Solar for WI K-12 Schools: Resource Center
We've collected resources and put together video content with the intent to assist school administrative teams, boards, staff, students, facilities crew, or other school affiliates (“Solar Planning Teams”) throughout all stages in the solar project development process. We present information about the technology, site analysis, project finance, and procurement strategies used to deliver on-site solar. You can use the resources from start to finish or you can select certain section a la carte, based on your school's needs. Email evonne@midwestrenew.org with any questions. Thanks for joining us!Fundamental Resources for a WI School Solar Project
- Dr. Ronald Russ, Superintendent Merton Community School District - Located in Waukesha County, Merton just completed installation of a 389 kW DC PV system in November 2019, which is largely financed through a low-interest loan and is expected to save the district $70,000 in energy costs each year.
- Andy Weiland, Business Administrator, Oregon School District - The district has had several PV systems on various schools for several years, and is now planning to incorporate a solar PV system over 500kW into new construction of a net zero elementary school
- Lee Black, Buildings & Grounds Director, Darlington Community School District - In January 2016, the district completed the installation of a 156 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system on the roof of their elementary middle school building. The system is expected to generate approximately 200,000 kWh of electricity per year, or about 19% of the entire district’s use, saving them about $12,500 in usage charges and roughly $3,250 in demand charges.
- Merton Community School District (2019) - 389kW DC - installed on both Merton Intermediate and Merton Primary, saving the district $70,000 annually.
- Oregon School District (2020) - 649kW DC on Forest Edge Elementary School, the first net-zero school in WI.
- Madison Area Technical College (2018) - 1.85 MW
- Darlington Elementary/Middle School (2015)- 156 kW
- Northland Pines School District: Elementary, Middle, & High School (2017) - 331 total kW
- NABCEP Certified Installer Locator (website) - online database of professional certified solar installers
- MREA Business Member Directory (website) - list of our business members, searchable by PV installer, among other categories
- Focus on Energy Trade Allies (website) - searchable database of contractors and service providers who partner with Focus to deliver energy efficiency and renewable energy products and expertise to WI residents and businesses.
Welcome! In this section, we introduce the objectives of this resource center and your responsibilities to best utilize this large collection of resources. Consider it akin to the first day of class, where the professor goes over the syllabus, but in this case, you should pay attention! The topical videos will also introduce how to use and develop a roadmap or business case document, and will provide an overview of basic PV market trends for the U.S. as well as Wisconsin and K-12 schools.
Topic Shorts
Please watch this 12 minute video to get a basic understanding of this resource center. We will go over topics that will be covered as well as explain how these resources are intended to help you with your school's PV project development. We explain how to best utilize this course as a toolkit for your school's solar PV project, regardless of what stage of development you are at currently.
Featuring: Amanda Schienebeck, MREA Program Manager
Please watch this 5 minute video to get a basic understanding of how to utilize either our Business Case or Roadmap templates, which can be found in the resources section below. These are the guiding documents that will help your school's Solar Planning Team develop your PV project, collecting the necessary information to develop an RFP and go out to bid. This video will go over the difference between the two plans and how to integrate these templates throughout the course.
Featuring: Amanda Schienebeck, MREA Program Manager
This 8 minute video explains the Solar on Schools grant opportunity available to Wisconsin K-12 schools. We go over how it functions, how it fits into the overall Solar on Schools program and this resource center, and it details grantee expectations and responsibilities.
Note: At this time only public WI K-12 schools are eligible for this grant. Private institutions should consider applying to our sister program, Solar for Good, run by RENEW Wisconsin which provides grants to WI nonprofits installing solar PV systems.
Featuring: Amanda Schienebeck, MREA Program Manager
This 7 minute video provides a general overview of current market trends for solar PV. It explains how drastically things have changed in the past decade, and even in the past few years. The market has evolved dramatically, and it is easy to not be up to date!
Featuring: Amanda Schienebeck, MREA Program Manager
Please watch this 45 minute recorded webinar to get a basic understanding of what the market trends are for solar schools both nationally as well as within Wisconsin! There are unique benefits to schools installing solar PV systems. Learn what your peers have been up to (and why)! Learn about the educational opportunities associated with solar PV for schools and hear from Merton School District Superintendent Ronald Russ about the district's recently installed 389kW DC system.
Featuring:
- Amanda Schienebeck, MREA Program Manager
- Sara Windjue, KEEP Outreach Program Coordinator
- Nathan Mahr, Oregon Middle School District science teacher
- Ronald Russ, Merton Community School District Superintendent
Section Resources
- Business Case Template
- Roadmap Template
- 10 Step Guide to Creating a Solar Photovoltaic Roadmap (PDF) - a guide put together by Madison College
- Solar Schools Campaign Toolkit (PDF) - toolkit by Generation180 for K-12 schools pursuing solar PV
- 100% Clean Energy School Districts Campaign: Organizing Toolkit (PDF) - This toolkit is for parents, students, teachers, and others who are interested in helping move school districts toward 100% clean energy and was developed by the Sierra Club in partnership with Generation 180
- Madison Metropolitan School District's 100% Renewable Energy Resolution (website) - An online version of their resolution that was passed in 2019 and made publically available for others to use as a template.
- Going Solar: A Guide for Students, Teachers, and Communities to Develop Successful School-Based School Projects (PDF) - resource and toolkit put together by Solar Schools Canada
- Solar Industry Research Data (website) - research compiled on PV trends by SEIA
- Lazard's Levelized Cost of Energy - LAZARD's research comparing costs of conventional and renewable energy generation
- Q4 2019/Q1 2020 Solar Industry Update (PDF) - NREL's quarterly report on the update of the U.S. solar PV industry
- Tracking the Sun Report (PDF) - Pricing & design trends for photovoltaic systems in the United States. 2019 Edition
- Brighter Future: A Study on Solar in U.S. (PDF) - a 2020 study on national solar school trends by Generation180 and The Solar Foundation
- Wisconsin K-12 Schools with Renewable Energy Systems (website) - list of and information about known WI schools with PV systems
- Riding the Solar Coaster (Podcast) - An engaging juxtaposition of K-12 school PV projects in locations with idea solar policy versus those with less than ideal solar policy, and how those policies impact the procurement process.
- Solar Power Guide: Renewable Energy for Kids this website has collected other resources and websites with information on renewable energy geared towards kids.
- Center For Renewable Energy Advanced Technological Education (CREATE) – Each of their teaching materials include teacher lesson plans, student handouts, answer keys, and resources for each of the lessons explored. Documentation is also provided for each lesson referencing the US DOE Energy Literacy Standards (ELS) and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Curriculum is intended for an 8th-12th grade audience.
- Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program (KEEP) – KEEP was created to promote energy education in Wisconsin schools. They have a host of free, downloadable solar curriculum and activities organized by grade level as well as classroom visits, hands-on lending, and partner programs.