Milwaukee County will evaluate the possibility of installing a solar farm on its property at General Mitchell International Airport at its next meeting on Feb. 6.
Board Chairwoman Marina Dimitrijevic plans to introduce a resolution to increase the use of solar power by the county to help it save money and create green jobs, she said.
“Adopting solar energy helps build on Milwaukee County’s rich history of environmental stewardship,” Dimitrijevic said. “Solar energy helps protect Wisconsin’s natural resources and advances the energy efficiency and renewable energy provisions of Milwaukee County’s ‘Green Print’ initiative while supporting Wisconsin’s goal of 10 percent renewable energy by 2015.”
Green Print was implemented in 2007 to encourage sustainable construction, resource management, alternative energy, green education and procurement with environmental stewardship in mind.
Dimitrijevic is modeling the plan off those implemented in Monona, at the Indianapolis International Airport, in Dubuque, Iowa and in New York.
“Solar energy is part of the solution to our energy needs,” she said. “It can save on energy costs for Milwaukee County, and it can potentially create a revenue stream in the future. This is the next natural step after my Green Print legislation. The need to use more renewable energy is critical, and this will not only save money, it will also create ‘green’ jobs in Milwaukee County.”
