“Homeowners can save money, the city recovers the cost, and all of us benefit from the substantial impact in the resulting reduction of greenhouse gasses.”
- Tony Zielinski, Milwaukee alderman

Powering a household with renewable energy from solar panels may seem like a great idea, but many people cannot afford the technology. Since the cost to install solar panels on rooftops is generally around $15,000 to $20,000, the panels are unaffordable for many households.

This monetary hurdle is exactly what Milwaukee Alderman Tony Zielinski is hoping to overcome. His recent plan would provide city funding to cover the upfront costs of installing solar panels for property owners who would agree to pay it back later through tax assessments.

If the proposal is instated, it would mark a major step ahead in making Milwaukee less dependent on traditional forms of energy.

Zielinski’s proposal, announced Nov. 1, mirrors the plan recently set into action in Berkeley, California. On Nov. 6 the Berkeley City Council approved the solar power loan program, becoming the first of its kind in the United States. The initiative will cover the costs of the installation of solar panels and solar hot water systems for any home or commercial building owner.

The property owners will maintain possession of the solar systems, and pay back the cost of the system over 20 years through an assessment on their annual property taxes.

Zielinski said he believes a plan like this could work in Milwaukee.

“This is a reasonable plan that is beneficial to all involved,” said Zielinski in a Nov.1 press release. “Homeowners can save money, the city recovers the cost, and all of us benefit from the substantial impact in the resulting reduction of greenhouse gasses.”

The Urban Ecology Center in Riverside Park on Milwaukee’s East Side has benefited from solar energy since the construction of its current facility three years ago. The ecology center’s roof is completely covered with 236 solar panels, which were donated by WE Energies. They generate enough energy to power four to five homes on average and up to 12 homes on an exceptionally sunny day.

As a large building open all week, most days the center uses all the power it creates. On sunny days when it creates more power than it uses, the excess energy is sold to WE Energies.

The solar power is then directed to the closest energy need, such as an apartment nearby. Ultimately, the center makes a profit on the energy the panels produce.

The solar panels generate energy on an average of 25 percent of the time, with the remaining 75 percent of time being dark or too cloudy. The center gets about 40-50 percent of its power from the panels. It plans on adding windmills to ultimately produce all the power it needs.

Ken Leinbach, executive director of the Urban Ecology Center, said he is all for Zielinski’s plan to implement solar power to the city.

“I think the plan makes a lot of sense. These panels are guaranteed for 25 years, and if the Urban Ecology Center had to pay for the panels it would take about 15 years for cost to equal use,” said Leinbach. “Not a lot of people have that capitol, but they need to realize that the panels will most likely last more like 50 to 100 years, and since solar panels have only been around 25 years no one knows how long they could last. After the panels are paid off, in say 15 years, the power generated is all income.”

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