Proud as Peacocks... Let the Sun Shine in

Notice those oversized scissors....

You know we in Wisconsin have been disgusted by many political decisions in recent years. But today we have something to be proud of... AND it's not just because it's  my second ribbon cutting this month. This ribbon cutting was for the 'first' solar farm in Wisconsin and the fastest built solar farm in our country with over a 1000 solar panels.

Many who made it happen: Clean Energy Collective, Vernon Electric Coop (lt. blue shirts) and their board (darker bl)  Dairyland Power Cooperative(green shirts) and their backdrop in the distance one set of the solar panel installation

What nobody mentioned at this auspicious occasion was what brought us to this day. You'll see the irony as I digress a bit.  
In 2011 the National Sierra Club brought a suit against our local power company, Dairy Land Power Cooperative resulting in our county, Vernon Electric Cooperative cutting that ribbon for the 'largest' solar farm in the nation according to Clean Energy Collective who installed the system. This also was accomplished

Clean Energy Collective's  representative

in 'record time.'  Vernon Electric didn't even have to use their PR campaign since all solar panels were sold in a 2 week period. How did this happen?

Many people were thanked for their efforts at the ceremony for the execution of this feat. The list was long - engineers, accountants, legal counsel, energy staff and spouses, boards and of course, the members. 
  
BUT one needs to understand the funding and the nearly $6 million penalty money due to 7 polluting coal plants violating the Clean Air Act. Three of those plants were shut down, three were retrofitted an hour from us. The seventh plant retrofitted was 10 miles away in Genoa.  $950,000 was paid in penalties and the additional $5 million was divided: $500,000 for national forest and park restoration, $2.5 million for solar panels on schools in addition to assistance to low income families.

Of  the two possible sites, Vernon County was chosen by Dairy Land Power to receive the 2 million dollar penalty monies for the development of the solar installation. Of course in all the wonderful speeches today, no one mentioned that this could have never happened for the members's to be panel owners had the suit never been filed.  Truth be known it will be beneficial to both the company and its members besides being a cleaner energy source.

Living in an area with environmentally conscious citizens, home to Organic Valley and their Wind Farm, didn't require much convincing to purchase the available panels... 

Notice the farmland with the cows grazing near the panels.  

Therefore, when the Cooperative members were notified of the opportunity to buy a subsidized $1200 solar panel for $600 which would have a payback in 10-12 years, it was a no brainer. A member could buy panels up to 120% of their usage. 

There are two project panel sections, one an integrated system owned by Dairyland Power (the result of the enforced penalty for cleaner energy) who are already discovering it's a good deal. While we were at the ceremony and picnic celebration all the panels were producing energy at 100% of their capacity. The second panel section owned by Vernon Electric Cooperative members will be the recipients of monthly credit from these panels. Upon selling one's home, the owner panel members can sell their panels. It's a win win... and we are so proud to have solar power in our county.

Shine on to the future and say hello to alternative cleaner energy and to all those that made it happen... May this just be the beginning of many more solar farms and a leading example throughout our country without the use of coal.

* I will correct facts if I have misquoted/misunderstood info.
Numbers differed in handouts and speeches.

aerial photo courtesy of Dairy Land Power Solar Facility, Westby, Wi