local renewable energy markets
cOurtESy OF cALEFFi SOLAr
With the training in place to build a workforce, Milwaukee Shines focused on public education. It sent a
Solar Coach to local events and organizations, and then provided opportunities for consumers to learn
more through free solar seminars.
systems is not allowed, and leasing is not covered in our state incentive program. Customers must finance the entire cost of the system
upfront, so being able to offer affordable financing options gives us one more tool to support
solar adoption.
38 November/December 2011 SOLAR TODA Y solartoday.org
Establishing a Local Supply chain
Milwaukee looked for opportunities to
address other economic barriers in a way that
would improve the long-term stability of our
regional solar market as well as our overall economy. Milwaukee’s strength lies in making things
well, with a skilled workforce.
We are known for our precision
manufacturing. Based on these
strengths, we created the Milwaukee Metro Solar Hot Water
Business Council (SH WBC) as a
public-private partnership and an
offshoot of Milwaukee Shines.
The SHWBC’s mission is to
attract, support and retain solar
water manufacturers and supply
chain distributors and to facilitate
collaboration among stakehold-
ers in Milwaukee’s seven-county
region. The Council gathers
industry stakeholders, economic
development specialists and higher education
partners with the goal of providing business
mentors and innovative research and design
ideas to grow the market. Milwaukee is fortunate
to have great international businesses, including
A.O. Smith, Caleffi Solar and Johnson Controls,
that are willing to support other companies in
the solar supply chain.
