Annual report

Annual Report

July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017

The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) promotes renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living through education and demonstration.

STAFF Adam Mehr, Certificate Program Coordinator

Julie Brazeau, Solar Technical Assistance Coordinator

Allison Lindquist, Events Director

Kaitlyn Kohl, Communications Coordinator

Amiee Wetmore, Operations Director Elizabeth Spry, Events Assistant

Kristen Yeager, Marshfield Clinic - AmeriCorps, Volunteer Coordinator

Eric Rehm, Solar Finance Manager

Leon Dulak, Site Manager

Gina Miresse, Development Director

Nick Hylla, Executive Director

Jane Cowan, Market Research Coordinator

Peter Murphy, Solar Program Manager

Jenny Heinzen, Training Programs Coordinator

www.MidwestRenew.org

Happy New Year to all our friends, members, donors, instructors, students, volunteers, and all who love renewable energy and sustainable living!

It’s an honor and privilege to serve as the MREA’s Board President for a second year. When I look back on 2017 and think about everything the MREA has accomplished, I feel so lucky to be part of this amazing organization.

Last year we trained 1,030 students, held TWO Energy Fairs, helped nearly 300 home and business owners install solar through our Solar Group Buy programs, worked with 11 universities to build campus PV roadmaps, and installed an electric vehicle charging demonstration lab at our headquarters in Custer.

The MREA couldn’t have done any of these amazing things without a dedicated staff, a wonderful board of directors, and you - our members, volunteers, donors, and supporters!

We need your support now more than ever to make sure we keep our mission of promoting clean energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living through education and demonstration alive.

Some of our staff and Board Members pose for a photo at our Annual Strategic Planning Day!

The MREA Board and staff want to ensure the Midwest has a qualified, well-trained renewable energy workforce. We want to keep hosting The Energy Fair so more people can learn about renewable energy and sustainable living. And we want to continue our outreach and education efforts around the Midwest.

It’s incredible how far we’ve come in the past 29 years. The MREA started out as a group of friends in Central Wisconsin who answered a call to action by Richard Perez in Home Power Magazine to organize the first Energy Fair.

Today we have 14 incredible staff members, one amazing executive director, three offices in two states, reached thousands of individuals through our power hours and Energy Fairs, helped hundreds of homeowners, businesses, universities and governments install megawatts (MEGAWATTS!) of clean solar energy, and have become the leading renewable energy training organization in the Midwest.

It makes me so proud and hopeful to see how much the MREA has been able to accomplish. I’m looking forward to accomplishing much more with MREA in the future.

Here’s to a sustainable, renewable energy-powered 2018!

Elizabeth Hittman, MREA Board President

MREA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Alissa Karl, Alverno college, Milwaukee WI

John Kivlin, Convergence Energy, Lake Geneva, WI

Bob Hattier, Alternative Currents, Chicago, IL

Lissa Pawlisch, University of Minnesota’s Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships and Extension (CERTs), St. Paul, MN

Elizabeth Hittman, City of Milwaukee Office of Sustainability, Milwaukee, WI, MREA Board President

Mark Klein, Gimme Shelter Construction, Amherst, WI

Gary Dreier, Buzza Dreier & Johnson LLC, Stevens Point, WI MREA Board Financial Officer

Megan Levy, Wisconsin State Energy Office, Madison WI

Grace Fuhr, Historic Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI MREA Vice President

Pam Ritger, Clean Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI

Jennifer Martin, Illinois Green Economy Network, Stelle, IL MREA Board Secretary

Nick Hylla, Midwest Renewable Energy Association, Custer, WI Stanley Minnick, Organic Valley, La Farge, WI

DRIVING ON SUNSHINE

For the past three years, MREA has been working to expand our public engagement and professional training programs by building an advanced electric vehicle charging demonstration and training lab, powered by solar energy.

CONSTRUCTION WORK SITE IMPROVEMENTS: • 480V electric service upgrade • 1 ABB Terra 53 DC fast charger • 3 ClipperCreek workplace chargers with advanced monitoring and load balancing software

In 2017, with the help of many generous partners and donors, we upgraded to a 480V electric service, made significant landscaping improvements to our site, and installed an advanced electric vehicle charging demonstration.

DONATIONS: $22,865 SUPPORTERS: 169 Backers 17 Businesses donated campaign perks

These improvements laid the foundation for our Driving on Sunshine Campaign, an effort to marry the promising technologies of photovoltaics and electric vehicles by installing a solar canopy over our newly-constructed electric vehicle charging demonstration.

IN-KIND: 10 kW inverter from Fronius, 20 kW of PV modules from Photovoltaic Systems, SE10k 3Ph 480V inverter from SolarEdge

We are extremely close to reaching our campaign goals and continue seeking additional donor and foundation support to afford the final stages of this project. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has contributed thus far and helped make our advanced solar and electric vehicle education program a reality.

The future is electric. Together we’re ensuring it is local and renewable!

THE FUTURE IS ELECTRIC!

• 1 EV 301 COURSE: taught by MREA instructor Bob Hattier With many more to come!

Thanks to our campaign partners!

ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION

ZEF ENERGY Building a Zero Emissions Future

MREA SOLAR GROUP BUY PROGRAMS “We had thought about going solar in the past, but didn’t know where to start.

MREA’s program made it straightforward.”

- Bill & Peggy Freeburg, purchased a 7.25 kW solar array through one of MREA’s Group Buys.

ALL IN A YEAR’S WORK:

kWh Offset Year 1: 2,405,795 Utility Savings Year 1: $284,122.23 CO2 Offset Year 1: 3,091,745 lbs.

H2O Offset Year 1: 45,710,110 gal.

110

Solar P ower Hour s

4

Solar Power Hou Attende r es

292

Midwes t States

Proper ties Went Solar

6

Installa tio Compa n nies

2,010

16

Par tne rs

44

Par ticip at Commu ing nities

2 MW

BUSINESS MEMBERS

Of Clea Solar E n nerg Installe y d

1

GREAT YEA OF SOL R AR SUCCES S!

CONTACT: peterm@midwestrenew.org *Data Snapshot: 2017

URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 2.0 • 447 total kW • 58 installs • Installer: New Prairie Construction

MADISON COUNTY / GLEN CARBON • 293 total kW • 38 installs • Installer: StraightUp Solar

IOWA COUNTY, WI

CEDAR RAPIDS & LINN COUNTY • 607 total kW • 104 installs • Installer: Moxie Solar

TOSA / MILWAUKEE SHINES • 120 total kW • 24 installs • Installer: SunVest

CENTRAL WISCONSIN • 240 total kW • 32 installs • Installer: Eagle Point Solar

• 335 total kW • 36 installs • Installer: North Wind Renewable Energy Cooperative

MREA Renewable Energy Training Solar Photovoltaics

Solar Thermal

Electric Vehicle

Small Wind

1,030

STUDENTS COMPLETED MREA TRAINING Data Snapshot: 7/1/16 - 6/30/17

309

ONLINE STUDENTS

Our online courses offer MREA students a convenient way to break into the clean energy workforce and build upon current credentials through continuing education. We have courses for all skill levels from novice to expert. View courses at MidwestRenew.org/courses.

318

Classroom and lab courses are offered at our headquarters in Custer, WI, and at industry events across the U.S.

23 VETERANS

CLASSROOM STUDENTS

We proudly offer renewable energy training opportunities to veterans through the use of their GI benefits. Five MREA courses have been approved by the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs when they are taught at MREA facilities in Custer and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

We provided customized training in six different states for businesses, educational institutions, and other groups interested in learning more about renewable energy. Customized training options include classroom training, hands-on workshops, labs, and online courses.

46 GRADUATES

334

CUSTOMIZED TRAINING STUDENTS

Held in three states from January - May 2017, 46 students participated in our Solar Training Academy.

Academy students learn from a series of weekend classes on topics related to photovoltaic (PV) fundamentals, PV site assessment practices, and design principles and considerations.

8

Students earned their MREA PV Site Assessment Certificate.

89% of Solar Training Academy students passed their

NABCEP PV Associate Exam on the first try.

MidwestRenew.org/courses

“ I went from very little knowledge in the subject to a feeling of confidence and excitement of what’s to come as I further my career in PV. ” - Spencer Larson, MREA Alum

The Energy FAir

Learn. Connect. Empower.

CUSTER, WI / Jun. 16-18, 2017

254 12,681 ATTENDEES turned out for The 28th Annual Energy Fair. Fairgoers listed “workshops” as the #1 reason for attendance.

245 6

233

WORKSHOPS

NABCEP Continuing Education Credits

on 16 different categories of clean energy and sustainable living topics.

EXHIBITORS showcased their sustainable goods and services to the public.

earned by 121 Solar Professionals.

100 EVs charged up at the Fair.

KEYNOTES were powered by 12 bicyclists on our humanpowered stage.

Featured Keynote JB Straubel of Tesla

“ We have been involved in renewable energy for 45 years and we still learn new information at every fair.

We come home energized and excited for the next project!”– 2017 ENERGY FAIR Attendee

The Energy FAir

So nice, we did it TWICE!

ST. PAUL, MN / Sept. 9-10, 2017

4,699 74 ATTENDEES turned out for this first year event, proving that MREA has the best supporters! 2/3 of attendees were homeowners.

3

107 1 WORKSHOPS

EXHIBITORS shared their products with attendees. 80% of attendees were interested in installing solar on their property.

were presented on clean energy and sustainability in an ELECTRIC SHUTTLE urban setting. 80+ workshops were offered gave fair-goers free lifts to and from the Fair! free to the public, because a clean energy future needs us all!

KEYNOTES inspired action toward a sustainable future.

Featuring a special address from St. Paul Mayor, Chris Coleman.

www.TheEnergyFair.org / @TheEnergyFair

MREA MEMBERSHIP

Your MREA Membership directly supports renewable energy education and solar deployment in the Midwest.

Data Snapshot: 7/1/16 – 6/30/17

MidwestRenew.org/join

2,181 CURRENT MREA MEMBERS MREA Members directly support renewable energy education, and solar deployment in the Midwest.

1,825 PERSONAL MEMBERS

1,579 RENEWING MEMBERS

Our success is made possible by the participation, funding, and work of our dedicated members.

602

NEW MEMBERS

411 RISE UP and join MREA as a member today! Together we are the solution.

MidwestRenew.org/join

LIFETIME MEMBERS

356

BUSINESS MEMBERS

PROUD MEMBER OF:

Volunteers

MREA volunteers are the backbone of our events, and at the core of outreach. We can’t thank them enough!

Data Snapshot: Sept. 15, 2016 - June 30, 2017

rs Team Membe

From the Midwest to Canada and Colorado, our Street Team members helped spread the word about The Energy Fair and sustainable living in their communities.

Mo

ay D v e So h me Ear t

From MREA Members, to student groups, to friends and family! We’re grateful for all of the volunteers that turned out for our annual volunteer Move Some Earth Day.

NATIONAL SOLAR TOUR Each year MREA volunteers to host the Wisconsin Chapter Solar Tour. Thanks to all of the host sites who volunteered to open their doors to the public so they could learn more about renewable energy and reducing their energy usage! Data Snapshot: Oct. 2016

En er

r gy Fair Voluntee

The Fair is made possible with the help of hundreds of volunteers working together to make this clean energy and sustainable living event possible!

A total of 2,575 volunteer hours were completed at The 28th Annual Energy Fair.

H ar

These volunteers go above and beyond! Donating 12+ hours of their time to make sure the Fair is a success.

“We had great discussions with people about solar and energy saving tips.”

– 2016 Host Site

64 Host Sites 259 Participants

r dcore Voluntee

s

e et

s

Str

181

388

41

83

Solar University Network Together with students, faculty, staff, and local utilities, we are empowering campuses to go solar!

HERE’S HOW Through our university partnerships, a total of 97 students were actively involved in developing Campus PV Roadmaps for 1+ year. Graduate students led the project through on-site teams of students, faculty, and staff as they defined and pursued their best opportunities for solar energy investment. Students were incentivized to participate through renewable energy trainings, internships, professional development, academic credit, and hands-on experience. The longevity of student involvement was essential in our success.

97

STUDENTS

11

We worked with 11 universities including 4 pilot universities to build Campus PV Roadmaps for higher education investment in solar energy. Spread throughout the US, the universities were pursuing solar to meet sustainability or financial goals, enhance academic curriculum and research, attract innovative students and faculty, and show their commitment to climate change solutions and the next generation.

27

Through this process, the University of Minnesota invested in 26.755 MW of solar photovoltaic energy through community solar garden subscriptions and on-site projects.

When complete, renewable energy will make up 20% of the University’s energy portfolio and save the University $35,600,000 over the lifetime of these projects.

6

We held a total of 6 SUN Delegation events in St. Cloud (MN), Minneapolis, Denver, Chicago, and Baltimore (twice!). These events provided an opportunity for teams to share their Campus PV Roadmaps and projects, receive expert feedback, groupthink solutions, network with industry professionals, and learn about current-state renewable energy issues.

4

Campus PV Roadmaps will serve as full case studies to other universities interested in deploying solar on their campus. The documents highlight various models for implementation at every step, whether it be through strong academic programming, stakeholder engagement, investment strategies, or the importance of legal and regulatory expertise. Find them at www.solarendowment.org/resources.

UNIVERSITIES

MEGAWATTS

EVENTS

CAMPUS ROADMAPS

1

ONLINE TOOL

www.solarendowment.org

PV

We developed a website designed to help businesses and homeowners determine the cost of installing a solar energy system, as well as the amount of electricity their system could produce. More people are currently working in solar energy than the oil and coal industries combined. This website is a way to help bring this national trend down to the local level.

1 SOLAR UNIVERSITY NETWORK

41

Avenue of Advocates Annual Awards to Sustainability Leaders The MREA plants trees each year along our “Avenue of Advocates,� which lines the driveway that leads up to the Renew the Earth Institute. The Avenue of Advocates recognizes people or organizations who have shown great leadership in advancing renewable energy and sustainable living.

MARK KLEIN Founding MREA Member

Advocates Honored To Date JB STRAUBEL CTO of TESLA

*2017 Recipients

MREA Clean Energy Scholarship

*2017 Recipients Funded by donors, members and supporters, the Clean Energy Scholarship has contributed $16,000 to 31 future sustainability innovators.

In honor of Steve Hansen Since 2006, the MREA has provided scholarships to support students pursuing careers in clean energy. In honor of Steve Hansen, a brilliant educator who taught thousands of students in Wisconsin about the importance of renewable energy and environmental sustainability, the Clean Energy Scholarship Fund was established to help the next generation carry on his important work. It is designed to assist students who are pursuing degrees and/or relevant credentials in renewable energy, energy efficiency, or clean technology.

Leah Bectel

Zachary Koop University of MN at Duluth / UW-La Crosse

Michigan Technological University

MREA Headquarters, Custer, WI

Find us online!

MidwestRenew.org

Milwaukee, WI Office

@MREA

Kristy Medo University of Wisconsin Stevens Point

Minneapolis, MN Office

@theMREA

@Midwest.Renew

statement of activites

INCOME = $1,666,623 July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017

2016-17 Income Program Fees Memberships Contributions In-Kind Donations Sponsorships Other Awards and Contracts Total Income

$448,825 $122,800 $44,293 $136,443 $125,569 $21,774 $766,919 $1,666,623

EXPENSES = $1,759,302 July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017

2016-17 Expenses The Energy Fair Ed Institute Rooftop Solar Challenge II (DOE) Solar Market Pathways (DOE) Membership Group Buy Programs Outreach and Other Programs Management and General Total Expenses

$355,713 $150,502 $333,963 $302,949 $54,785 $26,256 $296,340 $238,794 $1,759,302

Donations to MREA directly help to build our renewable energy and sustainable living initiatives throughout the Midwest. Your gifts are 100% tax deductible.

Donate today at www.midwestrenew.org or call us at 715-592-6595.