The approval gives the green light to a $6.9 million solar education farm, the largest in the state of Wisconsin, and possibly the first entirely portable photovoltaic (PV) facility in the United States. The estimated energy savings is $70,300 for the first year of operation.

The 411 kilowatt PV project will be located on MATC-owned property at 810 E. Capitol Dr. in Milwaukee. The farm will serve as a training center for technicians, designers, site assessors, electricians, sales personnel and other professionals in the fields of renewable energy.

The 32-acre property is located along the west bank of the Milwaukee River. Construction on the farm is pending receipt of a required permit issued by the City of Milwaukee. That process could be as short as two weeks.

"This is an important initiative for Milwaukee Area Technical College," said Interim President Dr. Vicki J. Martin. "We appreciate the WTCS Board's support of this project and are looking forward to serving as a model for other colleges and universities throughout the country. In addition to developing an energy source and educational opportunity, this project will create jobs in the region."

MATC and Johnson Controls, who was selected through a competitive bid process, have teamed to create one of the most unique urban PV facilities in the country. The farm will feature eight different configurations of nearly 2500 PV panels. The variety in configurations increases student learning opportunities

"Trained solar technicians and engineers are vital to our energy future," said Don Albinger, vice president of Renewable Energy Solutions at Johnson Controls. "We are excited to collaborate with forward thinking institutions of higher education like MATC in the training of tomorrow's energy leaders."

Traditional PV farms are typically constructed in rural areas. Project coordinators from MATC and Johnson Controls recognized that underutilized urban parcels, such as parking lots, remediated landfills, and brown fields could successfully house the proposed PV farm.

As a commitment to future urban growth, the entire solar education farm will be portable. Panels, fence posts and solar trackers will be mounted to concrete ballasts, rather than attached to the ground, which is typical in a traditionally-constructed PV facility. In another first for the project, it is believed this is the first entirely portable PV facility in the United States.

Energy produced by the solar education farm will be used to operate the Milwaukee Public Television transmitter that is located at the site. This will be the first public television transmitter in the country that will be taken off the traditional energy grid.

The training capabilities at the solar education farm will strengthen and expand partnerships with other institutions of higher learning at UW-Milwaukee, Marquette, MSOE, and Concordia. Additionally, K-12 teachers and students will have the opportunity to visit the site in person or through virtual means to learn more about solar technology.

"The solar education farm will be a key asset in our continued development of renewable energy curriculum," said MATC Associate Dean Dr. Joseph Jacobsen, who oversees MATC's sustainability academic programming. "From technical certificates, diplomas and associate degrees, this facility will help educate and train professionals who are pursuing careers in a wide range of traditional and emerging fields."

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