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GVSU, MOCAP Bring Solar Power To Income-Eligible Households

MUSKEGON -- Grand Valley State University is part of an initiative to bring renewable energy technology to income-qualified households and programs that serve income-eligible individuals in Muskegon and Oceana counties.

Muskegon Oceana Community Action Partnership Inc. (MOCAP) was awarded a $3.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy through a Sustainable Energy Resources for Consumers grant. It allows several Michigan contractors to install one or more systems at residential and income-eligible group care facilities. Installations may include hybrid domestic hot water, solar domestic hot water or solar photovoltaic systems in single and multi-family units.

Grand Valley's Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center in Muskegon provides technical assistance and serves as a resource for the project.

"All the money saved by these installations will go directly back into the community," said Kim Walton, program coordinator at MAREC and technical adviser for the project. "There is a large multi-family project underway and about one-third of the residential projects have begun."

"This project places renewable energy systems with people in Michigan who haven't had access to this technology in the past, and those people are often the ones who can benefit from it the most," said Arn Boezaart, director of MAREC. "We are proud to be part of this initiative."

Walton said the single and multi-family units selected were income-qualified, were deemed energy efficient or underwent weatherization for energy efficiency before the renewable energy technologies were installed. The project will be completed by March 31.

For more information, contact Sid Shaw, SERC grant manager, at (231) 725-9499 or at sid@mocapl.org.

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