Thanks to a $500,000 grant from the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, Madison College’s Protective Services Building will be given new solar panels and battery storage system.
The new system joins other solar installations at several other of the school’s facilities such as the Truax Campus, Watertown, Fort Atkinson, Reedsburg and more. This is part of the college’s ongoing effort to install solar panels on all its facilities and continuing commitment toward advancing renewable energy.
“It should offset roughly 30-40% of the electricity for that building, so it’ll save a fair amount on the electric bill and save costs for the school,” said Ken Walz, an instructor of science, engineering and renewable energy at Madison College as well as Director of the CREATE Energy Center.
Though a developer has yet to be contacted, the system is estimated to contain about 150 kilowatts of solar PV and 100 kilowatt hours of battery storage. This battery storage system will help future proof for future adoption of electric vehicles purchased for the Protective Services Center by the college.
Construction of the new solar panel and battery system is in the planning stages but is expected to begin sometime early next year, after the snow melts. Construction is expected to take around one to two months.
The construction is not expected to affect classes in the Protective Services Center.