Dear friend,
Welcome to October!
I'd like to open this edition of eReNews with a quote from Wendell Berry, "The care of the Earth is our most ancient and most worthy, and after all our most pleasing responsibility. To cherish what remains of it and to foster its renewal is our only hope."
Although we may not be able to see nature's growth as we enter into the Fall season, we can find renewal in ourselves and the way we treat the world around us.
To help you along the way, we've put together a variety of courses and events in October that offer up many opportunities to enjoy the earth, spread hope, and foster its renewal:
- Explore clean energy in the state of Wisconsin on the 2017 statewide Solar Tour, held Oct. 7th
- Join us in Custer Oct. 3-12 for our on-site classroom and lab training solar series at MREA
- Cuddle up with a nice cup of joe and register for any of our upcoming online courses
- Join us at our MREA Brisk Fall Clean Up Day November 4
- Show your support by renewing/joining MREA as a member
Thank you for your continued support of clean energy and sustainable living and a big thanks to all of those who helped make the first ever Minnesota Energy Fair a success!
-Shine On
Kaitlyn Kohl
MREA, Communications Coordinator
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2017 Wisconsin Solar Tour, Oct. 7th
Join people across Wisconsin on Saturday, October 7, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for a statewide Solar Tour. Homes and businesses throughout Wisconsin will open their doors to demonstrate and share strategies for energy-efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable living. Site tours are free and open to the public.
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2018 Solar Training Academy Discount
We've just released the dates and locations for the 2018 Solar Training Academy. Find the academy location nearest you! MREA’s Solar Training Academy is a series of weekend classes providing students with 46 hours of solar technical training. Topics include photovoltaic (PV) fundamentals, PV site assessment practices, and design principles and considerations. Students sit for the NABCEP PV Associate Exam upon academy completion. Get $100 off when you enroll by November. 17, 2017!
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MREA Brisk Fall Clean Up Day, Nov. 4th
Join us November 4th, for a fun Fall day of volunteering at MREA in Custer, WI! Tasks include; landscaping, weeding, preparing firewood, and more. Please dress for the weather and bring a lunch if you plan to stay the whole day. Clean up goes from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. After clean up we will be cooking made-from-scratch wood fired pizzas in our outdoor pizza oven!
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On-Site Solar Training at MREA in Oct.
We're hosting a series of hands-on and classroom solar training at MREA in Custer, WI! Registration is now open for the following courses: These courses have been approved by the U.S. Dept. of Veteran Affairs. Learn More. Camping is available, with hotels less than 10 mins. away in Stevens Point. Contact jennyh@midwestrenew.org with any questions.
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|  | Recorded demo and webinar details
coming soon! |
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MREA Solar Finance Simulator is Live
The Solar Finance Simulator on solarprojectbuilder.org is live and ready to be explored! Designed for tax-exempt and taxable entities looking to compare solar photovoltaic investment types, the tool allows users to simulate and compare financial projections for four types of investment options, including power purchase agreement (PPA), debt financing, direct ownership, and operating lease. The tool can guide or validate potential projects, compare proposals, or help users become more familiar with financing structures and common transaction costs by working through our sample projects.
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MREA Offers Solar Technical Assistance
With more than two decades of experience in solar energy projects, the MREA is now offering technical assistance to help institutions develop highest value, lowest cost solar photovoltaic (PV) projects. Though financial performance of a PV project may exceed return requirements, it can still be challenging for institutions (e.g. municipalities, universities, schools, hospitals) to define projects that meet their needs and to engage the private market to procure the best services available. MREA Technical Assistance can help!
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|  | Save the date for The 29th Annual Energy Fair in Custer, WI June 15-17, 2018! |
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First MN Energy Fair a Success It's hard to believe that in the span of three months we hosted two Energy Fairs in two states! Thanks to all of our members, volunteers, and supporters who participated in the first Minnesota Energy Fair. Here are a few highlights: - 1 All Electric Shuttle Bus offering free rides
- 4 Keynote Speakers
- 50+ MREA Members who joined or renewed their membership
- 70+ Exhibits
- 100+ Workshops (80 of which were free!)
- 300+ NABCEP CEC hours
- 800+ Volunteer hours
- Countless connections, memories, and steps toward a more sustainable future for all!
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|  | We appreciate your feedback! |
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Enter to Win a SunJack Solar Charger Did you attend The Minnesota Energy Fair? In order to make The Energy Fair the very best, we invite you to take a brief survey and let us know what you thought. Please complete the survey by Oct. 9th for a chance to win a SunJack Solar Charger!
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|  | We appreciate your support! |
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Advertise in the 2018 Training Catalog We're starting work on the first MREA ReNews publication of 2018! The 2018 Training Catalog will be available the first of the year. Are you looking to reach an audience of sustainably-minded readers, solar professionals, and people interested in clean energy? Make an impact with an affordable ad! Annual Ad Package available! $25 off each ad when you purchase an ad in all three publications, 2018 Training Catalog, 2018 Pre-Fair Guide, and 2018 Program Guide. Note: Sustaining MREA Business Members receive a $75 discount off of the Annual Ad Package.
For more information please contact kaitlynk@midwestrenew.org. We're open to ad trades!
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MREA's Solar Group Buy Programs are Surpassing Goals!
Solar Central Wisconsin has wrapped up with a total of 344 kW of solar contracted for installation in Central Wisconsin! Participants will receive a discount of $0.15 per watt. For more information, visit http://cwsolar.org Solarize Cedar Rapids & Linn County surpassed another benchmark, hitting 447 kW! Installations are underway. For information, visit http://solarizelinncounty.com Solar Tosa / Milwaukee Shines is up to 96 kW and counting! Visit http://SolarTosa.com for more information.
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| ASES National Solar Tour 2017 National Solar Tour, USA, October (dates vary by region) The Solar tour takes place in cities and towns across the country. Doors open to 30,000 participants in 60+ locations nationwide. Learn More.
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| ASES Solar 2017 October 9-12, Denver, Colorado
American Solar Energy Society's 46th annual National Solar Conference. Learn More.
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| Solar Power Midwest Conference Join us at Solar Power Midwest Conference in Chicago on Oct. 18-20th. MREA Members can get 15% off their tickets, enter CODE: P1517MREASolar Conference. Learn More.
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Thanks to all of our wonderful members for their support! Thanks for all who have joined and renewed in the past months. Shout out to the following business members for who joined in June-August: American Energy LLC • Black Sheep Coffee Café/The Green Bean • Central Rivers Farmshed •
Chequamegon Construction Company LLC • Fizzeology Raw Cultured Foods • Indian Hills Community College • Legacy Solar Coop • Midwest Solar Power • Mitchells Heating & Cooling Company • Nature’s Pathways • NEI Electric • Northeast Wi Technical College (NWTC) • Northway Communications, Inc. • Organic Bob • Seraphim • Simply Grounded Therapeutic Massage • Solar Commons • Sun & Daughters Solar, LLC • Sunsavvy Energy Group, LLC • Terra Caloric • TF Forming Systems Inc. • Timeless Essential Oils • UW-Extension, Envir. Resources Center • WI Center For Environmental Education (WCEE)
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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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