., at Uptown Coffee Company, 121 S. Central Ave., Marshfield.

For the full list of upcoming Solar Power Hour information sessions, visit www.cwsolar.org.