New Madison program seeks to bring solar energy to under-served communities

Madison has already installed solar panels on some city buildings, including the Engineering Operations Facility, in foreground above, and a Streets Division facility, at rear, both on the South Side. A new city program is offering money to help community organizations and individuals in low-income neighborhoods benefit from solar energy. The city of Madison has launched a new program designed to help low-income residents share in the benefits of solar energy.Modeled after an existing program designed to help Madison residents install solar panels, the Backyard Solargrants are intended to bring solar to neighborhoods that may have been left out of the solar boom, said Heather Allen, program director for Renew Wisconsin, which administers the MadiSUN programs for the city.