Grow Solar initiatives span multiple Midwestern states and have involved a diverse group of knowledgeable and dedicated organizations and municipalities. Information on Grow Solar partners can be found below.

Wisconsin

The Midwest Renewable Energy Association is a 501(c)(3) that promotes renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living through education and demonstration. The MREA works to protect the environment by educating the public about appropriate use of natural resources to meet our energy needs and provides the highest quality renewable energy education and training experiences available.

RENEW Wisconsin (RENEW) is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting economically and environmentally sustainable energy policies and practices in Wisconsin. RENEW is at the policy and regulation table every day representing 115 renewable energy companies doing business in Wisconsin as well as nearly 300 individuals and other organizations who share our vision for Wisconsin.

Sustainable Resource Group is a Madison-based consulting firm assisting with strategic planning and business planning, and providing project management services for organizations and projects that embrace sustainability as a core emphasis. Portfolio includes urban and rural development projects. Clients include private entrepreneurs, non-profit organizations, and the public sector.

Milwaukee Shines, the City of Milwaukee’s solar program, works to expand interest and investment in solar energy. Since being named a Solar America City in 2008, Milwaukee Shines helps create cleaner air for our community, and helps reduce energy costs for the City and the community at large.

Since 1999, Niels Wolter of Madison Solar Consulting has managed Wisconsin’s solar electric market development and incentive programs including: Focus on Energy Solar Electric program, Wisconsin Million Solar Roofs Partnership, and the Wisconsin Solar Use Network, and supported the Wisconsin US DOE Solar City Programs.

A previous Grow Solar partner, MadiSUN Solar Energy Program. In 2007, the City of Madison was named on of 25 Solar America Cities.

A previous Grow Solar partner, Solarize Marshfield will help City of Marshfield area residents and businesses overcome the logistical hurdles of going solar at home or at their business including who to hire, what equipment to buy, how much to budget and where to start.

Illinois

Like many consultants, West Monroe Partners has taken steps to establish alliance relationships with a select group of partners. These alliances enable us to deliver additional, specialized expertise in technical areas such as business processes, functional domain knowledge, industry expertise, and vendor product experience. In addition, they enable us to tap specialized training and customized support at a moment’s notice.

The Environmental Law & Policy Center is the Midwest’s leading public interest environmental legal advocacy and eco-business innovation organization, and among the nation’s leaders. We develop and lead successful strategic advocacy campaigns to improve environmental quality and protect our natural resources. We are public interest environmental entrepreneurs who engage in creative business dealmaking with diverse interests to put into practice our belief that environmental progress and economic development can be achieved together.

The Illinois Green Economy Network (IGEN) is a consortium of Illinois community colleges. IGEN creates and mobilizes innovative, collaborative partnerships among higher education institutions, businesses, and community organizations to establish and share sustainable best practices, promote energy efficiency and clean energy, and drive growth in the green economy.

Kankakee Community College in Kankakee, Illinois is a leader in renewable energy education. Professor Tim Wilhelm, an expert in solar-photovoltaic, solar thermal, and small wind energy systems, is the program coordinator and professor for the Electrical Technology program at KCC, which includes the following training areas: Industrial Electrical Technology; Industrial Machinery Maintenance; and, Renewable Energy Technology.

Minnesota

The Clean Energy Resource Teams—or CERTs—are a Minnesota partnership with a shared mission to connect individuals and their communities to the resources they need to identify and implement community-based clean energy projects. They empower Minnesota communities and their members to adopt energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy technologies and practices for their homes, businesses, and local institutions.

Great Plains Institute does three main things: 1) develop better energy policy via consensus, 2) catalyze deployment of the best energy technologies, practices & programs, and 3) Provide reliable analysis & decision tools to leaders in the public and private sector. But what distinguishes its work is its consensus-based, stakeholder-driven approach. Think of them as “energy diplomats” and consensus-driven advocates. The results are new clean energy policies passed into law, cleaner technology demonstrated and brought closer to market, better regulations adopted, energy and money saved, jobs created, polluting emissions reduced, and businesses’ triple bottom lines improved.

The Grow Solar team also works closely with the Wisconsin Distributed Resources Collaborative, Wisconsin’s State Energy Office, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, UW Extension, the Wisconsin Solar Energy Industries Association, L&S Technical Associates, Madison Gas and Electric, We Energies, Marshfield Utilities, Illinois Solar Energy Association (ISEA), Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES), Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association (MnSEIA), CR Planning and the Minnesota Department of Commerce-Division of Energy Resources.