State’s largest rooftop solar installation goes online

Madison College marked the completion of Wisconsin’s largest rooftop solar energy installation on Jan. 16 with a special ceremony at its Truax Campus. The solar array contains 5,700 solar panels and covers 125,000 square feet of the roof of the Truax Campus’ main building. On sunny days, the system will produce 100 percent of the building’s energy demand for up to three hours. It will save the campus more than $200,000 per year. In addition to cost savings, the photo voltaic system will provide a hands-on laboratory for Madison College students studying renewable energy and related fields such as Architecture, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Maintenance and Construction and Apprenticeship programs. MGE provided a $500,000 grant toward building the 1,400-kW solar photovoltaic system. Madison College covered the remaining $2.5 million cost from capital budget funds. Photo credits: Chris Collins, SunVest Solar, and Ken Walz, Madison College (For information on getting your event featured in the IB Gallery, email jason@ibmadison.com.)