For an 18-unit motel in Suring, paying $2,700 per month in utility costs was too much of a burden to bear. But with energy improvements and upgrades, utility savings should be close to $2,000 per month come summertime.
USDA Rural Development provided a $20,000 grant through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to Mountain Springs Motel toward the installation of 160 roof-mounted solar panels that are projected to produce approximately 72,000 kW per year.
“Renewable projects like these are great examples of how small businesses like Mountain Springs can cut energy costs and subsequently increase their bottom line,” said Kristin Peterson, USDA rural development business & cooperative programs specialist who worked on the motel’s funding approval.
Although the photovoltaic (PV) system is covered with snow and not producing energy, owner Carol Lepkowski said she can’t wait to see her bill reduced even further from its once-crippling total.
“We had to average a full house to deal with that size of a bill,” Lepkowski said.
She said that wasn’t feasible, especially if weather doesn’t cooperate, like last winter when there was little snow. The motel relies on snowmobilers for much of its business.
A representative from GreenSky Energetics Inc., a renewable energy company based in Manitowoc, talked to Lepkowski about the potential of using solar energy to reduce costs. Partnering with Focus on Energy and USDA Rural Development provided the avenues to financially make this a reality.
“The owners of the Mountain Springs Motel recognized the utilization of solar PV as a reliable and cost-effective way to drive down annual energy costs while creating energy security for the future of their business,” said Jordan Kaiser, central Wisconsin field agent for GreenSky Energetics Inc. “With the help of federal programs such as the USDA REAP grant, the client was able to navigate through the initial costs that come with a project this size and realize the long-term value of their investment.”
The system is predicted to provide clean, renewable energy for more than 30 years.
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