Schools Participating in SolarWise® for Schools
Seven new schools will join the growing family of SolarWise schools in 2007 and 2008! Green Bay West, Marathon, Kewaunee, and Beecher/Dunbar/Pembine High Schools will join the SolarWise for Schools program in 2007. In 2008, West De Pere, Stockbridge, and Peshtigo will be added, bringing the total to 41 schools SolarWise schools!
The blue dots represent the High Schools in Wisconsin which currently have SolarWise systems.
There are currently 34 high schools in the Wisconsin Public Service electric service area that have received the SolarWise program. Each school has been outfitted with a rooftop solar-electric system that saves the school a small amount on their electric bill. More importantly, the systems provide the schools with a renewable energy laboratory that gives students and teachers the opportunity to study renewable energy in detail. Each school also receives the SolarWise for Schools renewable energy curriculum and can compete in Solar Olympics each year in May.
In 1996, three high schools were the first to become SolarWise. Green Bay East, Southern Door and Antigo each received solar-electric systems that are providing approximately 60,000 kilowatt-hours of solar electricity annually. Here is a complete list of the high schools currently participating in the SolarWise Program.
- 1996 – Green Bay East, Antigo, Southern Door
- 1998 – Mosinee, Waupaca, De Pere
- 1999 – Pulaski, Oshkosh West, Crandon
- 2000 – Denmark, Lourdes, Laona
- 2001 – Green Bay Southwest, Merrill, Wausaukee
- 2002 – Ashwaubenon, D C Everest, Wabeno
- 2003 – Bay Port, Oconto, Tomahawk, Valders, Pacelli (Stevens Point)
- 2004 – Wrightstown, Wausau East, Marinette, Sevastopol
- 2005 – Wausau West, Rhinelander, Notre Dame, Crivitz
- 2006 – Stevens Point, NEW Lutheran, Brillion
- 2007 – Green Bay West, Marathon, Kewaunee, Pembine
- 2008 – West De Pere, Stockbridge, Peshtigo
Funding for the SolarWise for Schools program comes primarily from tax-deductible donations made by Public Service customers to the WPS Community Foundation. Since the program began, they have contributed over $700,000 Additional funding has also been received from the Wisconsin Focus on Energy program and the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board, and the U.S. Department of Energy.
All public and private high schools that receive retail electricity from Wisconsin Public Service are eligible to submit an application for the SolarWise for Schools program. Schools are selected every two years.