| Dear friend,
April "snow" showers bring May flowers, especially here in the Midwest!
We've put together a bunch of exciting renewable energy and sustainable living news, and announcements to keep you energized as we work together towards a sustainable future powered by clean energy.
Make sure to check out the newly-released 2018 Pre-Fair Guide. It's full of new workshop tracks, fair features, workshop descriptions, featured presenters, keynote speakers, entertainment, and more.
We also lined up some industry leading renewable energy online courses and in-person trainings taking place this spring. And don't forget to apply for the Clean Energy Scholarship by April 15th if you're a student.
We'll be out in the community spreading sustainability and celebrating Earth Day this month. We hope to see you at one of our Solar Power Hours held throughout the Midwest or at one of the community events listed below. Make sure to RSVP for Move Some Earth Day by May 1st for your chance to win a solar oven!
Shine On-
Kaitlyn Kohl
MREA Communications Coordinator
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|  | This PV series is also offered in summer & fall! |
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Come to MREA this May for Two Weeks of PV Training from the Experts!
We're offering two full weeks of intense, accelerated classroom and hands-on PV training this May. Learn from experienced and certified instructors, meet new friends, network with industry professionals, and enjoy our beautiful campus. Camping is available on-site for just $20 per night and includes 24-hour access to our indoor restrooms and showers. Learn More/Register
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MREA's Milwaukee Office Goes Solar!
Joey Zocher, principal at Escuela Verde Milwaukee in the Menomonee Valley, stands with Daniel Rodriguez, a senior there who MREA presented a scholarship to finish our Milwaukee Solar Training Academy this month. MREA's Milwaukee office is located in Escuela Verde, and the school hosts our Solar Training Academies every year. Escuela Verde's solar modules are being installed with the help of MREA, Milwaukee Shines, Focus on Energy, RENEW Wisconsin's Solar For Good grant, SunVest Solar, and Current Electric Service inc.
Watch The Video
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MREA Launches Solar Twin Cities Group Buy: Launching May 3rd
Our first group buy in the Land of 10,000 Lakes is holding its kickoff event May 3rd at Insight Brewing in Minneapolis. Group buy programs help to lower the cost and complexity of investing in a solar energy system. We are excited to bring our award-winning program to Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul with support from the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE), City of Minnetonka, City of Woodbury, City of Oakdale, and Southeast Como Improvement Association. Full schedule being developed now. Learn More. All group buy RFPs are being published here: growsolar.org/news/
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MREA & RREAL on Community Solar for Community Action: Award Winning Project
Working with RREAL, under the U.S. Department of Energy Solar in Your Community Challenge, the MREA co-authored the Leech Lake Case Study Report that analyzed the environmental, social, and economics produced by the five community-based solar arrays (217.6 kW) now producing clean renewable energy for recipients of energy assistance served by the Leech Lake Energy Assistance Program. Read Full Story Here
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MREA Guides 14 Universities through Solar Development Process
With support from the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (Award Number DE-EE0006910), we've recently completed the first iteration of our new Photovoltaic (PV) Development for Institutions Course aimed at guiding teams at higher education institutions through the fundamentals of institutional solar PV investment! Read Full Story Here
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|  | The course will be held at MREA Headquarters in Custer, WI from April 30 - May 4. |
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MREA Carpot Installation Workshop:
Thanks to the generous support of MREA Members and the solar industry, we are completing our advanced PV + EV training lab in May 2018! In February 2018, the oil giant BP projected that 180 million electric vehicles (EV) will be on the road by 2035. The transition from oil to electricity will be one of our nation’s biggest infrastructure investments. We’ve been working hard to make sure this new electrical demand is powered with solar PV. Since June 2017 we’ve been charging EVs and will be installing the solar canopy this spring in preparation for the Midwest’s largest gathering of electric vehicles at The 29th Annual Energy Fair! More Information
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MREA Clean Energy Scholarship:
Application Deadline April 15!
The Clean Energy Scholarship Fund helps students pursuing degrees and/or relevant credentials in renewable energy, energy efficiency, or clean technology. Students awarded scholarships possess strong motivation to make her or his community, environment, or world a better and more sustainable place to live. High school students, college students, and non-traditional students who reside in the Midwest (WI, MN, MI, IA, IL, IN, OH, MO) are invited to apply!
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| | The Energy Fair Announcements:
See you in 69 days! June 15-17, 2018
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Pre-Fair Guide Released!
Here are a few highlights we are excited to share with you this year:
- Workshop tracks and featured speakers in each of our topical categories
- Tiny Home Alley where you can talk to the owners/builders
- MREA’s new solar carport and advanced training lab
- Keynote speakers Jeremy Scahill, Jonathan Reinbold, Lily Raff McCaulou, Michael Perry, and documentary screening: Solar Roots—The Pioneers of PV with filmmaker Jeff Spies
- Musical entertainment from People Brothers Band and GGOOLLDD on the human-powered main stage
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Get Discounted Energy Fair Tickets:
On Sale Now Through May 18th 25% off!
Buy your Energy Fair tickets and campsite starting May 18 to get a discount of 25% or more on adult passes. You can also join as an MREA Member or sign up to volunteer and receive free Fair entry.
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MREA Genergal Membership Meeting & Pizza Dinner
Friday, June 15 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Main Stage
It’s the event we look forward to all year: MREA’s General Membership Meeting and Pizza Dinner. Join us Friday for wood-fired pizza, homemade pasta, farm fresh salad, appetizers, and Central Waters solar-brewed beer while listening to our Executive Director present on the state of the organization. Network with fellow enthusiasts, meet our board of directors, and share your ideas and questions during the open forum portion of the evening. Members $10; Non-Members $20. Join or renew your membership at the Front Gate or MREA Marketplace during the Fair, or online at MidwestRenew.org/membership. This event sells out, so purchase your dinner tickets today.
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MREA Benefit Dinner
Saturday, June 16 at the Main Stage
6:00 p.m. Cocktail Hour / 6:45 p.m. Dinner
Come celebrate the installation of our new Solar Carport and Advanced PV+EV Training Lab at the MREA Benefit Dinner! We’ll start the evening with a cocktail hour and toast to everyone who made this project possible, enjoy a delicious meal together by Rockman’s Catering, and close the evening with a glimpse at what lies ahead. Tickets are limited; please purchase your ticket in advance online. Learn More
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MREA Move Some Earth Day
Join us for this all-day volunteer event as we work to improve our demonstration site at the ReNew the Earth Institute in scenic Custer, WI. Volunteer tasks include landscaping, clearing brush, preparing food for The Energy Fair, painting picnic tables, assisting with office work and Energy Fair promotion, and more! Please RSVP by May 1st to enter a drawing for a solar oven courtesy of Solar Oven Reflectors. Learn More
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Clean Transportation Show
Participate in the Clean Transportation Show.
Share your knowledge and experience as an alternative or fuel-efficient vehicle owner! Register online to be a part of the show. Learn More EV Charging is also available at the Fair; please schedule your chargning time here.
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| Small Wind Conference
A Gathering of Installers, Manufacturers, Dealers,
Distributors, Educators and Advocates. The 14th Annual Small Wind Conference will be held April 9-10, 2018 at the Crowne Plaza AiRE, Bloomington, MN, right next to the MSP Airport and the Mall of America. Learn More
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| Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame
April 14: The Induction Ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 14, at Sentry Theater in Stevens Point. The Induction Ceremony and Coffee Reception are free and open to the public. The Ceremony includes tributes by invited speakers and presentation of recognition plaques which will be displayed in the WCHF Visitor Center in Schmeeckle Reserve. More Information & Reservations
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| Earth Day 8th Annual Sustainability Fair
April 22, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at Nicolet College Lakeside Center. Hosted by Sustainability Northwoods, The Earth Day Fair consists of informational booths, speakers, student experiments/research, organic farms, and more. Many businesses and organizations with a focus on sustainability will be there to help share their visions and sustainability initiatives. Learn More
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| Midwest Solar Expo
April 30 - May 2, 2018: The 2018 Midwest Solar Expo returns to Minneapolis for its 5th annual conference, exhibition, and Smart Energy Symposium. Join us as we continue to drive the conversation on the Midwest solar market – gain insights from industry experts, receive hands-on product training, enjoy Happy Hour and entertainment while networking with 400+ solar professionals from across the value chain. Learn More
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| Are you looking for a job in clean energy? We invite you to check out our Career Board! Learn More Set up a job seeker profile on our career resources page and connect with solar industry employers through a searchable nationwide directory. Learn More
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We appreciate and are thankful for all of our wonderful members and their support! Thanks to the following MREA Business Members who joined or renewed their membership in March.
All Energy Solar • Alternative Trends • Amber Westerman Building Design • Apogee Environmental, LLC • B&Es Trees - Forest Foraged Foods & Farm • Center for Sustainable Community • Central Community College • Craftsman Home Improvements • Dunn Energy Cooperative • Eagle Point Solar • Enerchange • Escuela Verde • Evergreen Credit Union • Fox Valley Technical College • Full Spectrum Solar • Honda Motorwerks • Lake Michigan Wind & Sun Ltd • Legacy Solar, LLC • MI Greenhouse • Solect Energy • Stevens Point Area Co-op • Waterfurnace International, Inc. • Whole Sun Designs, Inc. • WindSolarUSA, Inc.
Thank you to our Sustaining Business Members:
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| | Thanks To Our Energy Fair Sponsors
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The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) promotes renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living through education and demonstration. To learn more, visit midwestrenew.org.
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