Marcia Delaski is the recipient of the Superior Watershed Partnership’s 25th low-income family solar projects. With Delaski, from left, are SWP Energy and Climate Office team members Solomon Kronberg, Seth Remer and Matt Kraus. (Photo courtesy of the SWP)

MARQUETTE — The Superior Watershed Partnership Energy and Climate Office has announced the 25th low-income family solar project completed in the Upper Peninsula since the program began in 2019.

This latest project is also the first SWP low-income solar project completed in the city of Marquette, SWP said in a news release. The installation was completed by the SWP Great Lakes Climate Corps in cooperation with Peninsula Solar.

Tonya Swenor, SWP energy and climate program manager, said, “Our income-qualified solar program was the first of its kind in Michigan. In addition to helping people with heating bills and home weatherization, we’re grateful for the opportunity to demonstrate the power of clean energy for all incomes.”

Marcia Delaski, a long-time Marquette resident, first received a comprehensive home energy audit completed by the SWP, the organization said. After reviewing the assessment results, GLCC energy technicians determined that she would be an ideal candidate for a six-panel roof-top solar system to reduce her electricity bills.

On average, SWP income-qualified solar projects are designed to provide over 30% of household energy needs, reduce carbon emissions and help families save money on their energy bills. The SWP has secured local, state and private grant funding to fund the solar program.

The Upper Peninsula Power Company has also provided funding to support the program for UPPCO customers.

SWP Executive Director Carl Lindquist said; “The SWP solar program is great example of how we’re working with partners to flip the paradigm in addressing climate change in the Upper Peninsula. I think it shows that rural areas can lead the way in energy innovation and climate adaptation.”

The SWP is also launching a cooperative initiative to assist local units of government in coordinating and streamlining the solar permitting process. Currently, there is wide variation in solar permitting requirements. The goal is to simplify and expedite the permitting process across the Upper Peninsula.

The GLCC energy crew is a specialized, year-round energy branch of the GLCC. The staff at the SWP Energy and Climate Office, in cooperation with the GLCC field technicians, addresses energy insecurity head-on by conducting home energy assessments for income-qualified households and installing weatherization measures to improve energy efficiency.

The SWP energy office has assisted over 8,500 Upper Peninsula households with their utility costs, while the GLCC has conducted over a 1,000 home energy audits and weatherized over 150 homes.

The city of Marquette residential solar installation will be the third installation in Marquette County. Other solar installations to date include: Delta County with seven, Houghton County with six, Baraga County with five, and Ontonagon, Menominee, Schoolcraft and Iron counties, each with one. C

The SWP and the Great Lakes Climate Corps are not limited to residential solar; they have also installed 20 solar panels at the SWP main office inside Presque Isle Park and obtained a grant through the EGLE Community Energy Management Program to install 20 solar panels on the roof of Black Rocks Brewery along West Washington Street in Marquette.

For more information about SWP energy programs, contact the SWP Energy and Climate Office at 906-272-2742.