Renewable energy may be getting a boost from President Obama’s Clean Power Plan. For one business owner in Rockford, it’s part of his mission.
Lee Schreiner shows off the meter connected to his new solar panels at 201 7th Street. On a fairly sunny July afternoon, it was producing six to seven thousand watts of power. And Schreiner was happy.
That’s means about $1000 in energy savings per month for the building housing a fair trade store, apartments, and Rockford Urban Ministries. It already has a small wind turbine in addition to the 28 solar panels.
Schreiner says he hopes his building can serve as a model for other businesses…he says the project is representative of what’s going on in Rockford’s Midtown District, a neighborhood he says is finding ways to be both historic and energy efficient.
The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundationpaid for 60% of the 20-thousand dollar project. Schreiner says they still need to raise another $6000 to pay off the project.
Solar power is getting more efficient and more affordable, according to Schreiner. The retired high school science teacher says his first experience installing a solar panel was on Guilford High School a decade ago. He said it's now at least 5 times cheaper to do.
