Solar panels have come a long way since their invention in the United States by three American scientists in 1954. That panel had 6% energy conservation, while today’s panels can have efficiency levels of up to 18%. The Chippewa Valley Affordable Solar aims to get more of those panels in area homes and businesses, as they host their Solar Power Wisconsin: Affordable Energy Conference this fall.

On Nov. 8, Chippewa Valley Technical College will be the home of the conference that will feature vendors, breakout sessions, and guest speakers from around the state that will be sure to educate the public on the topic of solar energy, specifically photovoltaics (solar panels that generate electricity), according to Chippewa Valley Affordable Solar group’s organizer, Steve Terwilliger.

“This area in particular has had a lack of information on the actual costs (of solar power) and we’re trying to help people understand that solar power is very competitive right now.” – Steve Terwillinger, Chippewa Valley Affordable Solar“This area in particular has had a lack of information on the actual costs (of solar power) and we’re trying to help people understand that solar power is very competitive right now,” Terwilliger said.

The Chippewa Valley Affordable Solar, a group that is attached to Transition Chippewa Valley, is “a group of local citizens who are particularly interested in seeing more solar installations in the Chippewa Valley and Wisconsin.” Transition Chippewa Valley is a part of the US Transition Movement, a movement that seeks to build community resilience against environmental dangers.

“I think the main focus of the conference is education, helping people become aware of the potential of solar power,” he said. “But a lot of it, we hope, will be networking with organizations and businesses that would be interested (in solar power).”

Terwilliger sees the conference as an opportunity to educate, but also realizes the challenges in creating a solar-powered community in the future, calling photovoltaics a mainstream power source but expressing concerns with the amount of awareness on the topic.

"I think the main focus of the conference is education, helping people become aware of the potential of solar power,” he said. “But a lot of it, we hope, will be networking with organizations and businesses that would be interested (in solar power) in Wisconsin.”

To learn more about the conference, email affordablesolarcv@gmail.com or visit renewwisconsin.org